For the sake of His Body...

ACFers! How's everyone doing!! After much time away from InterVarsity stuff, I am back. As some of you know, my time was swallowed up for our Presbytery's CHI RO conference. What a blessed time! 225 students/counselors from Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida gathered together at Oxford College of Emory University for 5 days and 4 nights worshiping God. I am exhausted but rejoice in knowing that God used this conference. Check out my Facebook if you want to see some pictures...

But I am back to see what the Lord has been stirring up in all of you during my unexcused absence, and I see some deep theological reflection, but mostly good natured sharing of our walk with the Lord....

....as I was reading Colossians, I came to Chapter 1:24 and became even more amazed and astonished at Paul's statement. ...I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is his church. What could possibly be lacking in the afflictions of Christ? What could possibly be lacking for the salvation for those who believe? And can Paul really fill it up? By extension, can WE really fill it up? Hmm...

To preface, Paul is not saying that his afflictions add to the atonement of Christ. We understand from Paul's other teachings that his sacrifice is once and for all without any equivocation. Christ's sacrifice is not somehow lacking in efficacy. His afflictions & death is the only sufficient work to purchase salvation.

But there is true sense that Christ's work is just the beginning of the church and Paul's duty was to work out all the fruits & implications of Christ's death, resurrection, & ascension. So for the church to advance, he must work and sometimes suffer for the church that he desperately loves. Thus, he was working to see the fulness of the gospel worked out in his life.

And so should we! Afflictions are a true part of the Christian life. Struggling or suffering for Christ's sake builds up the body of Christ and strengthens all of us in our understanding of salvation. Why do I bring this up? Let us pray that we do not take the easy way out as we seek God's guidance as servants for ACF. Let us suffer not for our own sake--our reputation, our grades, our resources---but let us suffer for Christ. As we work for HIM, He will comfort us (cf. 2 Cor 1) and strengthen us with the same grace that he gave to Paul and the other disciples after him....


That's it! I hope this is not a downer. I just believe that we must continue to challenge ourselves to see HIM and not ourselves.....

Love you guys!
P Young