Suffering Members

Posted on by korgrocker

“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.”
1 Corinthians 12:22-26 NLT

We all know what it is like to have a suffering body part. Someone recently asked what the purpose of the little toe on our feet is, to which the answer was “to establish that the furniture is in the right place”. We’ve all stubbed our toes at one time or another, and we know how painful it can be. Any part of our body can tell us when it is suffering, because we have an inbuilt nervous system that alerts us when and how the suffering is occurring. In fact, it is extraordinary how complex and complete the human body is, but why would we be surprised? God doesn’t build imperfect human beings. Sin and evil will distort and destroy, harming us in the process, but God’s design is, and always has been, perfect. Paul, quite correctly, wrote that when a part of the body is suffering, then the whole body suffers. Our sore toe will affect our walking, and it will constantly remind us that it has been damaged. Today, a whole vast industry has emerged, designed to alleviate the suffering we experience with painkillers or medical procedures, but none of it can replace what God intended in the first place.

The body of Christ can also experience suffering. The church I currently attend has a member who recently had his fourth heart attack, and he is now severely medicated and largely immobile. He is hurting, his wife is hurting, and the church suffers with them. Another lovely man in the church recently lost his wife, and his grief was shared by the congregation, who rallied around him with love and encouragement. However, often the suffering stems from other unnecessary and avoidable factors, such as hurtful words, gossip, and similar issues. Some people may suffer unnecessarily because they think something is going on when it isn’t. However, when suffering occurs, it is painful to the person concerned, and it will also impact the church, because hurting people often stay away. They suffer in silence.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first”

Jesus Christ

In Paul’s day, there was widespread suffering, especially among the early Christians. The Jews hated them. The Gentiles ridiculed and avoided them. Their businesses and families became the brunt of social ostracisation, and they suffered because of their faith. But Jesus warned of such things in words to His disciples, recorded in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first”. Jesus also said, “For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God” (John 16:2). So, we can imagine what the topic of conversation would be on a Sunday morning, as the believers assembled and shared their experiences, their suffering. Do we think that the rest of the believers would turn their backs on the suffering ones? Of course not. They would all suffer together. 

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world

Jesus Christ

But we have much encouragement from the Scriptures. Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later”. Peter wrote, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation” (1 Peter 5:10). But one last word from Jesus, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Yes, we might experience many trials and sorrows and much suffering in this world, but we remember that we are not of the world but for a short time are having to live in it. One last thing. What we suffer cannot compare to what Jesus experienced. In the garden of Gethsemane we read what He went through, “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine”” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was facing into the most horrific event that could be faced – He was about to take onto Himself all the sins of the world, past, present and future. That was a “cup of suffering” that we will never have to face.

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

So, fellow pilgrims, take heart, as Jesus said. Paul wrote, “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Who indeed!

Dear Father God. Anti-Christian sentiment is rife in our Godless societies. Secularism is the new religion, and Your children are suffering because of it. Please strengthen us, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Born Blind

Posted on by korgrocker

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”
John 9:1-3 NLT

The disciples asked a question that has perplexed generations of people – why are some people born with a physical problem? Jesus was walking somewhere with His disciples, and they asked Him for an explanation for the poor blind man’s disability. In those days it was common to think that a disability was a judgement for sin. Therefore it followed that the man who had been born blind was guilty of some terrible sin or other, and, if not him, perhaps his parents were at fault. But in their limited understanding and fuelled by a natural curiosity and desire to solve a mystery, the disciples asked the Master. Surely He would know what the problem was and why it happened.

But that was all very well for the disciples, journeying as they were with the Fount of all knowledge, but what about today, as we read about babies being born with a physical problem. A hole in a heart. Debilitating conditions such as cystic fibrosis. Missing limbs, or deafness. Or blindness like the man in the account we are reading. The list is endless and anguished cries of pain from distressed parents must often reach the heavens and beyond. The sad situation when a new life with so much potential is born struggling even to make a start in this world of ours. And some mums do feel guilt. They rack their minds to try and make some sense of it all, in case they had done something they shouldn’t have done during those formative weeks and months with the new born baby in their wombs. Some parents even shake their fist at God in a frustrated and angry attempt to focus blame.

