Monday - again! They seem to roll around on a regular basis, don't they? But it's been a good Monday for us at the Hodges' house. Robert has felt better than average today and spent quite a bit of time at his desk - a place he really enjoys being. Robert has always been very detailed and methodical. He likes making sure everything is entered correctly and up-to-date. So he was in his element today and feeling more like himself than he has the last several days --- that makes it a good day for both of us! Thank You, Lord, for good days of ordinary pleasures that sometimes seem very extraordinary.
Does anyone else feel that very soon we may be viewing lots of things like that? Things that we have for so long taken for granted may become things that we will view as extraordinarily special? I think we are in for changes - I just pray that they don't come too quickly or too drastically. What changes do you see coming in our future? Or do you think I'm being a little overly dramatic in my assessment - because I can be that person! :)
We left off on Friday talking about our weakness compared against our great and wonderful Father's immense power, and how we need to not only acknowledge that difference, but rejoice in it and praise God for His ability to compensate for our inabilities. We will boast and brag about how very weak we are, because our weakness allows us to show off our God's love for us and that love put into action on our behalf, rescuing us from scenarios that have looked, from human standpoints, unrescuable.
Remember, our question this week is going to be: What is the purpose(s) of suffering in a believer's life and in what different ways can we suffer?
And our verse to memorize this week will be one that we probably already have a jump start on, but one that needs to be secure! "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
OBSERVATION
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 "In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were afflicted in every way: struggles on the outside, fears inside. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort he received from you. He announced to us your deep longing, your sorrow, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more."
Philippians 1:12-14 "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly."
Paul really wants the Corinthians to know of his sufferings, doesn't he? Now he's telling them about what happened in Macedonia - we've already seen where he's told them about his troubles in Philippi, Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra - he wants them to know he has suhhhhhh-ferrred!
Paul's purpose in continually telling them about his suffering was to also continually tell them about God's provision. Here he says there were exhausted - worn out. They had struggles on the outside, fears on the inside - something inside me wants to sing, "stuck in the middle with you" - and I think that might be appropriate. Have you ever felt like Paul is describing? All kinds of conflicts and problems swirling around you, and all kinds of doubts and fears rolling inside of you. And what we have is God - right smack dab stuck in the middle of all of it! God right there, ready to comfort the humble - in some translations the "depressed". When we're suffering without and within and we bare our hearts before God, He is our source of comfort, and He knows what we need. In Paul's case, God knew he needed his friend Titus. And not only the presence of Titus, but the words that Titus brought to him of the care and concern that the people of Corinth had for Paul in all of his troubles. And Paul was spiritually discerning enough to recognize that Titus' arrival was no coincidence, it was a sent by God in Paul's time of need. Paul could feel the love of His Father in the gifting of His comfort.
In Philippians, Paul wants his Christian family there to be aware of the positive side of his imprisonment. (Now that's looking for the silver lining! I'm not quite sure if I was sitting in prison that I would be dwelling on the upside!) Paul realizes that his being held in prison has allowed the Gospel to advance in a way that it would never have been able to otherwise. Now, the whole imperial guard has heard the story of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on behalf of sinners. And added to that, Paul realizes that when other Christians ready to speak out for Christ have heard of his courage in his imprisonment, it has emboldened them to follow his example and speak out fearlessly in the advancement of the Gospel. Isn't it true that when we know others have endured something that we would normally fear, it gives us that added boost of confidence that we, too, might be able to do the same?
So, my observations on this Monday evening? I think first, I realize that suffering can reveal to us God's great love for us, His knowledge of our needs, and His incredible provision of just the right comfort. And then there's the fact that suffering can bring avenues of ministry that we would not have had otherwise. Whatever suffering we are going through, we are generally exposed to a different group of people than our norm - those very people may be who we are to share the treasure of the Gospel with during our time of suffering. And lastly, our suffering may encourage others who may have to go through the same thing - knowing that we made it, that we endured, that we even showed courage in the midst of suffering - may be just want they need to keep going and to have confidence that they can also stand strong.
Oh the joys of suffering! I'm not saying that lightly - it's just as James exhorts us in James 1:2-4:
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
I know that's our goal - to be mature and complete in our faith. Let's not despise the tool that can get us there. We will face trials no matter what; let's let God use them for our spiritual good.
