Sunday, December 5th 2021
Title: Looking at suffering from a different perspective
Author: Pastor Andrew Lim
Translator: Margaret Ong
Bible passage: John 9:1-3

Once Jesus and his disciples met a man who was born blind and suffering, and “His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”(John 9:2) Usually, people would think: “What goes around comes around.” Does a person have a disability because he has sinned in his previous life and has met with retribution in this life or because his parents have sinned and retribution has come upon him now? Many people have this kind of thinking. Such questions perhaps reflect a mentality that we have when we meet less fortunate people—It is not so much about compassion for them, but rather comparing ourselves with them and feeling good about ourselves.

It’s not about who has sinned, but that the works of God might be displayed in him

The Lord Jesus reminds us not to only see the sins of others and ignore our own. We are still alive and well not because we are better than others, but because of God’s patience and tolerance, and mercy on us for giving us opportunities to repent. Unfortunately, this is something that people often fail to see. Jesus uniquely answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”(John. 9:3 ) Some people often think that any suffering is the result of this person’s sin. In fact, the Lord Jesus did not mean that the blind person or that his parents had no sin. Rather, the fact that the man and his parents committed a crime or not has no direct causal connection to the fact that he was born blind and suffering. But Jesus pointed out the preciousness of this man’s life. Even though his life seems to be incomplete, God still loves and values him dearly, and He wants to use him even more. In the eyes of others, he is just a blind beggar. But after meeting Jesus, his life shall bring changes, and God will use his life to witness for and glorify God.

Man’s perception of suffering

What man thinks of as suffering and what God thinks of as suffering are different. When people face the great pain of life, when they are helpless, out of control, and incapable, they will naturally utter cries of anguish, weep with agony, and struggle on their own. The common response is to blame others, give up on themselves, and then seek material anaesthesia, participate in activities without restraint, indulge in entertainment, or bury themselves in work in order to make themselves forget their misery. However, they discover that this will only bring about the illusion of temporary relief, while the lurking pain continues to consume their hearts in the dark. Of course, when life gives lemons, some people make lemonade and stand firm amidst the pain because there is always a way out.

Moulded and transformed by God during suffering

No one likes to suffer in pain or welcome torture, but the suffering inflicted on people will come countless times in a person’s life. It can not be avoided or escaped. For Christians, when we face different pains, some even unbearable, we know that we are entering God’s grace and power, pushing us into His presence and relying on Him—-Because we know that in our suffering, God is in control. Since He has overcome the world, He will certainly be able to help us face this challenge. The pain we feel is a way for us to let go of ourselves and turn to establish an intimate relationship with God. Although our body is in pain, we are spiritually moulded and transformed by God. In any suffering, we are definitely not alone, because God is with us and this is not based on feelings, but by believing in God’s faithfulness, because He is definitely the God who keeps His covenant.

Believe that God allows us to suffer for our good

Many good things happen after suffering. If we see the benefits behind suffering, we will no longer feel helpless. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God .” (Rom. 8:28 ) We cannot control the occurrence of pain, but we can control how we react when facing pain. Positive people see good things in a bad situation, but negative people come up with bad things from a good situation! In addition to knowing how to run to God to gain strength, a wise sufferer also knows how to humble himself to seek help from the right person. Those who seek help have a chance to overcome pain, and those who do not seek help will certainly continue to be tossed by pain. In suffering, we do not sit and wait for life to be consumed but use the bitter suffering we have experienced to help those who are experiencing pain. People who stand up from pain allow themselves to transcend and overcome it. Although sometimes we cannot understand God’s way of allowing us to suffer, we believe that the occurrence of suffering is to open up opportunities for God to work in our lives and draw us closer to Him. (Joseph, Daniel, Job, etc. have all set good examples for us)

Those who live without God in their lives experience life’s pain, suffering, death, injury, sorrow, grief, danger, and trauma. When faced with stress, shock, anger, panic, fear, anxiety, boredom, confusion, hatred, distress, regret, deep down in their hearts, they feel that there is no one that they can talk to, no one they can depend on and feel helpless in life and they need to struggle alone. They can only bite the bullet and scream deep inside. However, those who regard God as God knows that He loves and values us, so we can have unlimited expectations and know that what we expect will come true. Because the Bible promises us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ) Therefore, we can entrust our sufferings and burdens of life, emotions, and mind to God, who understands our feelings, who comforts, who relieves, whose word guides, instructs and empowers us to move forward in desperate times. Expect God to give us divine wisdom to face problems and sufferings and to live through the valley of death in our lives, emotions and minds with peace. So when we are facing suffering, remember “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2 ) God will use our experience to witness for Him.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you, when uncontrollable pain comes upon me, when I suffer tremendously, I know I am definitely not alone, because you are willing to be my comfort and help at any time. You have promised not to leave me or forsake me but to be with me. You are the God I can rely on. Thank you for your willingness to accompany me throughout my entire unpredictable life. Thank you, heavenly Father. Sincere thanks are in the holy name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

