Thoughts about Suffering?

[bobinfaith]

Matthew.....you said.............

"So this is the decision, between the worldly way of living, when someone does you wrong do you fight them, and try to get back at them?
Or do you decide to go by the heavenly ways of forgiveness and mercy, instead of fighting."

Whether you want to admit it or not, it seems to me that, subconsciously, you just told us the reason for your thread on "Suffering"!!!!!

May I tell you what the Bible tells us to do in Matthew 18:15-17 where Jesus tells us ............
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Have YOU done that my friend?

Hello Major;

I thought about what you shared. First, I go to the Lord every moment with my personal thoughts about suffering enters me.

I ask myself, is someone throwing stones at my house, verbally cursing me, lying to me, ripping me off, doing and saying behind my back, surprisingly, no to all the above. 9 times out of 10 I bring this internal suffering upon myself. I want everyone to approve of me.

Pooh pooh to that. Its just not going to happen.

Instead, I accept that God didn't create me so everyone will approve of me. He created me with my "first assignment," to love others as I love Him, first. Yes, we are to love others but many things can get in the way and this is why God builds us up to sustain our love for others.

As you pointed out in In Matthew 18:15-17, 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

There are some KEY verbs here and have personally found this passage works! Sadly, there are times when I just had to love the other, let them go and have nothing to do with them. Sadly also, many times I was the one at fault. Point is, this passage does help bring healing to suffering from both sides.

Suffering comes in all sorts of flavors, spiritual, physical, mental and situational circumstances that we cannot control. With God, we are not ill equipped, instead we are equipped so God can prepare us no matter what we face.

God is faithful and has shown me my sufferings can be minimized within myself. The mind and tongue can be very powerful. When used in the right way can bring about blessings, what to do while serving others. When used in the wrong way can bring about a waste of oxygen instead of serving others.

Sure, my life has it's share of problems and I'm am still dealing with them, but I'm able to think clearer and know when to toss some minute suffering that is not from God.

God bless you and your family.