Colossians 1:24 Suffering

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. [Colossians 1:24 NASB]

Rejoicing in suffering is a common theme throughout the New Testament. It is mentioned so frequently that I can only conclude that we really need to be reminded over and over again.

Our motives for suffering are important. Paul said that he suffers for the sake of the church. Throughout Christian history, there have been many ascetic movements that teach that we should suffer for the sake of our personal holiness. In its most extreme forms, we have images of medieval monks lashing their own backs with a whip. 

In modern evangelical Christianity, many people fast in an effort to "crucify the flesh", or become more holy. Fasting is a perfectly valid spiritual exercise, but if you do it with the motive of denying yourself for the sake of your sanctification, then your motive is wrong. Sanctification - the process of becoming holy - is entirely by God's grace, just as salvation is. Any work you do, including fasting, to improve your sanctification is an act of the flesh, and is, therefore, counter to the Spirit of God. As Paul told the Galatians;

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? [Galatians 3:3 NASB]

I have read a number of commentaries, and Paul's phrase "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions," has prompted a wide range of speculations.

The most far-fetched speculation says that Jesus' atoning work was not completed on the Cross, and that the church, as the body of Christ, must continue to suffer as part of the atonement. This qualifies as heretical teaching since the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus' atonement was completed on the cross.

A more common speculation agrees that Jesus' atonement was completed on the cross. Nonetheless, He continues to suffer, as His church suffers. This lacks the heresy of the previous speculation, but it is also not scriptural. We see in Hebrews;

...nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. [Hebrews 9:25-26 NASB]

Jesus suffered and died. He rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father in Heaven. His suffering is complete.

Much more likely, Paul is using poetic language (which he often does) to describe identifying with the sufferings of Christ. This was a common attitude in the early church. Early in the book of Acts, the apostles were arrested and tried. When the council thought to kill them, a scholar named Gamaliel convinced them to let the apostles live;

They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. [Acts 5:40-42 NASB]

Bearing afflictions with joy won' make you more holy, but it will make you more useful for the kingdom of God;

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. [2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NASB]

We don't look for suffering, but when it comes we embrace it. We allow it to mold our character;

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [Romans 5:3-5 NASB]

It is not natural to be happy about suffering. But if we turn to Jesus; by His grace, and through His Spirit, we can rejoice.

Father, I pray for the grace to endure suffering with joy. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for all things.