Day 3

The Supremacy of God in Missions through Suffering

Suffering is a challenging topic but John Piper explains that facing it with joy and peace displays God’s immense worth
“more clearly in the world than all worship and prayer.” That is, Christians who can accept suffering with full trust and
hope in God causes unbelievers to wonder about the God they worship. Such is the case because such response to
suffering is countercultural, even unbelievable in a world where self-survival is the norm. Note, however, that such
courage in the face of death and martyrdom is not the same as fanatic terrorists or religious extremists. For one,
Christian martyrs die in the hands of those they desire to save as they pursue love, not death or harm towards others.
They suffer and die in their desire to bring life—eternal life—not death. And if we wonder how they are able to embrace
this life, we only look to what Christ has done for believers. Christ’s death has rendered sin dead in Christians. He freed
them from its power so that they are free to pursue self-sacrificial living even in the face of persecution and suffering.
The great irony here is that the most painful suffering comes because of the intense love for the lost that grips their
hearts the moment Jesus saved them. And so, they are more than willing to lay their lives for others, even, their
enemies. They live and love as Jesus did, even to the point of death.

Piper, then, calls all believers to have a certain mind-set toward suffering. He says we are to see it as “normal” and the
“path of love and missions will often require it.” Expect to suffer for the cross because it is the calling of every true
believer. Jesus experienced it, the apostles endured it, first-century believers faced it. As such, we also need to prepare
for it now. We should fill our minds with the sobering truth “that the road to the kingdom is the Calvary road; there are
many tribulations.” Bearing this truth, we are to go to the world, in forgotten and accursed places to bring the light of
the Gospel of peace. But some may ask, s“Why does God allow or appoint the suffering of His messengers?” In God’s
sovereignty, He wills that believers suffer one way or another for the sake of the cross. He does this for reasons that we
may not fully comprehend, but Piper offers six thoughts that we can ponder upon. God appoints sufferings because a)
Suffering deepens faith and holiness; b) Suffering allows us to have greater experience of God’s glory as a reward in
heaven; c) Suffering emboldens sleeping and indifferent believers into action; d) Suffering makes unbelievers understand
Jesus’ own sacrificial love that may open them to the Gospel; e) Suffering spreads God’s people to the world; f) Suffering
displays the supremacy of Christ. Jesus is shown supreme because believers depend on Him alone in the face of
hardships, even as they treasure Him more than life itself. They are willing to part with all worldly treasure and security
if it means glorifying God and being in His very presence! They delight in being conduits of His blessings to a dying world,
leaving behind treasures that ensnare so easily, and life’s comfort and security that deny the supremacy of heavenly
rest. “The way of live is both the way of self-denial and the way of ultimate joy. We deny ourselves the fleeting pleasures
of sin and luxury and self-absorption in order to seek the kingdom above all things. In doing so, we bring the greatest
good to others, we magnify the worth of Christ as a treasure chest of joy, and we find our greatest satisfaction.”

This chapter is perhaps one of the most powerful readings I ever had on the topic of suffering. It grips the heart, convicts
the soul, encourages self-reflection and deeper devotion to the Lord. I can only pause and pray: “Father, forgive me for
being enamored by comfort and security offered by the world. I repent of my own indifference and inaction. I repent for
being self-centered many times. I am sorry for forgetting the urgency of proclaiming Christ to people who desperately
need Him. I pray, Father, that You expand my heart that I may be able to love more people even if it’s difficult. Teach me
to see beyond discouragements by resting my hope and joy in Christ alone. Make me excited to serve You again. Make
me passionate for Your glory and compassionate towards people. May I be more prayerful, worshipful and faithful by
Your grace. Strengthen me, Lord, to overcome apathy, laziness and distraction. Open my eyes to see the great need for
the Gospel, enliven my hands and feet to sacrificially reach out, make me sensitive that I may see all open doors for
evangelism. Teach me to trust in You even in the midst of trials. Give me the right attitude towards suffering, pain and
even death. May I be like the early believers and the countless Christian martyrs who lived a life of love first for You,
then for people. Renew my passion again, Lord. Help me to live in light of eternity, offering all I can for the advancement
of the Gospel and the furtherance of Your Kingdom, all for Your glory. Amen.