Praying for each of you tonight as I pray for me to have the humility and submission to allow God to guide me in His best ways through all the days of my life - both those of joy and those of difficulty.
In His Amazing Love,
Janice
Does anyone else feel that very soon we may be viewing lots of things like that? Things that we have for so long taken for granted may become things that we will view as extraordinarily special? I think we are in for changes - I just pray that they don't come too quickly or too drastically. What changes do you see coming in our future? Or do you think I'm being a little overly dramatic in my assessment - because I can be that person! :)
We left off on Friday talking about our weakness compared against our great and wonderful Father's immense power, and how we need to not only acknowledge that difference, but rejoice in it and praise God for His ability to compensate for our inabilities. We will boast and brag about how very weak we are, because our weakness allows us to show off our God's love for us and that love put into action on our behalf, rescuing us from scenarios that have looked, from human standpoints, unrescuable.
Remember, our question this week is going to be: What is the purpose(s) of suffering in a believer's life and in what different ways can we suffer?
And our verse to memorize this week will be one that we probably already have a jump start on, but one that needs to be secure! "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
OBSERVATION
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 "In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were afflicted in every way: struggles on the outside, fears inside. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort he received from you. He announced to us your deep longing, your sorrow, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more."
Philippians 1:12-14 "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly."
Paul really wants the Corinthians to know of his sufferings, doesn't he? Now he's telling them about what happened in Macedonia - we've already seen where he's told them about his troubles in Philippi, Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra - he wants them to know he has suhhhhhh-ferrred!
Paul's purpose in continually telling them about his suffering was to also continually tell them about God's provision. Here he says there were exhausted - worn out. They had struggles on the outside, fears on the inside - something inside me wants to sing, "stuck in the middle with you" - and I think that might be appropriate. Have you ever felt like Paul is describing? All kinds of conflicts and problems swirling around you, and all kinds of doubts and fears rolling inside of you. And what we have is God - right smack dab stuck in the middle of all of it! God right there, ready to comfort the humble - in some translations the "depressed". When we're suffering without and within and we bare our hearts before God, He is our source of comfort, and He knows what we need. In Paul's case, God knew he needed his friend Titus. And not only the presence of Titus, but the words that Titus brought to him of the care and concern that the people of Corinth had for Paul in all of his troubles. And Paul was spiritually discerning enough to recognize that Titus' arrival was no coincidence, it was a sent by God in Paul's time of need. Paul could feel the love of His Father in the gifting of His comfort.
In Philippians, Paul wants his Christian family there to be aware of the positive side of his imprisonment. (Now that's looking for the silver lining! I'm not quite sure if I was sitting in prison that I would be dwelling on the upside!) Paul realizes that his being held in prison has allowed the Gospel to advance in a way that it would never have been able to otherwise. Now, the whole imperial guard has heard the story of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on behalf of sinners. And added to that, Paul realizes that when other Christians ready to speak out for Christ have heard of his courage in his imprisonment, it has emboldened them to follow his example and speak out fearlessly in the advancement of the Gospel. Isn't it true that when we know others have endured something that we would normally fear, it gives us that added boost of confidence that we, too, might be able to do the same?
So, my observations on this Monday evening? I think first, I realize that suffering can reveal to us God's great love for us, His knowledge of our needs, and His incredible provision of just the right comfort. And then there's the fact that suffering can bring avenues of ministry that we would not have had otherwise. Whatever suffering we are going through, we are generally exposed to a different group of people than our norm - those very people may be who we are to share the treasure of the Gospel with during our time of suffering. And lastly, our suffering may encourage others who may have to go through the same thing - knowing that we made it, that we endured, that we even showed courage in the midst of suffering - may be just want they need to keep going and to have confidence that they can also stand strong.
Oh the joys of suffering! I'm not saying that lightly - it's just as James exhorts us in James 1:2-4:"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
I know that's our goal - to be mature and complete in our faith. Let's not despise the tool that can get us there. We will face trials no matter what; let's let God use them for our spiritual good.
Praying for each of you tonight as I pray for me to have the humility and submission to allow God to guide me in His best ways through all the days of my life - both those of joy and those of difficulty.
In His Amazing Love,
Janice
No comments:
Post a Comment