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To be admonished and instructed, to be punished and reproved, to be trained and corrected — no one chooses these things because they are neither pleasant nor entertaining. But they are in God’s plan for our spiritual maturity.
My brother I can relate to this last line for it is not easy having the heart of Christ in you. I know what am saying.
Godbless
This is God's universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world.
I have never heard anyone say, "The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort." But I have heard strong saints say, "Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God's love and growing deep with him, has come through suffering."
So suffering clearly is designed by God not only as a way to wean Christians off of self and onto grace, but also as a way to spotlight that grace and make it shine. That is precisely what faith does; it magnifies Christ's future grace.
The deep things of life in God are discovered in suffering. So it was with Jesus himself. "Although he was a Son, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).
The pearl of greatest price is the glory of Christ. Thus Paul stresses that in our sufferings the glory of Christ's all-sufficient grace is magnified. If we rely on him in our calamity, and he sustains our "rejoicing in hope," then he is shown to be the all-satisfying God of grace and strength that he is. If we hold fast to him "when all around our soul gives way," then we show that he is more to be desired than all we have lost. Christ said to the suffering apostle, "My grace is sufficient for you, for [my] power is perfected in weakness."
I am (largely) evangelical myself, and I agree that the message cannot be watered down so that you can become more successful in 'winning converts'. So, Amen! Preach it brother!
I hear ya, sis, and I am praying for you.
Thank you! I don't deserve that, but thank you for thinking of me, sis.
All glory is to God. Soli deo Gloria!
Thank you, brother. Sorry, work has kept me away quite a bit, so my apologies for the late response. There're more changes afoot, but I'm going to keep mum on what they are for now. Expect another change (in the right direction, I hope!) come end-Jan or early Feb.
I look forward to discussing that with you. I will have to re-read it though, ha ha; it's been some time since.
God bless!
Best of luck in your new job!! (and congratulations!)