Hosanna Restoration Church

No one that I know likes to suffer. There are times when we may wish we could suffer for others, but even then the suffering would not be enjoyable. Scripture tells us that Jesus endured the cross focusing on the joy that was ahead, but all in all suffering is not something we desire, nor should it be.
Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to stop Him from doing what He needed to do. This was the plan from the Father. He suffered to take our suffering. He made it clear that in the world we would have tribulation. Notice it is in the world and from the world, which is why we are encouraged not to be of the world that we are in.
I have been regularly considering how all our sins were stacked on Jesus on the cross and how they slid to the foot of the cross where we find forgiveness. I have been relieved to realize that God only has one book in the heaven, and that is the book of life. He does not have a huge record of our sins that He keeps until we go to work erasing them. That is nice.
Now if you will bear with me I also have a thought about suffering. It would seem to me that just as Jesus received this suffering from God in order to bear our sins, could it be that any suffering that goes on now is not from God, but from this world.
I have never once considered that anything bad that has happened to me was instigated by God. Only before I was born again did I ever think that God did anything bad. Suffering, if I may say it, would have to be put under the heading of bad things. Don’t you agree?
Now I know some will insist that scripture says Jesus learned obedience through suffering, but He was, is, and always will be Jesus. His suffering did come from God for us. We too, can most certainly learn to obey God in suffering, but I just do not see God causing it.
There is suffering in this world. There is suffering in giving up sin. Yes there is! I am not trying to start a movement; I am simply suggesting that there is freedom in being free from sin. There is peace in understanding that God is not holding sin over our heads. And, it is most wonderful to understand that God is not sending problems our way. He truly is the solution.
This world and the ruler of this world cause more than enough problems to send us running to God. Many people do not run to God because they think he has a giant book of sins to hit them with before He steals fun from them and devises ways to punish them into subjection. Is that true or not? That said, thank God for those who have paid the ultimate price for this country. Pray for those who suffer from the pain of loss and need the Lord’s comfort. God bless America.