I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (Colossians 4:18)
There are a variety of ways to define the word “memorial,” but for our purpose today, this one is best: Serving to help people remember some person — namely, Jesus Christ! For the Christian, there are three ways to memorialize our Master:
- With our speech
- In our service
- Through our suffering
Years of serving as a pastor and walking through the details of life with countless Christians whom God has given me the privilege of ministering to have convinced me that the true strength of our devotion to our Master is not displayed by our speech or our service, but in our sufferings. Think of the great apostle Paul and the magnificent memorials regarding his Master that he left behind for all the world to read and remember. Paul gave many powerful speeches and sermons; he left some magnificent miracles; but above it all, Paul left us countless chains, the chains of his imprisonment. His suffering surpassed everything else. Listen to these words from Paul:
Are they servants of Christ? I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, from bandits, from my fellow Jews, and Gentiles. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)
To be sure, there are many ways to measure the depths of Paul’s devotion to Jesus, but nothing plumbs the depths of his suffering. And the same is true for every disciple of Christ, including you and me. Now, in our cultural context today, it may or may not mean the kind of physical suffering that the apostle Paul endured. We may not be shipwrecked or pelted with rocks like Paul, but as we memorialize our Master, we may very well be shunned. We may not be beaten with rods or in danger from rivers, but we can expect rejection.
I will never forget something that one of my spiritual fathers, Dr. R. C. Sproul, said during a seminary class: “Tommy, when you are out in the world preaching the Gospel of Christ, if some people are not angry with you, one of two things has happened: Either they don’t understand what you are preaching or you are not preaching it!” The Gospel either attracts or repels, and it is our responsibility to share it with others, leaving the results to God.
So what memorials have you left regarding your devotion to Jesus? May God give us the strength to refuse to shrink back when our memorial comes in the form of suffering.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 