We pilgrims look at someone with a disability, and wonder about the cause. But we forget that disabilities are a matter of degree. We all have, to some extent, a disability. Poor vision needing correcting glasses. Insulin for type 1 diabetics. Many suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. It is thought that over ten million people in the UK have arthritis. So a disability is just a matter of degree. With the man born blind, we read that his disability “happened so the power of God could be seen in him”. Another reason for having a disability could perhaps be for the outworking of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” But in it all, we know that no disability appeared in God’s plan for mankind. He created perfection, but sin destroyed what God intended. The consequence of living in this fallen world is before us every time we experience the aches and pains and sicknesses that so commonly afflict us.

In 1 Corinthians 15:53 we read, “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” One day God will transform our human bodies, complete with all the imperfections we know so much about and many of us have to live with, into a resurrected body, a perfect body just like Christ’s. And we will join together in the worship of our wonderful Creator, enjoying Him and our new bodies.

Dear God. We understand the impact sin has had on this world, and we thank You for Jesus, who came to overcome the works of the being who has brought so much distress to this world. We believe in Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

God’s Kindness

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT

We read these two verses today and receive the assurance that through Jesus everything will work out okay in the end. But those in the middle of the suffering Peter was referring to might wish to see a positive situation much sooner than that. Bringing that theme up to date, think of the single mum, constantly struggling to balance her small family budget. The man desperately looking for work so that he can pay his bills. The old lady cowering in a cold, dark cellar, waiting for the next bomb to fall, hoping that it doesn’t hit her home. The parents distraught as they look at their child, sick with an aggressive cancer, suffering beyond anything we would wish to experience. But in this sin-ridden world, all these examples are only too common and many lift their eyes to Heaven and shake their fists at a God they hold accountable for their misfortunes. How could the God of the Universe, they say, allow all this suffering to happen, particularly to them.

But Peter starts with the thought that God is kind. In fact, he refers to the eternal glory we will share with Jesus through God’s kindness. God doesn’t have to show us any kindness because, after all, we humans are polluted by sin, and we offend His very righteousness. But the revelation to Peter’s readers was that they could experience God’s kindness in the middle of their suffering. But how can that be, we ask? Will God pay our bills? Perhaps. Will He heal the sick child? It has happened before, many times. Will God …? In times of suffering, no matter how intense, we lift our eyes upwards to the very throne of God, not in anger, but looking to receive the kindness of our Heavenly Father. It is an encounter that will transform the situation in which we find ourselves. 

Whenever I think of God’s loving kindness, I go to the Book of Psalms. Here I can find prayers, songs, poems, and words of worship that can bind our spirits to God’s. Psalm 36:7a, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  … ”. Or Psalm 69:16, “Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies“. Then there’s Psalm 17:7, “Show Your marvellous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them“. 

We pilgrims live in a sin-ridden and evil world, and believers everywhere are not immune to the consequences of sin. But Jesus came to save us by taking on board the sin for us. And instead He gave us His righteousness. Paul wrote about what we call the Divine Exchange in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him“. So we have access to all God’s resources through Jesus. Peter wrote, “he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation”. J L Packer wrote in his book “Knowing God”, “We have said that when people know God, losses and ‘crosses’ cease to matter to them; what they have gained simply banishes these things from their minds”. 

So today, no matter what our situation is, can we just lift our eyes above the suffering and get a glimpse of God reaching out to us, ready and waiting to show us the kindness we need? There may just be a break in the clouds …

Dear kind and gracious Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your love for us, and we thank You for Jesus who has showed us the way to Your presence. Amen.

