11/03/2016
Bianchi LifeGroup Devotion: 11.3.16
Thursday:
Problems don’t automatically produce what God intents. Many people become bitter, rather than better, and never grow up. You have to respond the way Jesus would.
1. To deal with suffering as Jesus did, remember that God’s plan is good.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jerimiah 29:11 NIV
Joseph understood this truth when he told his brothers who had sold him into slavery:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20 NIV
Hezekiah echoes the same sentiment about his life-threatening illness:
“It was for my own good that I had such hard times.” Isaiah 38:11 CEV
The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary but your reward will be eternal:
“God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best.” Hebrews 12:10 The Message
“Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 LB
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:24-26 NIV
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT
“But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 8 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:17-18 NLT
“Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.” Luke 6:23 NCV
