Can suffering bring joy? The apostle Paul was under house arrest while writing to the Colossians. Rather than complaining about his imprisonment in Rome, Paul said he welcomed it. Why? Because he had been given this opportunity to forward the gospel and build the church.

Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church” (v. 24). By saying “lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,” Paul was not saying that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough. Rather, he was expressing his desire to extend through service what Christ had done. Paul considered it a privilege to serve Christ, even if it meant suffering. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings” (Phil. 3:10).

Being obedient to Christ in service to the church, gave Paul joy. He said, “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness” (v. 25). Paul counted it a privilege to reveal to the Gentiles what was once a mystery: “Christ is now in you, the hope of glory” (vv. 26–27).

Paul was strongly committed to this task (vv. 28–29). As he proclaimed, admonished, and taught everyone with godly wisdom, it was his deepest desire to present everyone fully mature in Christ. He wrote, “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (v. 29). With the word “contend,” Paul was alluding to the intense efforts of an athlete. We too have the privilege to suffer for Christ, serving both Him and the church.

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