God’s Household

Posted on by korgrocker

“For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”
1 Peter 4:17-19 NLT

Chapter 4 of 1 Peter contains practical instructions and help for a generation suffering greatly for their faith, and who may have been struggling in it all to make the transition from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. And he was fully aware that for some people it was easier to give up the faith than to continue in it. In the previous few verses, he encouraged those who had suffered, or were still suffering, insults and even “fiery trials” for their faith in Christ, with the thought that they were blessed, and that His glorious Spirit rested upon them. But now, as a gentle warning, he wrote that judgement is waiting. 

But we pilgrims know that judgement is for unbelievers not believers. Revelation 20 contains the account of the Great White Throne and the books being opened. At this event “ … the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books”(Revelation 20:12b). That was not the judgement Peter was referring to; he was writing about “God’s household”, which consisted of His children and not the unbelieving majority in that society, who were not God’s children, and who were those who would eventually end up facing that terrible event before the throne, waiting fearfully for the verdict, Guilty! 

To understand the judgement Peter was writing about we need to turn to Hebrews 12:5-7, “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?” God disciplines His children, like any earthly father would (or should). Any believer who responds to the Gospel and becomes a child of God, is deluded if they think that they can continue to behave in a sinful way. That’s not how it works. Of course, the Holy Spirit within us will gently help us in our journey through sanctification to glorification, pointing out areas in our lives that need to be cleaned up. But sometimes a stricter approach may be required, hence the reference to “discipline” and “punishment”.

There is also a requirement for Christians to judge what is going on within the church. In 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, Paul wrote, “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”” Jesus also taught about sin against another believer in the church, and we can read what He said in Matthew 18:15-17.

But through all these heavier issues of sin, discipline, punishment and judgement, there must be an overriding influence of love and compassion. Paul gave some advice to the Corinthian church about a man who was causing hurt and trouble to them. And we read what he suggested in 2 Corinthians 2:7-8, “Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him”. 

We pilgrims have many siblings, as we share and live together in God’s household. And as in any family, we, from time to time, will go astray, and follow a rabbit trail into dangerous places. Our siblings, our fellow believers, will gently bring us back before any form of judgement becomes necessary. There is a saying that a bad apple will soon make the whole barrel bad. I have been in a church where that has been a very real danger, but a diligent pastor has brought judgement into the situation, although, sadly, the person concerned has ended up finding fellowship elsewhere. God allows judgement to take place within a church so that unrighteousness can be avoided. And if we end up the focus of the discipline then we must see beyond the shame and pain and instead look up to our Heavenly Father, who cares so much for each one of us.

Dear Father God. Help us we pray, in those times when we have gone astray. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Suffering Again

Posted on by korgrocker

“If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!”
1 Peter 4:15-16 NLT

In our consideration of the previous verse in 1 Peter 4, we reviewed the impact of insults because we “bear the name of Christ”, with the blessings of the Holy Spirit being upon us as a consequence. Peter continues in the verses we are looking at today by saying it is “no shame to suffer for being a Christian”. However, he pointed out that those committing a misdemeanour, no matter how trivial, may experience varying degrees of suffering. They could be a fractured relationship or embarrassment if the suffering results from “prying into other people’s affairs” or, at the other end of the spectrum, a capital punishment for murder. But Peter didn’t want to dwell in the negatives. There is a privilege in “being called by His name”. 

Do we pilgrims suffer for being a Christian? Jesus Himself didn’t pull any punches. He warned His disciples about the problems and troubles that being one of His followers would mean. John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world”.

