Thorns Upon Our Heads
What about suffering and its redemptive power? For Paulus, the chains were badges of his unwavering faith, and he was correct. He took pride in nothing but Christ, and spoke plainly on the matter. Yet in his letters, his greatest suffering seemed to have nothing to do with injuries upon himself, but rather in the faith and welfare of his brothers and sisters in communities around the world.
So why did Paulus suffer? The answer is both simple and profound, in yet another question: what did he suffer? He suffered not because he was faithful, not because he mirrored that greatest Light upon our dark material world. It was about what made him actually suffer that made him the most important apostle. It was what he valued the loss of most that forged him into an instrument of God. He was used to reveal the redemptive power of love and grace, through the fact that he suffered internally if he did not, and that is why he suffered.
We naturally recoil from suffering, of course, but Paulus had been so transformed that the pain of idleness outstripped any discomfort from physical sufferings or any pain meted out upon him by authorities, no matter the kind. For him, not being nearer to God and striving ever after God’s desires was the greatest suffering. This was the only suffering worthy to avoid, even at the cost of all other potential sufferings. This is identical with seeing through to the true meaning of grace, as used by God to shape our souls and draw us closer, just as was done for Paulus. Far from some masochistic focus, this means in our lowest moments, when all else has been lost, there remains purpose and meaning above any other. There is power here beyond power, Paulus saw it and could not bear to look away. The power was empowering others to do the same, and that there was nothing to lose here in this domain but everything to gain in the everlasting souls of others.
Paulus speaks not with the bitterness of all his trials but with the overriding joy of his undying connection to God, and that nothing is lost and no sufferings meaningless, in the light of grace and for the sake of his ordained service to all (Colossians 1:24). He already had far greater chains chosen of his own will, so that he saw the material chains not as some curse but as a reminder of those voluntary chains, in that far deeper and greater intimacy with his Lord Jesus, to share in sufferings and thus glorify Him.
Paulus won. Light always does in the end. You and I will win too, through our Lord. Nothing is more worthy of trust, nor suffering in absence. I hope your Christmas was a fine one and found you well, dear beloved of God.