July 17 –Affliction Which Is Momentary

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” – 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NASB)

If you ever feel burdened down because of your witness and faith in God, this is a passage for you. Within a broader context, we learn from the Apostle Paul that he experienced many great and difficult circumstance as he carried about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s add two more verses (8-9) from earlier in this chapter where Paul details the tough times he had. “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”  And yet he describes these as ‘momentary’ and ‘light afflictions.’ How can he say this? The Greek words for “light” mean “a weightless trifle” and “affliction” refers to intense pressure. From a human perspective, Paul’s own testimony lists a seemingly unbearable litany of sufferings and persecutions he endured throughout his life. The Greek word for “weight” refers to a heavy mass. For Paul, declares the future glory he would experience with the Lord far outweighed any suffering he experienced in this world. This is a promise from God. And a promise we can depend on to help us walk according to our calling in Christ. 

193

October 24 – More than Enough Power and Understanding

“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. The LORD supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground.”  Psalm 147:5-6 (NASB)

We are looking again at the Psalm that declares God as our Healer who counted and named every star in the universe - seen and unseen. Our promise today continues by telling us that the greatness of our Lord God is his abundant strength. There is no limit to God’s strength and power. It will never be exhausted. The same with his understanding, it is infinite, unlimited. Nothing in our lives will leave God puzzled and contemplating what’s next. He functions perfectly for us because He is our Lord and He is Great in all things. More than that, he cares for us. Are we afflicted? The meaning here is humbled? When others or circumstances bring us to our knees because we recognize that we are not capable in ourselves we are humbled, oppressed, afflicted are all part of the meaning. God is with us and supports us. He lifts us up off the ground because He understands our weakness and our need. But for the wicked, the evildoers, they are brought down to the ground. If it doesn’t happen right now, it will, God has promised so. 

- 187 -

August 10 –Turning Anguish into Joy

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;  you have set my feet in a broad place. -Psalm 31:7-8 (ESV)

These words, written by the psalmist David, describe a great change in his experience. We notice that he had suffered anguish in his soul and he described it as an affliction. It sounds as if he had been suffering for several reasons and for some time. There are these occasions in our life when we experience anguish because of things that have happened or even not happened. Our trials and testing bring suffering over our sense of wellbeing. Our expectations are not fulfilled and we need help restoring our joy.  When David wrote these words his circumstances had changed and he was in a different situation. His soul had been delivered, as it were, from the anguish and he was rejoicing. So, what had made the difference? It was the realization that God had been loving him and had been watching him. Just that knowledge transformed his anguish into joy. Let's be glad and rejoice in God's love, even when afflicted because God is still in the business of delivering us OUT of the hand of the enemy. 

- 178 -

June 8 – Finding Overflowing Joy Part 2

“Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”  - 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NASB)

Continuing the question from yesterday’s blog. “Where do we learn the joy that Paul found overflowing?  Consider now Four more sources to the three we studied yesterday.  It comes through faith, that is, from believing God. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” Romans 15:13. Fifth, it comes from seeing and knowing Jesus as Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always” Philippians 4:4.  Sixth, it comes from each other, from supportive believers who work hard to help us focus on these sources of joy, rather than deceitful circumstances. “We work with you for your joy” 2 Corinthians 1:24. Seventh, it comes from the sanctifying effects of suffering trials and tribulations. “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” Romans 5:3–4. If we are not yet like Paul when he says, “I am overflowing with joy,” Jesus calls us to be and so does Paul. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:1. And for most of us this is a call to earnest prayer. Because a life of joy in the Holy Spirit is a supernatural life.

-198-

Material for this blog was gleaned from Dr John Piper’s Desiring God 

June 7 – Finding Overflowing Joy Part 1

“Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”  - 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NASB)

We will find our promises not so much in our selected verse but in those which answer our questions today. What is extraordinary about the example the Apostle Paul left us is his durable joy? Even when things were very difficult to live with Paul proclaimed his joy.  Where do we learn this and where did it come from for Paul?  First, directly from Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “Blessed are you when people hate you. . .Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”Luke 6:22-23 (ESV) Experiencing troubles for Jesus compound our interest in heaven — which lasts a lot longer than earth.  Second, we also learn this from the Holy Spirit, “The fruit of the Spirit is. . .joy” Galatians 5:22 (ESV). “You received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (ESV). A third source is our  belonging to the kingdom of God. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” Romans 14:17 (ESV).  There four are more to look at and rejoice over…Tomorrow.