One of the ways in which we Christian pilgrims will invite suffering is through our uncompromising belief that the only way to God, and eternal life with Him, is through His Son Jesus. He said, “ … I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The world around us have all sorts of funny ideas about how they can get to Heaven. Many people consider that their good lives will be sufficient, because, as their logic goes, a loving God will never reject them. Others follow one of the world religions that often have some funny ideas about how Heaven can be reached. Someone in my family believes that Heaven is full of compartments, one for each religion and even one for those who don’t believe in God, because they are convinced that it doesn’t matter which religion mankind follows – all roads will lead to Heaven. I don’t know how they came to that conclusion but my efforts to correct their thinking have failed, sadly. But whatever other religions say, we have to be on our guard against those who more subtly try and subvert the purity of God’s Word. To take an example, the Jehovahs Witnesses, commenting on John 14:6, say that the only way to heaven is by praying to God through Jesus. Superficially correct until we realise that the JW’s don’t accept that Jesus is God, instead believing that He is a created being, and may even be the archangel Michael. Their beliefs reject the Trinity, God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, and there is only one God, Jehovah. To back up their unbiblical doctrines, they have retranslated the Bible and come up with their New World Translation. So, as an aside, if that is the version you have on your bookcase, then throw it away.

We pilgrims know what we believe because the Holy Spirit within us helps us. Romans 8:16, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” We are not parent-less. God is our loving Heavenly Father, and He is with us day and night, whether we are suffering or not. We praise and worship Him today.

Dear Lord, please help us to believe that You are with us even when we’re not sure. Please forgive us for our doubts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Suffering

Posted on by korgrocker

“Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”
1 Peter 3:17 NLT

Does anyone not experience some form of suffering in their lives? There is the pain of an injury or illness. There is the grief associated with the loss of a loved one. The emotional pain when a relationship breaks down. Of course, there are many degrees of suffering, but we have all experienced it at one time or another. Peter, in today’s verse, added the thought that we can even end up suffering for doing a good deed. In today’s media there is the sad story of a man who was attacked and killed by two dogs because he was protecting his elderly mother. A good deed ending in a person’s death. We must also remember that doing a bad deed will often result in some form of suffering, as the civil authorities take action and prosecute a person for breaking a law. Note that Peter did not say that suffering was inevitable, but he contrasted the suffering resulting from a good deed with that gained by doing a bad deed. If the suffering was the result of a good deed in line with something that God wanted, then that was the better place.

On a more global scale, modern media brings to our attention disasters, wars and other events that bring much suffering, and all in real time. So almost at the same time as it happens we hear about the devastating earthquakes in Morocco or the floods in Libya. Events that have brought other people’s suffering right into our thoughts through our smartphones or TV. “Why does God allow such suffering to happen” is the clarion call that goes out in response. Jesus Himself warned about such world events. In Matthew 24:7-8 we read, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come“. The Book of Revelation details the plagues that will occur on Planet Earth as the End Time events take their course. Why? Because we live in a sad and dark world blighted by sin. Are the floods, famines and other natural events the result of mankind trashing the planet through the exploitation of natural resources? Perhaps, but one day God will explain all to those who ask. At such times we pilgrims turn to Scriptures, such as Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge“.

At a more personal level, suffering can result from our life choices. But in it all, we start to see some answers when we turn to God. The Book of Job is dedicated to suffering and is well worth a read. But neither Job or his friends could see a reason for his suffering. In the end he was silent before God, still in the dark about the purposes, but realising that through it all he had to trust in God. When we go through times of suffering, the natural response is to turn our backs on God, blaming Him for the situation we are in, but in times such as these our only response is to turn to Him, because he will stand with us in our troubles and support us through them all, step by step. 

Dear Father God. We trust You through all our trials and tribulations. For that we are deeply grateful. Amen.

Unjust Treatment

Posted on by korgrocker

“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.”
1 Peter 2:19-20 NLT

Have you ever noticed that people respond or react in a bad way when they are accused of something that is false, or when they experience an injustice? For example, if someone pushes in front of them at a supermarket checkout queue, or in roadworks on a motorway. A schoolchild accused of a misdemeanour that was not their fault, and so on. We could construct a list that is endless, because we have all experienced at one time or another an injustice at the hands of another person. So how do we respond in these circumstances? The natural reaction is to lash out, probably angrily. To push back against the accusing person, sometimes violently. This is how fights develop, especially when alcohol-fuelled. 

