The answer to suffering

Dr. Peter Kreeft, taken from "The Case for Christ Study Bible," page 1618.

The answer to suffering is not an answer at all, for no simple answer can tell you what you need to know.  The hope is in the Answerer.  It's Jesus Himself. It's not a bunch of words; it's the Word. It's not a tightly woven philosophical argument; it's a person.  The person.  The answer to suffering cannot just be an abstract idea, because suffering isn't an abstract issue; it's a personal issue. It requires a personal response.  The answer must be someone, not just something, because the issue involves someone - God, where are you?

Jesus is there, sitting beside us in the lowest places of our lives.  Are we broken? He was broken, like bread, for us. Are we despised? He was despised and rejected of men.  Do we cry out that we can't take it anymore? He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  Do people betray us? He was sold out Himself. Are our most tender relationships broken? He too loved and was rejected. Do people turn from us? They hid their faces from Him as from a leper. Does He descend into all of our hells? Yes, He does. 

From the depths of a Nazi death camp, Corrie ten Boom wrote: "No matter how deep our darkness, He is deeper still." He not only rose from the dead, He changed the meaning of death and therefore the meaning of all the little deaths - the sufferings that anticipate death and make up parts of it. He is gassed in Auschwitz. He is sneered at in Soweto. He is mocked in Northern Ireland. He is enslaved in the Sudan. He's the one we love to hate, yet to us He has chosen to return love. Every tear we shed becomes His tear. He may not wipe them away yet, but He will.

On 1 John 1:8-9

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

Oh, the sweet certainty of these words.  "He will cleanse us." Not he might, could, would or has been known to.  He will cleanse you.  Tell God what you did.  Again, it's not that He doesn't already know, but the two of you need to agree (my emphasis).  Spend as much time as you need.  Share all the details you can.  Then let the pure water of grace flow over your mistakes.

Max Lucado, "God is With You Every Day," November 30 devotional

On Galatians 5:25

To walk in the Spirit means to move upon one's way to heaven, to grow in faith, to abound yet more and more in love, to do those things that the Spirit urges us to do.

Daily Bread, 1926 devotional

What are blessings?

No matter how much we might be tempted to read into Holy Scripture, blessings are not a reflection of how well we are doing in this life.  Blessings are not about us; rather, blessings are about God who gives them.  Blessings are exactly what King David asked for: a sign of God's merciful favor.

Mary J. Moerbe, "Blessed - God's Gift of Love," page 18

A Fountain Overflowing

Lord
keep me from being
a masochist
or a martyr
demonstrating my distress
parading my pain
proud of my patience
before others
Let me rather be
poured out
spilled over
a fountain overflowing
the Christ in me
that others may see
Him
and not myself
All glory 
be to You
O Lord

1 John 2:6     2 Corinthians 4:8-11

From "Prayers for People Under Pressure" by Donald L Deffner, page 47

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Jesus, thou art all compassion
 Pure unbounded love thou art
Visit is with thy salvation
 Enter every trembling heart

from verse one (b)

It's a new church year!

That's right, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year.  We'll spend this next four weeks "adventing" that is, preparing to celebrate Christ's first arrival in Bethlehem while looking forward to His second arrival on Judgment Day.

I'll be preaching at both the Saturday and Sunday services on the theme, "Expect the Unexpected." Join us this afternoon at 5 pm or tomorrow at 8 and 11 am.  Hope to see you at Life in Christ!