God has given us the command to follow Him and to pay the cost of discipleship. This means that Christians will not only experience the hardships of living in a broken world, but will also share in the suffering of Christ. Paul is an example of a person who faithfully pursued Christ and ‘bears the marks of Christ’. He writes the Christians in Corinth to remind them that Christians should presume suffering as they faithfully follow Jesus.

The Good News is that God works through our suffering to make disciples and magnify His name. He also empowers His children to endure any suffering by strengthening our desire for Him and our hope in heaven.