If the accusation is correct and we have been found out for a misdemeanour, then some form of punishment or correction might be justifiable. That is the basis of our justice system. So if we are caught speeding, then points on our licences and a fine are an apt punishment for the oversight, and will help us remember that there is such a thing as a speed limit. If a schoolchild is given a punishment exercise for not doing their homework then there can be no complaint. Peter wrote you “get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong”. In other words, God will just let things take their course. He will forgive a repentant sinner of course, but there may be consequences imposed by our earthly masters or authorities.

Peter wrote that “God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment”. Jesus, of course, taught exactly that. We read what He said in Matthew 5:39-42, “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow”. And Jesus Himself exemplified His words, as we read in Matthew 26:67-68, “Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”” Jesus never reacted. He stood submissively enduring terrible abuse. But He was of course conscious of His Father’s will and acted accordingly. In fact He went even further, when, in terrible pain, He prayed for His executioners, as we read in Luke 23:34a, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing“.

We pilgrims will, I’m sure, never have to suffer as Jesus did. But we will be faced with many an injustice here on earth. Perhaps we need to remember those four letters WWJD – What Would Jesus Do. So before we let out a tirade of righteous anger, let’s pause a moment. Take a deep breath, and lift up our eyes to Heaven. And imagine how pleased God will be if we just turn away.

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for such invaluable guidance. Please help us to live the way Your Son did. In His precious name. Amen.

Slaves

Posted on by korgrocker

“You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.”
1 Peter 2:18-20 NLT

We pilgrims read verses written to slaves with perhaps a thought that they don’t really apply to our Western societies. Occasionally a news report surfaces here in Britain highlighting the plight of a person trafficked to our shores and exploited for the benefit of another person. But much goes on that we apparently don’t know about, not only because someone in slavery doesn’t wear a badge defining their status. But there are estimates that, worldwide, there are 50 million people in slavery today, and a web search will soon reveal the extent of the problem. We know, of course, about the efforts of politicians in the 19th century, men and women who ceaselessly campaigned to have the slave trade stopped here in Britain, with the trade finally abolished in 1807 and existing slaves freed in 1833. 

In the early church, slavery was rampant, and conditions for the slaves were dire. Cruelty was common and the lot of a slave was not pleasant. Of course, the Jewish slaves were very well treated and they had rights, as we can read in Exodus 21. “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom” (Exodus 21:2). But most slaves in those days were treated as no more than possessions, to be treated in any way their owners desired.

But Peter wasn’t dealing with the rights and wrongs of slavery. He was focused on the behaviour of those who were Christian slaves. The essence of the Gospel was unity and the common bringing together of people of any status in life under the headship of Christ. Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus”. The same applies in our relatively slave-free society today. Our churches are made up of people from all walks of life. Rich and poor. Blue collar and white collar workers. Young and old, married and single. And people from all races and nations. We are indeed all “one in Christ Jesus“.

Peter wrote a hard message to those early Christian slaves. They had, he wrote, to treat their masters with respect, even if it wasn’t reciprocated. If they were treated badly, and didn’t react unsubmissively, then God would be pleased with them, Peter wrote. It was a difficult message for the slaves to take on board. But one having to be accepted amongst Christians all over the world, then and now. People may not be enslaved in the same way as they were in Peter’s world, but as they suffer persecution for the sake of their faith, God is pleased with them. They are banking treasure in Heaven, and one day there will be a celebration as it is cashed in.

Dear Father God. We will one day hear You say “Well done”, as we stay the course through this life. We praise and worship You today. Amen.

