2 Timothy 2:6 compares the Christian digging into the truth of GOD’s word to the hardworking farmer and says that the farmer must be the one who gets to eat the fruit 1st. And that is what happened. As I prayed and searched the word to understand a flash of light (insight) came and I am so excited!
There is a song that goes, “Get all excited go tell everybody that JESUS CHRIST is KING!” And that is so wonderfully true. But I am all excited about something HE showed me today. You may already know it, for it’s nothing new but it shows me GOD’s love and desire for me in a fresh way. Want to hear about it?
Nobody likes problems and we all try our best to get out of them but GOD showed me another reason for them and that they are a blessing not a curse.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try (test) you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
“My brethren count it all joy when you fall into diverse trials/ temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works (develops) patience (endurance). But let patience (endurance) have her perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and entire and lack nothing” (James 1:2-4).
“All things are for your sake (benefit)…For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light (by comparison) and momentary troubles are working for us (achieving) an eternal weight in glory that far surpasses the pain of today. While we look not at the things that are seen (our situation) but at the things which are not seen (what GOD is achieving for us through our situation). For what is seen (our situation) is temporary but what is unseen (what GOD is achieving for us through) is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).
Peter tells us to expect the fiery trials of problems to test us; from James we learn that suffering develops patient endurance and it in turn brings us to maturity; and Paul declares these troubles and hard things are for our benefit and are achieving eternal AWESOME things for us.
This is not new, I’ve known it, found comfort from this truth, and taught it for over 35 years but today, when writing a lesson I got all excited. Like that song but I changed the words. For I saw another part of why GOD lets us suffer.
2 Timothy 2:12 “if we suffer, we will reign with CHRIST.”
GOD allows my troubles and suffering not just to develop me and earn rewards for me but because HE wants me to reign with HIM! Hallelujah!
Looking unto JESUS the Author and Perfecter of my faith.
hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 