Suffering is not unnatural but normal. It is not a curse but
a blessing leading to Christlike-ness:
·
2 Corinthians 4:10–11 always carrying in
the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’
sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
It is granted by God along with the gift of faith:
·
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted
to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also
suffer for his sake,
If Jesus had to be perfected by suffering, so too must we:
- Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The price of humility is suffering:
·
James 4:9–10 Be wretched and mourn and
weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Therefore, we should rejoice in suffering since it produces
character and hope:
·
Romans 5:3–4 Not only that, but we
rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and
endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Suffering turns us to God, who knows exactly when to restore
us:
·
1 Peter 5:6,10 Humble yourselves,
therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt
you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you… And after you
have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and
establish you.
Suffering refines our faith by getting rid of its impurities:
·
1 Peter 1:6–7 In this you rejoice, though
now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that
perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory
and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ
We should anticipate suffering. It prepares us for a joyous
return of our Savior by investing our hope in Him alone:
·
1 Peter 4:12–13 Beloved, do not be
surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share
Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is
revealed.
We need not fear suffering for Christ has complete control:
·
John 16:33 “I have said these things to
you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But
take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Suffering teaches us to not trust in ourselves but in God
alone:
·
2 Corinthians 1:8-10 For we would
not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in
Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we
despaired even of life: yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within
ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the
dead: who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we
have set our hope that he will also still deliver us.
When we graciously endure unjust suffering, God is honored:
·
1 Peter 2:19–21 For this is a gracious
thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For
what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if
when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the
sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered
for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
·
God performs His greatest work through our
suffering:
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How to endure suffering? By knowing that it is preparing us
for eternity:
·
By Looking at how Jesus had endured suffering: Hebrews
12:2–3 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from
sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or
fainthearted.
·
2 Corinthians 4:16–18 So we do not lose
heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed
day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are
seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Suffering dashes dreams of temporal happiness and reminds us
that our reward awaits us in heaven. Suffering corrects our priorities and directs
our sights to the eternal.
3 comments:
I love this. Let the scripture be front and center. Let the Lord speak through His word.
That's exactly the way I feel!
However, I had left out one critical verse in your copy: Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
If Jesus had to be made perfect through suffering, how much more so must we!
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