Christ’s Suffering

Posted on by korgrocker

“This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.”
1 Peter 1:10-11 NLT

Those prophets in Old Testament times wrote down some stuff that they thought must have been very strange. They heard what the Holy Spirit was saying to them and they faithfully recorded His words, but they couldn’t make the connection with a real event either then or yet to happen. Take Psalm 22 for example. If we look hard enough there appear to be about nine or so predictions of Christ’s death embedded in this Psalm, written by David. Take Psalm 22:18 for example, “They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing”. That happened as Jesus was crucified, as we can read in John 19:24, “So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did”. Those Roman soldiers would never have read Psalm 22, and even if they had, would it have made any difference? When David wrote Psalm 22 it was almost as though he went through the crucifixion experience in his Holy Spirit inspired imagination. Perhaps it happened as a dream and we can almost imagine him waking up and quickly writing down what must have been a vivid sleep experience.

In Psalm 22 the tone changes after verse 19. He is back down to earth and looks around again at the difficult time he was having. He turns from writing and praying about his current predicament to look upward into Heavenly places. And a warm glow starts to build in his spirit as he looks to God. In verses 25 and 27 he wrote, “I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfil my vows in the presence of those who worship you. … The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him”. David couldn’t wait to experience again the joy of worshipping and praising God along with his fellow people, and he even had a glimpse that perhaps one day all the nations of the world, Jews and Gentiles together, would join together in a wonderful praise event like never before seen.

The old prophets could dimly see an event in the future in which the Messiah, the Christ, would experience great suffering and death. We pilgrims, with the benefit of hindsight, know what happened on that fateful “Good Friday”. That day the prophets could “see” coming but without the full knowledge that it would change the world forever, and usher in a new age, one where the Saviour’s legacy was the continual presence of the Holy Spirit. And as the times get more and more wicked, the Holy Spirit within us can shine brighter and brighter in the darkness around us. God declared that light is good – Genesis 1:4, “And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness“. In John 8:12 we read, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”” The light we display to those around us makes a difference, and God has said it is good. The world might not think so, but, then, what does that matter?

Dear Father God. We thank You for giving us Your light to shine in our generation, in our families and communities. Amen.

Suffering

Posted on by korgrocker

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”
Romans 8:18 NLT

Paul compares the suffering being experienced by both him and the early Christians with the wonderful benefits of the future life spent with God. The persecution suffered by the first followers of the Way is well documented, and it frequently included torture and death, particularly during Nero’s reign after the major fire in Rome. Paul himself suffered much during his missionary journeys, as we read in 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27, “… I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm”. Now that is suffering and those early Christians were not unaware of what Paul had been through, because many of them experienced physical and economical hardship as well. We Western Christians have never experienced persecution on that scale, and we hope we never will.

Having said that, however, persecution is growing in the Western societies. Secularisation is well advanced and Christians are being increasingly marginalised. Congregations are dwindling. In Scotland we are currently going through a leadership election for a new First Minister, and one of the candidates, a committed Christian, has received terrible abuse because of her beliefs – she has even been told that Christian beliefs are incompatible with government in 21st Century Scotland. Persecution in the West is more subtle. A creeping erosion of Christian values. Verbal and societal attacks on individuals who dare to speak out a defence of their faith are becoming increasingly common. Globally, Christian persecution is increasing, but we shouldn’t be surprised about this because Jesus Himself warned about such things – we read in Matthew what He said to His disciples about the end times. Matthew 24:9-10 reads, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other”. Sound familiar?

But – thankfully, there is always a “but” – Paul reassured his readers with the truth that one day they will be with God in Glory. From the perspective of eternity, the time spent on Planet Earth is insignificant. A mere blip, a microcosm of time, too small to register. We don’t really know the extent of God’s glory. We can guess that it will be wonderful and amazing, even more so when we think that we too will share in it. We do know, though, that we cannot see God’s glory in this life. Moses was prevented from seeing even a glimpse of God’s face, as we read in Exodus 33, “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen”” (Exodus 33:20-23).

We pilgrims must stay the course. We must not give up, no matter how much opposition and abuse we receive. In an age when many are falling away from the faith, it is even more important that we stand firm, on the Rock that is the Lord. 

Dear Father God. We know the You are the only dependable foundation in a world that is shaking. We cling to the Rock – there is no other way. Amen.