10.18.09 SUFFERING / PART 3: Today we will pick up from last spring on the study of the most unwanted gift from God, “suffering”. Today we will be introduced to how God uses suffering as a “thorn in the flesh” to keep us from sinful pride - and as a “refiners fire” to strengthen and purify our faith, which is “more precious than gold” to God! We also watched & discussed the video on www.Tangle.com of “Jesus Bring the Rain” (posted by Michael on 9.13.08) which tells the story of how one young man was brought to faith through as the Lord worked through a serious car accident. Please check out the lyrics of this song by “Mercy Me”.
(GOD GIVES YOU A THORN IN THE FLESH TO KEEP YOU HUMBLE!)
(Good News, Issue 23, Suffering, Pages 12-13)
Today we continue our study of “Suffering”by reading and discussing several more articles from Issue #33 of the Good News quarterly magazine. Here are some of the highlights and quotes from this article. (Note: The underlining & bolding in quotes are mine - DCE Ken).
1. Here is yet another source of some of our suffering - to keep us humble. St. Paul clearly explained this source of suffering in his life as recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7, which reads: “To keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me - to keep me from exalting myself!”
2. Becoming filled with pride, which leads to “exalting” ourselves and depending on our own “self-righteousness” is a problem that we ALL have because of our fallen sinful nature!
3. When we recognize the “thorn(s)” in our own lives, we should view them as gifts from God given to help us to recognize our need for God’s righteousness given to us through faith in Christ! Suffering from these “thorns” is probably the most unwanted “gift” we receive from God - but that is exactly what the Bible calls it a “gift”! Since it comes from a loving God, we can assume it comes to us only when God sees a need for it - therefore we should also pray for wisdom and discernment to determine which areas of our lives need spiritual growth that would take away the need for the “thorn”.
(YOUR FAITH IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD!)
(Good News, Issue 23, Suffering, pages 14-15)
Biblestudies\Suffering.Good News Part 3.101809
