Two kinds of suffering

If you are experiencing some pressure and suffering at the moment perhaps this message will help you diagnose the root cause, adopt the right attitude and find victory over the suffering. 
According to the New Testament in general and the apostle Peter in particular, there are two kinds of suffering among Christians. On one hand there is suffering for doing what is right. In the Scripture this is called suffering for Christ’s sake, or suffering with Christ or suffering for righteousness’ sake. In other words when you suffer for doing what is right; you suffer unfairly and unjustly as an innocent person.
 On the other hand there is suffering for doing what is wrong. 
This is the kind of suffering that apostle Peter is urging Christians to desist from in the opening verse above.
In his first epistle Peter was writing to comfort believers passing through a fiery trial of suffering persecution, tribulation and hardships. But his comfort and encouragement was not meant for those who were suffering as a result of committing sin or crime. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15). Thus Peter was against suffering fairly and justly as a blameworthy and guilty person.
Suffering for doing what is right is well-pleasing to God. However, this kind of suffering with Christ, for Christ’s sake and for righteousness sake does not include sickness or disease.
Sickness is never pleasing to God and it never brings glory to God. Suffering sickness for the sake of Christ or righteousness is not scriptural. God cannot chastise you with sickness on one hand and then ask you to call the elders of the church to pray for your healing on the other hand.
 Doing that is a contradiction in terms. Sickness is a kind of suffering that originates directly or indirectly from Satan. Our ministry of suffering must follow that of Christ and the apostles, our examples. Christ never suffered from sickness except when he deliberately and substitutionary took our infirmities in order to rid us of them. Paul never suffered sickness for righteousness sake or for Christ’s sake. His thorn in the flesh was a limiting factor which was sent to him by the devil and permitted by God only for the purpose of keeping him from becoming proud.
 In his list of sufferings Paul never mentioned sickness. Christ and Paul’s kind of suffering include being reviled, insulted, mocked, despised, opposed, beatings, stoning, fastings, labours, loss of reputation, renunciation of worldly pleasures, humiliation, hatred, martyrdom and crucifixion. If we suffer like this, we suffer as Christians and we should not be ashamed because God blesses it.
The right kind of suffering that glorifies God was best exemplified by Moses. It is written of him in Hebrews 11:25, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” 
In this nation of ours physical persecution for being a Christian is almost non-existent; we praise God for the peaceful atmosphere and the freedom of worship. This means that we may not suffer for Christ from stoning, beatings and martyrdom. But what remains is suffering for righteousness’ sake.  This was Moses’ lot. It was also Joseph’s fate. It was for righteousness’ sake that Christ endured his three-fold temptations in the wilderness. Suffering for righteousness’ sake remains our major kind of suffering in this fallen world. Bearing the cross of steadfastly resisting sin and temptation is indeed great suffering. Denying yourself the worldly pleasures and the cravings of the carnal nature is no small task.
I am fully persuaded that it is much easier to succumb to temptation than to resist. Imagine Moses renouncing the alluring pleasures and delicacies of the palace of Pharaoh. Imagine Joseph resisting the beautiful and attractive wife of Potiphar. Do not be deceived suffering for righteousness’ sake is a great ordeal, no wonder why God rewards it. Overcoming the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not a Mickey Mouse job.
Thus our greatest suffering as Christians is in resisting temptations to sin. Anyone who exercises self-control is a great sufferer. When your whole body is itching to do it like everyone else and you overcome that evil desire, then your suffering is unbearable.
To suffer shame, humiliation, to be labelled a fool and a coward for turning the other cheek is no light suffering. To waive your right to revenge, to choose forgiveness when you can even the scores and to accept blame wrongfully when you can prove your innocence is untold suffering. To resist the devil and take every contrary, negative and lustful thought captive unto the obedience of Christ daily is unimaginable suffering. But this is the right kind of suffering that pleases God and invokes His eternal blessings.
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