ISB ~ Philippians 1 v29

believe in him:Even our faith is a gift of divine grace (Acts 18:27; Eph 2:8).

suffer for his sake:Suffering brings great benefit to ourselves and others. On the one hand, it purifies us of selfishness and makes us sharers in Christ’s redemptive work (3:10; 2 Cor 1:5; Col 1:24; 1 Pet 1:6-7). On the other, it pushes the gospel into the world as believers bear witness to the Lord Jesus through persecution and martyrdom (1 Cor 4:913; 2 Cor 5:11). Scripture depicts suffering as a privilege (Acts 5:41) and so challenges us to embrace it and not simply endure it (Rom 8:17; 1 Pet 4:12-16).