Material adapted from Sam Nobles’ sermon, Wanted: The Unwanted
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3
Suffering and pain are universal. They are concepts that everyone can relate to, no matter race, nationality, gender, or cultural differences. Why does a good God allow suffering and pain? Why do some people seem to have more than their fair share of bad hands dealt to them in life? Many look at difficulties in this life and think that God is distant and uncaring, but the truth of the matter is that God doesn’t let our suffering go to waste. Even though it’s hard to believe, the struggle you face today, whether it be emotional, financial, spiritual or physical, has the potential to bring about something wonderful in your life. May we be those who find a way to embrace the difficulties that come our way, knowing they are the building materials from which the Lord can fashion His glory.
One day as Jesus and His disciples were walking they passed by a beggar, a man blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus what caused this man’s blindness, his sin or his parent’s sin? In that day people believed that any suffering was a result of sin. Jesus explained that neither of these was the reason this man was born blind: Jesus answered, “it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3
When we are experiencing suffering in any form, we instinctively try hard to figure out why? What is causing this in my life? It can lead us to feel that God has left us behind in the dust and doesn’t care about us at all, or that He is doing this to me on purpose and I deserve it. However, the flip side is most likely true. God may be allowing it and is going to use it to do amazing things. - that the works of God might be displayed in him. This man’s blindness has its roots in heaven above. The reason this man was born blind was so the works of God might be displayed in him.
So, God did actually in a way do this to this man. That is when we can get caught up in who and miss the whole reason. The question is not, ‘Who caused the misery?’ The question is, ‘Will you allow God to use it?’”
The cure to this man’s suffering turns out to be as astonishing as the cause. Jesus spits on the ground and makes mud out of dirt, and then puts it on the blind man’s eyes. This blind beggar feels his way to the fountain, splashes water in his eyes, and rubs away the clay. And then he can see. I don’t believe his obedience was so much a statement of great faith as it was a desire to relieve his eyes of the pain caused by the mud. Sometimes our obedience to God is not a statement of great faith as much as it is a desire to relieve our discomfort.
Sometimes the hand you’re dealt in life isn’t great, but it is your hand to do something with. Worrying about what you don’t have serves to take the focus off of what you do have, and that is what counts most. Make the most out of what you have been given because what you have in Christ is far greater than what you don’t have in this world.
The more difficult the role you’ve been asked to fulfill, the greater God’s glory will shine through in your life. There are no testimonies without first going through a test. The thing that makes a testimony powerful is the experience of seeing the Word of God come to life in your situation. When you’ve lived through tests and proved the Word faithful and true your testimony will impact hearts and touch lives. The devil is silenced when the blood is applied, and the testimony of grace is shared! The blood of Jesus is what cleansed us from our sin, and the word of our testimony is what proves that the blood did its job.
I am slowly learning when it comes to these sorts of irritations, it is not for me to despise them or even to wonder what’s going on, but rather embrace them for God’s glory. No matter what has come your way, know that God has prepared you and will see you through, in order that you may emerge with a testimony which will impact many.
Material adapted from Sam Nobles’ sermon, Wanted: The Unwanted
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3
Why Suffering?
Suffering and pain are universal. They are concepts that everyone can relate to, no matter race, nationality, gender, or cultural differences. Why does a good God allow suffering and pain? Why do some people seem to have more than their fair share of bad hands dealt to them in life? Many look at difficulties in this life and think that God is distant and uncaring, but the truth of the matter is that God doesn’t let our suffering go to waste. Even though it’s hard to believe, the struggle you face today, whether it be emotional, financial, spiritual or physical, has the potential to bring about something wonderful in your life. May we be those who find a way to embrace the difficulties that come our way, knowing they are the building materials from which the Lord can fashion His glory.
One day as Jesus and His disciples were walking they passed by a beggar, a man blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus what caused this man’s blindness, his sin or his parent’s sin? In that day people believed that any suffering was a result of sin. Jesus explained that neither of these was the reason this man was born blind: Jesus answered, “it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3
When we are experiencing suffering in any form, we instinctively try hard to figure out why? What is causing this in my life? It can lead us to feel that God has left us behind in the dust and doesn’t care about us at all, or that He is doing this to me on purpose and I deserve it. However, the flip side is most likely true. God may be allowing it and is going to use it to do amazing things. - that the works of God might be displayed in him. This man’s blindness has its roots in heaven above. The reason this man was born blind was so the works of God might be displayed in him.
So, God did actually in a way do this to this man. That is when we can get caught up in who and miss the whole reason. The question is not, ‘Who caused the misery?’ The question is, ‘Will you allow God to use it?’”
The cure to this man’s suffering turns out to be as astonishing as the cause. Jesus spits on the ground and makes mud out of dirt, and then puts it on the blind man’s eyes. This blind beggar feels his way to the fountain, splashes water in his eyes, and rubs away the clay. And then he can see. I don’t believe his obedience was so much a statement of great faith as it was a desire to relieve his eyes of the pain caused by the mud. Sometimes our obedience to God is not a statement of great faith as much as it is a desire to relieve our discomfort.
Sometimes the hand you’re dealt in life isn’t great, but it is your hand to do something with. Worrying about what you don’t have serves to take the focus off of what you do have, and that is what counts most. Make the most out of what you have been given because what you have in Christ is far greater than what you don’t have in this world.
The more difficult the role you’ve been asked to fulfill, the greater God’s glory will shine through in your life. There are no testimonies without first going through a test. The thing that makes a testimony powerful is the experience of seeing the Word of God come to life in your situation. When you’ve lived through tests and proved the Word faithful and true your testimony will impact hearts and touch lives. The devil is silenced when the blood is applied, and the testimony of grace is shared! The blood of Jesus is what cleansed us from our sin, and the word of our testimony is what proves that the blood did its job.
I am slowly learning when it comes to these sorts of irritations, it is not for me to despise them or even to wonder what’s going on, but rather embrace them for God’s glory. No matter what has come your way, know that God has prepared you and will see you through, in order that you may emerge with a testimony which will impact many.
Scripture to Claim:
But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
