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Joy and suffering in the Body of Christ

Beloved of Christ, of all the ministries in the Vineyard of God, I consider the ministry to the saints as greater than any other ministry. Paul in his epistle to Corinthians writes that the house of Stephenas had "addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints" (I Cor.16:15). Paul went all the way to Jerusalem to minister unto the "poor saints" there after collecting contributions from the people of God in Macedonia and Achaia (Rom.15:25-26). In his epistle to Philemon, Paul appreciates the people of God there for their love toward "all saints" and says, "We had great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee...." (Philemon.4-7).

The other day I was watching certain video programs made by some servants of God in USA. Many precious sisters and brethren in Christ worshiped God singing hymns and choruses in adoration of our Lord. They were bristled with joy as they lifted up their hands and danced in presence of our Lord. Oh, what a joy as members of the Body of Christ praised and worshiped God!

While watching the above programs, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to a magazine in Tamil language sent by a dear servant of God, in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India. In this magazine, testimonies concerning about ten pastors in various mission fields were narrated. These testimonies broke my heart to smithscreens. After reading the same, I really wondered whether I am really serving God. The Holy Spirit convinced me that while there is exceeding joy experienced by the people of God in one part of the Body of Christ, there are unbearable agony and sufferings by the people of God in another part of the same Body of Christ. In many non-Christian nations, the people of God undergo tremendous persecution.

When I looked unto the Holy Spirit with a broken heart, "Lord, what do you want me to do and I feel unworthy to do Thy ministry, when I compare myself to these precious servants of God who undergo untold sufferings due to penury and sicknesses in their bodies". The Holy Spirit reminded me, "Tell my people about My true and faithful servants who toil in My Vineyard".

As I started writing on the ministry of one Pastor Paul who served the Lord in a village called "Kottur" in Tamil Nadu, I received a telephonic call from the servant of God concerned that Pastor Paul entered into glory on 30-6-2004 after his kidneys failed. Pastor Paul was survived by his wife, two daughters and one son. I wondered this dear servant of God was named after the great apostle Paul probably because he was ordained of God to undergo sufferings like Paul "always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (II Cor.4:10-12). Did he, through his sufferings, "fill up which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh for His body's sake, which is the Church?" (Col.24-25).

Pastor Paul, who was earlier a staunch Hindu, accepted the Lord as his Savior and ministered to a particular group of people who are considered as "untouchables" by the other upper caste Hindus. He brought many Hindus and Roman Catholic people to Christ. Since his kidneys ceased to function, he was put on dialysis once a month. All his savings were spent on his treatment. In the meantime, the husband of his eldest daughter became mentally deranged within two months of marriage. His daughter then returned home and started living with him. In the midst of great sufferings in his body and mental agonies concerning the fate of his daughter, Pastor Paul ministered to the Lord in his church. Our Lord could have healed His dear servant. But it pleased Him to make him suffer so that he could fill up "which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh for His body's sake".

It is very easy to serve our God if we are financially prosperous and enjoy good health. It is very easy to preach the gospel through TV programs. But can we serve the Lord as pioneer missionaries in those places where the people have not even heard the Name of Jesus and where we do not have enough resources to do His ministry? Can we serve the Lord when we are afflicted with diseases in our bodies?

My ministry pales into significance as I mediate on the ministries of many servants! of God like Paul, who are anonymous in the Christian world.

"Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it" (I Cor.12:26). As members of the Body of Christ, let us weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice".

- Job Anbalagan