Supplement What Is Lacking in Christ

Christ’s afflictions are complete. Now you get the chance to sacrifice to supplement what Christ can now longer do.

The second part of Colossians 1:24 is a little troubling…

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

How is Christ lacking in anything?

Does Paul have a complex? He may. But he is pointing out something every minister needs to understand.

Through sacrifice comes growth in others.

First thing, Paul does not say Christ’s sacrifice is insufficient for salvation. His sacrifice alone saves.

As the Church, we are Christ’s physical body on this earth. He no longer has a body…besides us.

So for others to grow and for new people to find Jesus, we must go through suffering, difficulty and sacrifice. For others to know the sacrifice Jesus gave, we must sacrifice as his body.

Jesus cannot sacrifice anymore than he already has. We make his sacrifice complete through our own sacrifice for the sake of others.

This is how Paul cam “rejoice in suffering.” He finds this an honor. He even goes on to list his ministry description. You can fell the pride come through his writing. The pride is about what he gets to do for Kingdom advancement. And his pride is in their benefit, not his.

You must be a healthy person to give something of value to others. You cannot give away what you do not have already.

But ministry is not a self advancement. It is a Kingdom advancement and an others advancement.

People have a radar for self advancement. And even if they come from outside the church…actually maybe especially if they come from outside the church…they have a heightened sense for self advancement.

And this is a daily choice. You cannot choose to sacrifice in ministry once and then you are good. You have to go through each day with the mindset of rejoicing in sacrifice.

And this is a growing choice. The more you make this choice, the more sacrifice grows in you. This choice is a compounding choice. Yesterday’s sacrifice grows in interest today. And over 20, 30, 40 years, you will find millions in this sacrificial bank account making a difference for God’s Kingdom and others.