“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT)
“Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.” (Hebrews 13:12 AMP)
Paul’s challenge to Timothy to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” is critical in every area of our lives. He was instructing Timothy to use the Word of God to skillfully handle the Word in order to discern the issues of life. There is nowhere that this is more needed than when it comes to suffering. So often we suffer needlessly simply because we have not properly discerned the suffering.
As I currently understand what scripture teaches about suffering (pain, difficulties, tests, trials, persecution, etc.), I believe that there are four major categories in which various sufferings fit…
…Sufferings OF Christ;
…Sufferings FROM Christ;
…Suffering WITH Christ; and…
…Suffering FOR Christ.
Each category identifies sufferings that are different in nature and source. Different types of suffering serve different purposes and need to be dealt with in different ways. There are sufferings in life that I am to embrace. There are other sufferings that I am to stand against and resist. There are sufferings that with discernment and preparation I am able to avoid, and other sufferings that are simply unavoidable. There is suffering that is self inflicted, and suffering that is inflicted upon me. There is suffering that Jesus went through so that I would not have to. And there is suffering that is inflicted upon me by the enemy as he does all that he can to steal, kill, and destroy my life and ministry.
My hope is that by “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” as it pertains to suffering, we will be able to minimize needless pain and maximize beneficial pain in our lives. This will never happen if we just “go with the flow.” Without discernment in this critical aspect of life we will miss opportunities to experience the “gain” of our “pain.” We will also experience large doses of suffering that are outside of our Father’s desire and design (will) for us.
Are you ready to learn to discern the troubles you’ve seen?
Are you ready to grow through the pains of life?
If so, then get ready to go as we move forward from…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 401: Discerned Suffering: Overview