Partaker

2 Timothy 1:8 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"

When it comes to affliction, our natural tendency is to avoid it at all costs. We want to find an easier way, a way that won't hurt, that won't cost us anything. And yet, that is exactly opposite of what we are called to as Christians.

As far as we know, at that time, Timothy was not suffering active persecution. Paul, on the other hand, was writing this from a prison, locked up in chains. All because of his faith. Being a partaker of the afflictions does not just mean that we acknowledge that someone else is being afflicted. It literally means "to suffer hardship together with one, in company with." And the end goal is the furtherance of the Gospel.

Paul wasn't telling Timothy to do this because he wanted pity. No, he knew that if we are the body of Christ here on earth, then each part ought to be connected to the other. You know when you stub your toe and your whole body automatically cares for that part of you. God wants the same for His church, His body here on earth. When one is suffering affliction, we ought to be suffering together as one.

What would it look like for you to suffer as one with fellow believers who are persecuted?