Gleanings From The Word: November 2017

Monday, November 27, 2017

Good and Bad Suffering

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; (I Peter 4:14-15 NASB)

Suffering in the Bible is described from two different perspectives. There is good and bad suffering. Spiritual maturity is being able to discern the difference between the two and act accordingly.

We often try to understand why we have trials and tribulations. In some cases, they are self-inflicted due to our wrong choices. In other instances, we suffer because we are making the right decisions. If the former is correct, the response is simple, repent of our sins. If the latter is accurate, the answer is not so immediate and straightforward, patient endurance. In trying to encourage God’s people in their current suffering, and prepare them for future tribulations, Peter drives home a central point; all suffering is temporary. “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (v. 13).

Peter sums up this section on suffering by telling them that all righteous people suffer according to the will of God (v. 19). Matthew Henry comments on this verse by saying, “It is the duty of Christians to look more to the keeping of their souls than the preserving of their bodies.” If we take to heart this admonition, we will start to view our sufferings as good, and the burdens of this world will begin to seem minuscule compared to the exaltation of our soul in the world to come.

Image used with permission by Microsoft.

Ken Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/

Blogs: http://kensblog757.blogspot.com

http://gleanings757.blogspot.com

Friday, November 24, 2017

Clueless

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NASB)

Sin originated out of deception. Sometimes deception is hidden in the most obvious places, making us clueless about its destructive nature.

Socially accepted behavior often camouflages unrighteousness. Popular opinion does not always reveal right from wrong. The Bible labels alternative lifestyles as sinful, yet we disguise those things as acceptable under the smokescreen of so-called love, grace, and inclusiveness. People and organizations who do much good in their own right can champion causes the Bible refers to as being sinful. We can turn a blind eye to things we know to be wrong because they are intertwined with things that are right. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough” (Galatians 5: 9 NASB).

I once saw a cartoon of two young guys walking down a street wearing ball caps turned backward. The sun was in their eyes, and they were using their hands to shade the sun from their eyes. One of the young men said to the other one, “one of these days someone is going to invent a ball cap that will keep the sun out of your eyes.” If we see backward as forward or hear that bad is good long enough, you can start to believe it to be true. Like the two young guys who were oblivious to the original design of a ball cap, we can have our vision blurred about God’s original intent for men and women. No matter what socially accepted format propagates this deception, sin is still sin. If we stray from what God says and imbibe of this lie, we will become clueless about sin’s destructive nature.