Pastor Dick Vettrus

My dear friends at Community In Christ,

 

February 21^st was the first Sunday in Lent. Lent is the period of forty weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter when the Christian church commemorates the fasting of Jesus in the wilderness. It is the time of the church year when we especially reflect upon the great suffering of Jesus to pay for our sins on that cruel cross.

            Let us think about our suffering as it relates to the suffering of Jesus. The Bible teaches that every human being suffers in this earthly life because of the curse of sin in the world. Suffering is universal in its scope. Suffering also varies in our experience. The pain of a migraine headache is bad enough, but the pains of a wayward child or an adulterous spouse can be a lot worse.

            We are tempted to think that godly people should be exempt from suffering. No, godly living does not exempt us from suffering. In fact, godly people will attract persecution and misuse from wicked, selfish people, Jesus said so. Think about Job, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Paul in their great suffering because of the call of God upon their lives.

            Sometimes suffering does come into our lives because of our own sin. When we sin against our bodies, we are asking for trouble.

            Sometimes suffering is a result of someone else’s sin. Think about the drunk driver who causes a terrible car accident where people are hurt or even killed. When people choose to live careless, sinful lives, there are consequences in society that affect all of us.

            Sometimes suffering comes to us because of what insurance companies call “acts of God”. Deadly earthquakes, unusual floods, tornadoes, etc. are not uncommon in nature. The Bible says that “the whole creation has been groaning “(Romans 8:22), but someday God will take away that curse. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1); righteousness and peace will be in control.

            But during these weeks of Lent let us especially meditate on the vicarious suffering of Jesus on our behalf. Jesus chose the way of the cross to accomplish God’s plan of salvation. Let us draw upon God’s strength and healing touch when we are in the midst of pain. God knows each of us; He is aware of each of our circumstances. Jesus loves each of us; He knows the burdens each of us bear.

            It also helps us when we share our suffering with close friends who love the Lord and pray for us. Other people will be helped and encouraged because of us. I close with

II Cor. 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

            May the Lord touch your life with His grace, strength, and healing each day!

 

                                                                                    Pastor Dick