Are You Suffering???

Suffering. Hardship. Pain.  Those are words we don't really like to hear, and they are certainly words that we don't like to experience.  However, we need to see those words, hear those words, and experience those words from a biblical perspective.  Listen to the words of Paul, a man who understood suffering, hardship, and pain.  He says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  He goes on to say in verses 5 through 7, "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

I don't know what kind of suffering you are experiencing right now or what kind of hardship or pain you are experiencing right now.  It could be physical, emotional, relational, or financial suffering.  The pain could be annoying or it could be severe.  However, there are some incredible truths in 2 Corinthians 1 that can help you if you are willing to see them and hear them.  Paul tells us that our God is "the Father of COMPASSION and the God of all COMFORT."  He tells us that God "COMFORTS us in ALL our TROUBLES."  In other words, you have a compassionate Father who loves you so much that He can and He will give you comfort in ALL your troubles!  There is no suffering, hardship, or pain that exists that God can't comfort you.  It's not too small and it's not too big.  God has comfort for you!  Paul also shows us in this passage that God gives us His comfort so that we can be vessels of His comfort to others who are suffering through hardship and pain.  This is why it is so important to connect with other believers, to connect as a church family.  God's great comfort flows TO you and THROUGH you so that others may experience His comfort, as well!  We also see that God's comfort is available to us through His Son who suffered greatly - Jesus.  God's comfort "abounds through Christ."  

Whatever you are going through right now that is causing your suffering, God knows you and God loves you.  The hardship and the pain is real, but God's compassion and comfort is real, as well!  Turn to Jesus.  Turn your eyes to Jesus.  Turn your heart to Jesus.  Through Jesus you can experience ABOUNDING COMFORT that will help you endure the suffering, the hardship, and the pain.  When you make it through this suffering, God will use you to be a vessel of comfort to others who are suffering.  And remember Jesus' prediction and His promise to you that is found in John 16:33.  Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have PEACE.  In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE.  But TAKE HEART!  I have OVERCOME the world."  You don't have to overcome because Jesus has already overcome for you!  Turn to Jesus.  Rest in Jesus.  He is all you need.

Since 1989 and counting...

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." - Proverbs 18:22

I remember leaving Start High School when it consolidated back in May of 1988.  I was angry and disappointed.  In the fall of 1988, I started school at Riverfield Academy.  On the first day of school, I walked up to the gym and spotted Marty Ann Hill.  She not only caught my eye; she caught my heart!  My anger and disappointment about leaving Start High School didn't last long.  We went on our first date in October of 1988.  It took a little time and a little begging, but on February 14, 1989, Marty went with me to the Start Baptist Church "Valentine's Banquet."  We've been together ever since.  I truly did find a wife, and she is incredible.  There is no doubt in my mind that I have received favor from the Lord!  To this day, I am still receiving favor from the Lord!  I love you, Marty Ann Hill Thomas!  Thank you for loving me the way the Lord loves you - immeasurably and unconditionally!  I am praying for many more days and weeks and months and years to share life with you!

He Is Faithful!

This morning I was listening to the radio.  The DJ said something that really made me think.  He said, "We are called in God's Word to obey Him and walk faithfully with Him.  But do we truly do that?  Are we devoted to the Lord in this way, obeying Him faithfully and walking with Him faithfully?  The answer for all of us is no.  Not even the best of us can fully obey God and walk with God in complete faithfulness.  However, Jesus is faithful.  He is fully devoted and fully committed to the Father in His love toward us."

I don't know who the DJ of that radio station was, but those words are powerful.  I needed to hear what he had to say.  Over the past few weeks, our men have been digging into the book of Hebrews.  We are in a Bible study by Kyle Idleman entitled, Don't Give Up.  We've been digging into Hebrews 12:1-3 and looking back into Hebrews 11.  I went even further back into Hebrews 10, and God showed me these words: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL (Hebrews 10:20-23)."  There is no doubt in my mind that I am a sinner because God's Word tells me so (Romans 3:23).  However, I have repented of my sin and believed in my heart in the Lord Jesus Christ and confessed Him with my mouth, and because of repentance, belief, and confession I am saved.  Again, the Bible tells me so (Romans 10:9-13). There is also no doubt in my mind that I am saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).  My confidence and my hope are not in myself or in my faithfulness.  My confidence is Jesus!  My hope is Jesus!  He is FAITHFUL!  

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is FAITHFUL, and He will do it."  Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains FAITHFUL, for He cannot disown Himself."  Our walk with the Lord was never promised to be easy or to be comfortable.  Our walk with the Lord will be difficult because we are sinners saved by grace, not by works.  We will continue to struggle with temptation and sin in this life.  We will be found faithless at times in our walk with the Lord.  However, the One who promises us, the One who calls us, and the One who saves us never has, never is, and never will fail us!  He is FAITHFUL!!!  Rest in this truth.  Walk in this truth.  Hold on to this truth today.  Let this truth be your confidence today.  Let this truth be your hope today.  He is FAITHFUL!!!