Suffering's 1st Gotta Ask Question#
From within a very ancient Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego endured an unimaginable super-heated furnace rather than deny their faith. (See Daniel 3 for this true story.)
The blow-torch turned upon faith determines the authenticity of the faith.
Suffering's purpose is to prove faith genuine.
From a furnace the man's core is revealed, all else is melted away. Suffering moves the sufferer to the point of decision - the place of sincerity to their confessed belief.
These trials have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7)
Faith that is going to be trusted, is first going to be tested. ~ Leonard Ravenhill
Suffering begs each believer to enquire of self:
is my pain greater than my faith, so much so that I will flee my faith to reduce my pain?
The answer you give will echo for you in eternity.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"There is a depth to loving Jesus that correct theology can never plumb." ~ Michael Cartwright
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# There are many reasons for suffering, but the humble and the wise will first seek to find their contribution to their malaise. Pride is THE biggest enemy of suffering removal.