Who Wants to Suffer?

     So who would like to suffer?  I don’t think any of us long to suffer and neither did Job.  Yet, the Lord allowed him to lose everything in order to test and prove this man a faithful believer.  Imagine losing your wealth, servants, children and even your health.  Even in all this, Job did not curse God and die as his wife had suggested to him.  He had questions of God as to why he had to go through this time of loss and grief.  On top of it, his friends were of little help to him but to heap condemnation on his head.  However, as believers, we are not promised a life without tribulation, suffering or grief.

     Lamentations 3:31-33 tells us “For men are not cast off by the LORD forever.  Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.  For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”  So how are we to understand what the writer is saying?  Yes, God’s children do suffer, but it is not without meaning.  He has a purpose for everything that He allows into our lives.  We may not be able to figure it out any better than Job.  In fact, the best example for us is our Savior Himself.

     In the book of Hebrews 5:7-9, the writer tells us this about our Lord Jesus:  “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him”.  What words of comfort!  Jesus  pleaded with the Father to let the cup pass Him by, but He went on to pray that if it was God’s will, He would yield Himself to it completely.  His suffering made our salvation possible.  This is why Jesus is the perfect High Priest for us.  He understands our suffering and our pain.  Isaiah 53:10 tells us “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.”  

     Our viewpoint on suffering and grief needs to change; for if Christ suffered and died so that we might be forgiven of our sins, we can see that God brought good out of the cruel cross.  Therefore, our suffering and grief has a purpose too.  We may not be able to see it at the time, but we can know that God is working in us for His glory and our good.

     Over the course of my life, I have met many people that have suffered with chronic illness, disability and loss.  Those who had faith in Christ blossomed despite their earthly trials.  In fact, it seemed to deepen their trust and obedience to the Lord.  We often forget that the Lord is molding us into the likeness of His Son, and this means, we will have to go through His refining fire at times.  Our sharp edges need to be smoothed out which is often a painful process.  My mother always remarked to me that pain can either make you better or bitter.  I choose to be better rather than bitter, don’t you?  This is when I turn to the book of James and read chapter 1: 2-4:  “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” 

      This is the high calling to which the Lord has called each of us.  We are to grow in Him and there will be times when he uses grief and suffering in order to round off our rough edges.  Let us allow the Spirit to work in us so that we might be conformed to the image of Christ even if it means we must walk through the hard places.  Remember, the Lord is our Shepherd and He goes with us through all the valleys.  Selah!

When Scripture Becomes Real

      There are times in our life when Scripture really seems to jump off the pages and into our hearts at full gallop and such was the case recently when a friend sent me a poem she had written and also the Bible reference she drew it from.  Here is what Teri Peterson, a dear friend, sent to me                                     

“Let me see with eyes like Yours,

Not blinded by the world.

Keep my faith growing, Lord,

Like a flag unfurled.

Make me in Your image, and

equip me for each task.

Be available to me, every

time I ask.

Afflicted but not crushed, O Lord,

Perplexed but not despairing.

Persecuted but not forsaken,

Because You are ever caring.

Even when struck down, O Lord, I

will not be destroyed. 

For when I trust and call on You

Your Word will not return void!”   (Taken from 2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

     The poem could not have come at more appropriate time for me as I considered Paul’s description of what he had been through.  I love the way he begins these verses giving all glory to God:  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”  In the Bible, Paul says he was  "afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”  All this was so that others could see the life of Christ in him.

     Personally, I did not suffer the many persecutions or afflictions that Paul endured but I was struck down in my heart when my husband suddenly died.  Then, when I fell and broke my hip, I could say I was afflicted but not crushed.  What a timely message this was for me when I considered the events of my life.  Through the hardships of life, we, as believers, are to show forth the glory of God because we know that we will not escape this life without facing trials and tribulations just as Jesus told us.

     Even in the loss of spouse, a broken bone and surgery, there is the comfort of Jesus Christ and the everlasting arms holding us up.  Paul didn’t quit even after being stoned, imprisoned and beaten.  He persevered for the glory of the Lord that others might know Christ and His saving power.  

