2003-07-25 - Passages About Suffering

At one time or another, all of us will have to deal with suffering in our Earthy life. It may be spiritual, emotional, physical, financial or a combination. Some people have the false idea that if something bad happens, it's because we are out of God's will. Often just the opposite is true. Today we will read some of what the Bible has to say about suffering. Special note to recent subscribers: From time to time, we send out devotionals (by requests of some readers) with little or no commentary, preferring to primarily let the Bible "speak for itself." When we do this, we make every attempt to choose a balance of passages. But of course, these devotionals will never be exhaustive references. All passages today are from The Amplified Bible.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].

John 9:1-3 AS HE passed along, He noticed a man blind from his birth. His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered, "It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him."

Isaiah 53:3-4 He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him. Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

1 Corinthians 11:29-31 For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death. For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].

Revelation 21:4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.

Jan

jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org