Good morning,
The value of pain
These are painful days for those of us who live in California. Again this year we are dealing with dry fields and dry or dead trees, high winds and forests that burn so quickly that the fire fighters often have to wait until the winds stop roaring to begin trying to put the fires out. It’s really painful to see the pictures of burning buildings and the people who have run for their lives, who now have lost everything but what they could fit in their cars. It is easy for us to forget that what is happening around us are not just man made problems, but part of God’s plan to deal with the effects of sin and rebellion against the God who loves them and has given them their lives. It’s true that the wages of sin is death. At this point, Christians in America are not dealing with military death and pain, but we are still dealing with the pain that comes with the collapse of our society and the growing pain that we feel as we find ourselves as targets for shame and pain because of our trust in the God of the Bible. What we have also forgotten is that pain is a necessary part of our development in our relationship with the God who saves us and the people around us. Remember what Jesus experienced in the garden. He told his disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”(Mat.26:38) With his face bowed to the ground, he said “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”(v.39) Why was what Jesus said such an important part of what Jesus did before his enemies came to to kill him?
What Jesus wanted more than anything else was that he would do what God wanted no matter what the pain and cost would go with his obedience. The Apostle Peter was one of the frightened men who were there that night with Jesus. Then he was just confused and heart broken. Later in life he tells us. So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.(1Pet.4:1) Jesus knew that what he was about to go through would allow him to defeat Satan when he suffered and died to pay the prices for all of our sins. What Peter learned in the years of loving service for his Savior and Lord was that physical pain was a learning and growing experience that taught him the value of trusting his Savior no matter what the cost. That kind of faith produces a growing relationship with his Savior and the joy of living his life in obedience to his perfect Heavenly Father. What he discovered was, You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.(v.2) Paul, who wasn’t with Jesus then but came to trust Jesus later, also discovered that the years of obedience and pain that came with his obedience left him with an awesome picture of what God was up to. Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?(Rom.11:33) The Lord always knows what he is doing when we are going through pain and confusion. We don’t see now the reason and outcome of what he is telling us to do, but he never makes a mistake. Then Peter ended his point by saying, The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.(4:7) Then he tells us, Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.(4:8) Dear Lord, help us to focus on your love instead of our present pain.
1 Peter 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.
Roy Wisner