-195- 

Material for this blog was gleaned from Dr John Piper’s Desiring God   

April 5 – Rejoice? Yes, Rejoice!

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”  -Psalm 31:7  (NIV)

Going to the Psalms, the songbook we have in the Bible, is a good response to any affliction we may encounter.  For us and all who truly believe in God our Father as our Lord and Savior, we know that difficult times come our way.  God allows events and circumstances which challenge our faith to be in our path and we have to trust in His wisdom and guidance.  God sees us when this is happening.  He knows what affliction we have and He is weaving it together for good into His perfect plan for our lives.  We can know this just as the psalmist, David knew it.  David knew to take refuge in God whenever he needed deliverance.  Maybe that is what we are needing today?  We need and ask for deliverance from the trial and the uncertainty that have flooded our lives?  We can rejoice and even be glad before we ask because we know God has already seen our affliction.  He will respond and He promises to strengthen us and be gracious to us.  Let us rejoice today.

# # #

September 21 – Outweighing the Lightweight

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,”  2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NASB)

It is very important, for our mental and spiritual well-being, that we look at the problems of life from the proper perspective. In the second letter written by Apostle Paul and sent to the Corinthians, we find this reminder and word of encouragement to not lose heart.  Losing heart means giving up, shutting down, and forsaking our confession of faith.  Paul affirms that we live in body that is on the way to becoming dust someday.  Our bodies are not immortal no matter how hard we chase that whiff of smoke.  But the truly living parts of us, our soul and spirit are on the upswing.  We are being made new day by day.  Notice how Paul frames his perspective?  It is within the perspective of eternity. That is why he calls his problems 'momentary, light afflictions.'  Although they might last for hours, or days, or even a lifetime, he could call them momentary when compared to the promise of eternity from God.  And he could also list his problems as lightweight compared to the glory which will far outweighed them. Let's look at our problems today from this perspective. 

# # #

March 21 – Freely Given, Freely Provide

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”   2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)

Our verses and the promises we find in them today help us remember how our faith in God works to help us live with people around us.  We read that we can praise God our Father and honor our Lord Jesus because He is the God of all comfort.  His promise is to comfort us in all our difficulties and in all the times when we are afflicted with any number of circumstances.  When we are troubled, God comforts us and helps us through them.  God does this for us also to help us know and understand how to help others.  We pass the comfort on to those who need it in their lives.  Often we encounter those who are suffering the same kind of circumstances we've gone through, and knowing how God comforted us with the assurance of His presence and love, we are are able to give that presence and love to them.  Because we have received comfort from God, we can give the comfort of God to others.  That is why our God receives blessing as the Father of mercies and God of ALL comfort. 

# # #

August 10 – Anguish Into Joy

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

These words, written by the psalmist David, describe a great change in his experience. We notice that he had suffered anguish in his soul and he described it as an affliction. It sounds as if he had been suffering for several reasons and for some time. But, when David wrote these words his circumstances had changed and he was in a different situation. His soul had been delivered, as it were, from the anguish and was rejoicing. So, what had made the difference? It was the realization that God had been loving him and had been watching him. Just that knowledge transformed his anguish into joy. Let's be glad and rejoice in God's love, even when afflicted.

July 30 – Love Steadfast - Full of Mercy

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

The promise in our verse today is one that encourages us because we are encouraged when we read in the Bible of the way God has helped His people even  in days long ago. David had been going through some difficult experiences but he knew that he had not been alone He was aware that God had seen him in his problems and that God knew how deeply it had affect David in his soul and His response was to show His mercy. What God did for David He will do for us. If we encounter trouble of any kind God sees it. And if we are deeply bothered by it God knows how we are feeling too. David said that he rejoiced in God's love and we can do that too. God's love as expressed here is sometimes called steadfast love and other times lovingkindness. It is the kind of love that is motivated by God's mercy.

June 26

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”  Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

Does God really know what is going on in our lives? David was aware that when he was going through a difficult situation God was watching. God could see what was happening. His eyes were on David and so He knew where the situation was developing.  But God not only saw what was visible, He could look into the depths of David’s soul. He knew his thoughts, his emotions and his feelings. He knew his inner self. The same is true for us, too. God sees what is happening in our lives and He knows how we feel about things. He knows when we need help and He is there to help when we turn to Him. He helps us become. He loves us.