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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort He gives. We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.
2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (CEV)
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Suffering is inevitable in life. We all are going to go through it.
Now, the average normal person would see no positives in suffering, only negatives. But as we often see in the scriptures, the word of God doesn’t share in the views of the world or human nature. Instead, we often see our perspectives challenged and transformed by our Lord. Today’s scripture passage would be one such instance. Look again at these words from the Apostle Paul as he continues in his introductory words to the Corinthian Christians through his second letter to them.
We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort He gives. We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were. 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (CEV)
Yes, suffering happens to everyone. If Jesus suffered then so will all of the Lord’s people, whether they profess their belief in His Son or not. Herein lays the delineation as to how suffering can be viewed by a person, either as a positive or a negative.
A person who has no belief in Jesus would not have any comfort from knowing the blessed assurance of salvation gained through Him. A suffering leading to possible death would be seen as a curse, a road to a depressing doom.
Conversely, a Christ believer sees suffering as a sharing in what Jesus endured in order to save them. He suffered in place of all sinners and it would be foolish to believe that we would never suffer in life. Jesus removed the penalty of sin but he didn’t take away affliction and hardship. Both are a part of the human experience, even for Christians.
Yes, suffering happens to Christian believers but they receive a comfort in their suffering that non-believers don’t gain. Jesus has assured that although we suffer, we will one day be free from affliction. Death has no sting or victory over the one who believes in Jesus and this is a great comfort for those in Christ. I know it is for me.
This guarantee of comfort in the midst of affliction carries with it a special byproduct: patient endurance. Paul certainly understood this as time after time he was persecuted and mistreated for the cause of Christ as he brought the Gospel to parts of the world outside of Israel. Through the strength and power of the Lord, Paul endured and persevered through suffering and hardship and he believed the Corinthian Christians would be able to do likewise. They would follow his lead through the power and strength of the Jesus they professed and believed in.
Suffering brings us to the reminder that we serve a God who is the Father of compassion and all comfort. So when trials and difficulties come upon us that lead to suffering, we only need to turn to the Lord who will not only comfort us but produce patient endurance and perseverance as we wait for Him to lead and guide us through our tough times.
Thanks be to God for His gift of comfort and the strength we need to make it through adversity when it comes.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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