Purpose for Pain

Purpose for Pain

Colossians 1: ²⁴ And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church.

 

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Stepping down off the porch, my foot landed in a peculiar way. I immediately looked at it and nothing seemed wrong. I walked around as normal the rest of that day. When I wanted to go to bed, I noticed pain. I looked at my foot again, this time it was swollen. I writhed in pain.

 

• I wanted the pain to be over!
• I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.
• I questioned the purpose of pain.

 

Paul definitely suffered for JESUS. When he gave up his luxurious, status filled position as a Pharisee of Pharisees, followers of JESUS did not believe him, and he was outcast from the leaders. The Pharisees imparted great suffering on Paul, but life did not add any comfort as he was bit by a venomous snake and shipwrecked. One thing kept him going, namely JESUS.

 

My Observations

• CHRIST suffered in anguish over my sins.
• CHRIST suffered for me and HE is GOD.
• CHRIST was slandered, blamed, chased, beaten and murdered for me.

 

Pain has purpose. I mean, when I feel pain in my body it could be alerting me that something is wrong or something is on its way to healing. Many people who question GOD ask “Why does GOD allow pain?” That’s a question I have hit HIM with. But as I see what JESUS did I ask a new question. “Why did YOU love me so much that YOU took my punishment?”

 

Avoiding pain is impossible in this life. Suffering seems to surface daily. BUT GOD is fighting battles we can’t imagine. The enemy places painful traps we fall in. I am glad GOD’s purpose of spreading JESUS to all supersedes the pain I go through.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer “happy” about?
• Have you ever sacrificed your time, talent or treasure for someone who was really in need so him or her could hear the message of JESUS clearly?
• It may not be easy, but will you look beyond your pain for a moment and know you are important to GOD and your suffering is there to help others see HIM today?

Painful Reinstatement

Painful Reinstatement

Acts 9: ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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“That department is terrible” I said to others. I talked poorly about the leadership and lack of direction. I felt great because I had escaped the department and was on to greener pastures. But the reorganization happened and I was told I was being reinstated back into the department. “You represent this department. Do it well or leave.” I was told.

• There were times when I fought something bigger than me.
• There were times when I talked bad about something bigger than me.
• There were times when I had to come back to the thing that cared and fed me, but I needed a different attitude.

Saul met JESUS on the way to killing those who followed HIM. With a flash of light JESUS spoke to Saul but those around him could not see who he was speaking to. Saul asked the right question. “LORD, what do YOU want me to do?” He was reinstated at a price. He was blind.

• GOD wants me humble when I serve HIM.
• GOD wants me gentle when I serve others HE sends me to.
• GOD wants me gracious when I claim to be one of HIS followers.

Swallowing pride, ejecting arrogance and surrendering control are difficult things to do when “I” place myself higher than I should be. But when GOD wants me to serve HIM, I have to get rid of pride, arrogance and control. The more I hold onto these things, the more painful the reinstatement.

GOD wants to bless me through HIS methods. HE wants total control. The more I think “I” am in control the harder it will be for GOD to reinstate me to a place that HE has for me. GOD sometimes rips things out of my hands and it is painful. When I see the results, I am grateful.

• Is GOD calling you and you are ignoring HIM?
• Are you holding onto “your” way and not asking GOD “What do YOU want me to do?”
• Will you allow GOD to take over your plan gently so it doesn’t have to be torn out of your hands?

Adversity Cheer

Adversity Cheer

Acts 5: ⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. ⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

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“You” the chooser said as they pointed at me. I could not believe it. I was chosen early to participate by the star. The game required a lot of running and catching people and I was scrawny. “Go” someone shouted to start the festivities.

I caught someone immediately but this person was pretty strong and flung me to the asphalt. I hit my head and started bleeding, a little. I got up and my teammates cheered. Wanting to cry, I grimaced and then smiled. What a delightful game.

• Some pain doesn’t feel as painful when I am on the right side.
• Some pain feels worth it when I am on the winning side.
• Some pain seems like it will not go away, but bearable because I’m on the side that has the glory.

The church leaders had the apostles beaten thinking this would discourage them. But something very different happened. The apostles cheered, rejoicing they were associated with CHRIST and worthy of suffering because of HIM. They knew everything JESUS said would come true.

• GOD wants me to know HE loves me dearly.
• GOD wants me to understand that adversity comes from the enemy, who tries to make me blame GOD.
• GOD wants me to use wisdom and face adversity with cheer, knowing JESUS has already won.

Being beaten feels horrible. In fact, all pain is not welcome. BUT GOD shows me a different way to look at some pain. When the pain is caused because I am standing firm for JESUS, it feels more like honor. It almost feels like GOD is cheering when I get back up and not blame HIM but rejoice that I went through a little of what JESUS went through.

GOD wants my comfort. HE sent the COMFORTER to live inside of me. HE also knows there is a real and active spiritual battle that happens daily. JESUS has already won the war. I am grateful to be in the battles that are HIS.

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like you have been beat up because of your belief in JESUS?
• It may be hard, but will you rejoice, knowing GOD sees you and hears you and is cheering because you got back up and stood firm for HIM?

Who Wants Pain?

Proverbs 20: ³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
    and beatings purge the inmost being.

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Sitting by the window was probably the worst thing I could do. I would stare outside, longing to be in the fresh air, then like a clap of thunder, the teacher would inevitably call me back into reality. “Why do I have to go to school anyway?” I said in fourth grade.

• Sometimes I feel like giving up and taking the easy route.
• Sometimes I want vacation instead of work.
• Sometimes I desire resting in a meadow of laziness rather than plowing a field of work.

I decided not to go to attend class when I went to college. My grades suffered and I was told I may not graduate. I had to buckle down and study. It was painful. I decided to start going to school and found it to actually be easier than I thought.

• GOD has shown me that I need to be disciplined in order to stay on HIS path.
• GOD has shown me that I sometimes need a whooping in order to get focused.
• GOD has shown me that nothing in life comes easy and my focus should be HIM.

Bumps and bruises in life teach me that I need GOD every step of the way. HE takes my evil behavior and turns it into righteousness by allowing a little turmoil in my life. My desire gets purged and I can then praise HIM.

• Are you going through a beating in life right now?
• Have you ever done evil in your life?
• Can you change your course and follow GOD the way HE wants you to follow HIM?
• Will you accepts the blows and wounds as a method of purging instead of punishing?