8.19- Suffering (3)

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 8.19-

Suffering (3)

Suffering draws us to seek the will of God.

 

Some of our suffering comes because we are being disciplined away from certain temptations. We are children of God and are not to be involved in being a murderer, thief, criminal or even a meddler in other people’s business.

 

There is a type of suffering that comes to us because we are children of God.  The world has always been mocking and abusive of those who are committed to live a godly life.  We stand for justice and truth and the world does not like those who stand up for these things.

According to the viewpoint of God’s children the suffering is not very long compared to the eternity that we envision with God when our work here is finished.

 

Troublesome times remind us to love people deeply and overlook their sins and pray for God’s mercy for those who mistreat us.  In times of suffering hospitality is such a great gift to give.  A meal given can transform our hearts and minds.  Service that people give us without complaining and grumbling is a powerful mental healer.  Those who have gifts they bring to help the suffering are being stewards of a gift that God has given them.

 

When we comfort those who suffer it is important to align our words with Jesus Christ, our Lord and our leader.  We can read His life and scripture and see how he did His comforting and we can follow His lead.

 

When we serve the suffering it is important to get our strength to do so from God’s strength and not depend on our own strength.  This allow God to receive all the glory and avoids the accumulation of pride, arrogance, conceit and self-righteousness to become an ugly barnacle on our ship of faith.

 

When we choose to live in any attitude exempt humility and dependance upon God we are making a foolish choice that can wreck our own conscience and heart and soul.  This arrogance was the very failure of the devil himself.

 

When we suffer as a Christian and suffer with others who have led a godly life we have a chance in those moments to point people to God who is our strength.  Finishing our suffering in a glorious way and a powerful witness to others. My dear sister in law, Gene Wishard, lost her lovely Christian school teacher daughter at age 25.  I think of how Gene’s strength and faith during Gena’s funeral has strengthened Alan, her son,  and all of us.

 

We have in our minds that eventually God will bring all things to their proper end.  He is the judge and we are not.  He is full of justice and righteousness but also full of mercy and compassion.  When all is done the end will be glorious and beautiful.

We have this hope as children of God and this forgiven and cleansed heart allow us to see God in dark times.

 

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