Suffering for Sin? 11-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Holy Spirit, and Son -- Lord God, You are holy and one. Come be one with me and within me today. … "At that very time there were some present who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, 'Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did" (Luke 13:1-5). Suffering does not always mean sin. As You pointed out, people are quick to equate suffering with sin -- that it's only the "worse sinners" or "worse offenders" who are just getting what they deserve. Sin does open the door to destruction, because it is our choice to bring ourselves out from under the covering of Your hand of grace. But we live in a broken, fallen world where people sin around us every day and where sin has opened the door to destruction since the first sinners who ever lived. All creation is subject to the consequences of sin and suffering (Romans 8:20). So sometimes our suffering is a consequence of our sin and sometimes our suffering is a consequence of living in a broken, fallen world "groaning in labor pains until now" (Romans 8:22). But whether we have sinned or not, You call us all to repent. To "repent" is simply to turn to You. If we have sinned, we need to turn to You. If we are suffering because of the sins of others or the sins of our nation or the sins of our generations all the way back to Adam and Eve, we need to turn to You. It's only in You that we can know comfort through every calamity, peace through every persecution, and truth through every tribulation. As we repent, turning away from ourselves and turning to You, You draw us in to place of safety and peace, even in the midst of destruction. If there's something in us You want to correct or change, You will, but always in the Spirit of Your love for us, Your desire to redeem us, and Your desire to bring us through our storms to even strengthen us through our struggles (Hebrews 12:1-13). As it always does, the sufferings of this hour will draw many more deeply into Your arms -- even as You draw us first to our knees in desperate dependence upon You alone. As we repent and turn to You, we bring ourselves, by Your grace, under the shadow of the Almighty and into the safe and secure place of the Most High God, where You lift us up on angels wings in to the peace of Your presence, no matter what destruction or calamity may come (Psalm 91). We may have to go through more suffering than we would choose, and sometimes Your answer doesn't seem to come soon enough, but even in the struggles, sufferings, and even judgments of the sin of a broken, fallen world, You encourage us and empower us to keep turning to You. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). By Your grace, I choose repentance. I choose to keep turning to You, come what may. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com