Suffering Servant

His cold hand hovered above the thermostat, all the while his mind vacillating whether to turn it up or tough it out. What will win out is probably not whether to be comfortable or uncomfortable, but which he is more willing to endure, discomfort to his body or discomfort to his bank account.

Comfort questions can drive us. We shy away from pain. We gravitate toward ease, maybe even push a little in the direction of pampering.

The Christian life mandated for us by Scripture and modeled for us by our Savior seems to work in a markedly different manner. Jesus, as THE Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. His suffering now was tempered by the joy set before Him. Peter makes a big deal in his letters about suffering for righteousness' sake.

When it comes to our active engagement in witness for the gospel, I think we can safely say that until we are willing to suffer for Christ, we will be woeful in our witness for Christ. On the one hand, that speaks to stepping outside of our comfort zones to draw near to others and speak up. On the other hand, we must be willing to pay a cost. Suffering always involves cost. Yet that price is really just investment in the kingdom of God, laying up treasure in heaven.

As Christ was a suffering servant, so must we be who bear His name. Jesus' suffering was represented in the cross. Isn't that what He holds up for us as well--denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following Him? That sounds like suffering to me, but a suffering in the direction of glory.