God's Purpose for Our Suffering

God's Purpose for Our Suffering

FAITH FINDS SERVICE A PRIVILEGE: October 6, 2019

How frequently doesn't a Christian feel as though he's getting chewed up and spit out by the daily grind of life? Doing the right thing - the Christian thing - when people are ornery and circumstances are unfavorable is not always easy.

Christians are gifted a mechanism that enables them to deal with the grind, our faith in God. Faith delights to serve God, and embraces the Bible as the text that directs our every behavior. Ordering our lives according to the Bible provides more than just guidance and direction. It's liberating!

Jesus speaks to his disciples about how incredibly valuable even a small faith can be - it can move mountains. Your Christian confidence and trust in the saving work of Jesus serves an enabling power to act on what God tells us to do, regardless of persons or circumstances - as ornery or unfavorable as they may be. Jesus uses the following example, "“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

King David gushed his praise to God for the faithful service of his parishioners. David was collecting materials for the temple. When it came to outfitting God's house, he was determined to do it right. The Israelites responded to David's offering appeal with such generosity that even David was overwhelmed!

Paul was equally grateful for the faithful service of the Thessalonians. They weren't just dealing with "the grind," ornery and unfavorable. They were dealing with persecution and trial. But Paul credits God for their growth in faith, their subsequent perseverance and endurance. It was their joy to serve God and bring him glory.

Let us join our voices to the disciples, "Increase our faith!"

► Readings:
• 1 Chronicles 29:1-2, 10-18: Israel joyfully serves God with generosity.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12: Thessalonians joyfully persevere, endure.
• Luke 17:1-10: Faith finds joy in service to God and man.
• Psalm: 62

► Sermon theme: "God's Purpose for Our Suffering"