"The Purposes in Suffering" - #366

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Welcome to the new readers of this message!  Here is your Devotion, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained," and the Quotes of the Week.  Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason Gastrich

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JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"The Purposes In Suffering"

1 Peter 2:19, 20  "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently?  But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."

1 Timothy 4:10  "For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

2 Timothy 3:12  "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

1 Peter 3:14-18  "But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.  'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.'  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit."

James 5:10-13  "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.  Indeed we count them blessed who endure.  You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.  But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No,' lest you fall into judgment.  Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing psalms."

Insight: There is a purpose in suffering.  We should view our suffering in light of eternity.  Suffering won't last forever.  God is faithful and He will be with us through our trials and pains.  He will bless us and reward us.  He will also end suffering one day.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for giving us comfort as we suffer.  Thank you for warning us that we will suffer in this world.  Bless us and lift us up.  Help us to cling to You when we are in pain.  Thank you for being faithful and good.  Thank you for putting an end to suffering.  Remind us that suffering is temporary and that we will be in a place for eternity that has no suffering.  Praise You for your promises.  Let us stay close to You and remember them.  Thank you for the purposes in suffering.  Help us to keep sight of them.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

America's Foundation

Theodore Frelinghuysen (1787-1862), a U.S. Senator, was the chancellor of the University of New York, 1839-1850, and president of Rutgers College, 1850-1861.  Theodore Frelinghuysen corresponded with Presidential candidate Henry Clay after Clay had narrowly failed to be elected:

"Let us look away to the brighter and better prospects and surer hopes in the promise and consolations of the Gospel of our Saviour.  I pray, my honored sir, that your heart may seek this blessed refuge, stables as the everlasting hills, and let this be the occasion to prompt an earnest, prayerful, and, the Lord grant it may be, a joyful search after the truth as it is in Christ Jesus."  - In a letter he wrote to Presidential Candidate Henry Clay after receiving news of his defeat.  Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 1987), p. 158.

While serving in the office of the President of the American Bible Society, 1846-1861, Theodore Frelinghuysen wrote in a letter:

"The Bible has done it sir!  Seal up this one Volume and in a half century all these hopes would wither and these prospects perish forever.  These sacred temples would crumble or become the receptacles of pollution and crime....

"The influence of this sacred Volume alone can achieve it.  Let it find its way into every cottage until the whole mass of out population shall yield to its elevating power; and under the benignant smiles of Him who delights to bless the Word, our government, the last hope of liberty, will rest on foundations against which the winds and waves shall beat in vain."  - In a letter he write while President of the American Bible Society, 1846-1861.  Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 1987), p. 158.

A Moment of Introspection

The following help is available to the suffering Christian:

1) a confident perspective; God is in control

2) a rejoicing attitude because God's blessings are not canceled by worldly trials

3) a sense of purpose because there is a goal, a purpose, and a reason for suffering

The following are purposes for suffering:

1) education

2) spiritual growth

3) proving the reality of our faith

4) revealing the character and glory of God

5) creating a greater reverence for life

6) providing benefits to others

7) some suffering is beyond our reasoning, so we must wait to know the reason

Pray for those that are suffering.  If you are suffering, talk to God about it.  Seek comfort and relief from Him.

May God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

paskho, patho, and pentho (Greek, see 1 Peter 2:19): to experience a sensation of impression (usually painful), suffer, vex

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 11:4 - God worries that people could actually build a tower high enough to reach him (them?) in heaven.

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

Babel was the place where idolatry began.  Human pride ("let us make a name for ourselves") and fleshy desires were running rampant.  God was not worrying about the efforts of man reaching Him.  They couldn't.  This is precisely why God sent Jesus Christ to Earth and why He has been reaching man with His plan of redemption since the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

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