Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁵  but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves;  I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.”

 ¹⁶  And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

 ¹⁷  And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat.  But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.”  Acts 18:12-17.

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Sosthenes’ name appears only twice in Scripture.  It is here in verse 17, and it is in 1 Corinthians 1:1 :  “Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,”.

This limited view of Sosthenes seems to emphasize the importance of sharing sufferings.  We read nothing of any other great Christian exploits by Sosthenes other than this sharing of the suffering (other than maybe he was the leader of the Jewish synagogue but that fact does not speak as to his Christian character), and yet he is fondly singled out by Paul in the introduction to his letter to the Corinthians as “our brother”.

So, what does Scripture state about the importance of sharing sufferings?

2 Corinthians 1:7
“and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”

Colossians 1:24
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;  but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  1 Peter 4:12-14. 

Thus, we see the following purposes of sharing sufferings.  There are other purposes such as “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (whatever that means).  But, here is what I see and understand from the above verses.  First, in sharing sufferings, we become more deeply united with the Body of Christ.  Second, in sharing sufferings, “the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”.  Third, in sharing sufferings, it comes upon us to test our faith and build our faith.

Who is adequate to sustain such sufferings?

But, there is hope!   

2 Corinthians 12:9
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Hebrews 4:16
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1 Peter 5:10
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”