      Indeed, I have been slowed down with surgery and my heart grieves for the loss of the one I loved, but I haven’t been destroyed or crushed.  God has provided in so many ways with Christian friends, family and fellowship that I must keep on for the glory of the Lord until He calls me home.  My friend, Teri, did me a great service by sharing her poem and Scripture with me that I might be encouraged.  As Hebrews 10:25 reminds us:  “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  This is our job to encourage one another for this life is filled with many heartaches but Christ has overcome the world!  Selah!

Are You a Part of the Solution?

     No church ever escapes problems, struggles, disagreements or hurdles in this life and it is never more evident than today.  Our culture has moved away from the Judeo-Christian heritage that at one time was the foundation for our society.  Some of this has resulted in a very “me” oriented way of thinking and doing life.  As a result, we find ourselves, like the Corinthians, dealing with the results of people coming to follow Christ who have had no background in the Bible or church attendance.  This means there is a need to teach the Word with great love and patience to bring an end to confusion.

     In chapter one of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul starts out thanking God for the church and the testimony of Christ that is there.  However, he addresses the reports that there are divisions in this thriving body.  Verse 10 says:  “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united.”  We know, as we follow the letter, that many things have caused hurt and disruption among them; so Paul goes about teaching them biblical truths to strengthen them.  Their culture, like ours, had many pagans who had no background at all in knowing God’s Word and how to grow in their new found faith.  Thus, Paul took his time and taught them as you would an infant teaching them little by little (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).  Then, as they grew in strength, Paul worked to lay a foundation of Jesus Christ that this church could build upon it.  So what does this model teach us as we deal with issues in our modern day fellowships?  

     When we see an area of weakness or struggle, it is so easy to criticize it.  We may grumble or complain that we wish this or that would change, but do we do anything about it?  I had a college professor who used to ask, “Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?”.  This is a good question.  Paul saw problems in the church and did not want to see this fellowship that was growing come to ruins.  In his case, he wrote letters to affirm what was good but also to correct areas of dispute.  Of course, he had a position of authority as an Apostle, and we may say that as a church member we do not have that kind of ability to correct something.  However, there are things we can do to help the body grow in unity and agreement as Paul desired for the body of believers.

     If we see areas where there is something lacking, we can pray about it.  This should be obvious, but we often forget what a powerful tool this is in the Lord.  God has the wisdom, answers and guidance we need, so we must look to Him first.  Jesus said in Matthew 17:20:  “And He said to them, 'Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard see, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.’”  Many problems are resolved as we take them before the Lord.  He can change our hearts to see things differently or He can change and open doors that were closed.  So prayer should be our first place to take our concerns.

     Secondly, we must remember that we are a family, and families may have disagreements.  When they do, we have many resources we can go to in seeking resolution.  The Bible is our foundation for truth.  This should be our first place to seek wisdom.  Likewise, we need not be afraid to talk with those who are in authority…our pastors, our leaders or those directly involved in

an area of our concern.  If we do not communicate, how will they know?  In our fellowship with others, we are meant to grow.  As Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  Perhaps the area that is bothering us could be something designed to make us grow and not necessarily something to annoy us.  By praying, reading the Word and talking with those in authority,  we will find the answer and peace of heart.

     Finally, seek the Lord as to how we may be used by Him to remedy the problem area.  Would God have us  teach a class, volunteer to help in some way or merely pray?  How can we be a solution to an issue?  Everyone is created in God’s image, but not everyone has the same gift, calling or personality that we do.  There will be times we bump into each other but this is a chance to exercise grace.  We need to make certain that we are not part of the problem or contributing to it but are part of God’s solution.  

     Paul sought to bring unity and not division to the church in Corinth.  He did so with loving rebuke, encouragement and teaching.  He prayed for them too.  How will God use us to bring unity to the Body?  May we be the peacemakers in our fellowships that God may get the glory!  Selah!