Theme of the Week: Why Is Life So Hard?
Bible Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Scripture Reading: Psalm 107:1-3
A fifth reason for suffering may sound strange, but it is because we can be beloved.
Sometimes, we suffer because of God’s great love for us.
But shouldn’t true love eradicate suffering? If God really cared about me, shouldn’t He save me from my difficulties?
Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began the good work in you will carry it on to completion…”
God sees our true potential, and He will work tirelessly in the direction of seeing it realized. This is what love does: it toils tirelessly to see us become all we were meant to be.
Beloved also means that we love, and love compels us to suffer where we otherwise might not have. Again, in Philippians 1:29, Paul says, “it has been granted to you, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him.”
I had a friend who worked with an organization that reached out to troubled inner-city teens. He was robbed, threatened, lied to, and slandered during those years. He often had to go without and constantly shared what little he had. This was not an easy life, but he chose it and pursued it with all his heart. Why? Because he was compelled by love. He chose a life of suffering because of his love for Jesus.
Being a part of the mission of Jesus is no walk in the park. Suffering will come from being His disciple, but the final payoff will be worth every ounce of pain. Sometimes it is simply love that compels us to suffer. Jesus does not ask us to do anything He would not do. In fact, He suffered more than any of us will ever suffer. He did this for love.
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