班底浸信教会
每日灵粮
星期日
2021 年 12 月 5日
标题:以不同的角度看痛苦
作者：林金儀傳道
经文：约9:1-3

有一次耶稣和祂的门徒遇到一位生来是瞎眼而痛苦的人，就问耶稣，“这人生来是瞎眼的，是谁犯了罪？是这人犯罪呢？还是他父母犯罪呢？” 人们通常会认为“善有善报，恶有恶报”— 人有残疾是不是他前世犯罪，今世糟遇到报应或是他父母犯罪，报应临到他身上。这种想法是很多人都有的观念。这种问题也许反映出我们的一种心态，就是面对不幸的人与其说是在怜悯别人，倒不如说是在与别人比较，自我的感觉良好。
 
不是谁犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为
It’s not about who has sinned, but that the works of God might be displayed in him
 
主耶稣提醒我们，不要只看到别人的罪，却没看到自己的罪。我们依然活得很好不是因为我们都比别人好，而是因为上帝的忍耐与宽容，怜悯我们并赐给我们悔改的机会。很不幸的是，这一点是人们常常看不到的。耶稣独特地回答：也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，而是要在他身上显出神的作为来。有些人常常以为任何苦难都因为是此人犯了罪所带来的结果。其实，主耶稣并不是说，那瞎眼的人没有罪，或他的父母没有罪；而是说，这人和他的父母犯没犯罪，与他生下来就瞎眼受痛苦根本就没有直接因果渊源的关系。但是耶稣指出了这人生命价值的宝贵；即使这个生命看起来是残缺的，但神也一样爱他、宝贵他，而且更要使用他。在别人看来，他不过就是个瞎眼的乞丐。可是在和耶稣相遇以后，他的生命将带来改变，上帝要使用他的生命来见证荣耀神。
 
人看为的痛苦  Man’s perception of suffering
 
人认为的痛苦和上帝所认为的痛苦是不一样的。当人面对人生极大的痛苦，在无助、失控和失去能力的情况下，自然而然会呼天抢地、痛苦落泪，独自支撑。一般人的回应可能是怨天尤人、自暴自弃、然后寻求物质的麻醉，无节制地参与活动、沉迷于娱乐消遣，或者把自己埋藏在工作里，企图使自己忘记这些痛苦。然而他们却发觉，这只会带来短暂的解脱假象，潜伏的痛苦却仍在暗中吞噬他们的心灵。当然亦有人在痛苦中选择苦中做乐，在痛苦中坚强毅立，因为其实天无绝人之路。
 
在痛苦中被神陶造和重建 Molded and transformed by God during suffering
 
没有人会喜欢痛苦，欢迎痛苦的临到，但是痛苦在人的一生中，会无数次地临到，避也避不开，逃也逃不掉。对基督徒而言，当我们面对不同的痛苦，有些痛苦甚至是感觉难以担当，就知道我们是进入上帝的恩典与祂的能力里，推动我们进入祂的同在而依靠他—–因为知道上帝在我们的痛苦中掌权，祂既然胜过这世界，也必能帮助我们面对这痛苦。痛苦的临到，是要我们放下自己，转向与上帝建立亲密的关系，身体虽然在痛苦中，但是灵性却被神陶造和重建。在任何的痛苦中，我们绝对不是孤独一人，因为上帝与我们同在，不是靠着感觉，而是因着相信上帝的信实，因为祂绝对是守约的上帝。

相信上帝容许我们受苦带来益处Believe that God allows us to suffer for our good

许多美善的事都是在痛苦之后发生的。我们若看见痛苦后面的益处，就不再感到茫然无助。我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处。我们不能控制痛苦的发生，但我们可以控制面对痛苦时的反应。积极的人在糟糕的环境中看出美好的事情，消极的人却从美好的环境中想出糟糕的事情！一个聪明的受苦者除了懂得奔向上帝取得力量外，也懂得谦卑自己向对的人寻求帮助。寻求帮助的人有胜过痛苦的机会，不寻求帮助的人肯定会继续被痛苦折腾。在痛苦中，我们不是坐着等待生命被消耗，而是利用自己所经历的痛苦，去帮助那些正在经历痛苦的人。从痛苦中站起来的人，是让自己超越痛苦、胜过痛苦。虽然有时我们不能理解上帝容许我们受苦的方法，但是我们相信痛苦的发生就是打开机会让上帝在我们的生命中工作，使我们更亲近祂。（约瑟、但以理、约伯等都给我们作了美好榜样） 
 
没有上帝的人当经历了人生痛楚、苦难、死亡、伤害、哀伤、悲痛、危险、创伤。面对压力、打击、愤怒、心慌、恐惧、焦虑、厌倦、困惑、痛恨、困扰、懊悔等；他们内心深处感觉没有人可以倾诉，没有人可以期待，觉得人生很无奈，需要独自苦苦支撑，只能够硬着头皮硬硬顶上。但是以上帝为神的人，因为知道上帝爱我们、宝贵我们，因此我们可以有无限的期待，并知道所期待的将会实现。因为圣经应许我们：“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你”。所以我们能够将生活上、情绪上和心灵上的痛苦与重担交托给上帝，有上帝了解我们的心情、有上帝安慰、舒解困境、有上帝的话语引导、指示，赐力量，让我们能够在绝境前行。期待上帝会赐给我们，从祂那里来的智慧面对问题和痛苦并可以安然渡过生活上、情绪上和心灵上的死荫的幽谷。所以当我们面对痛苦时，记得仰望为我们创始成终的上帝，上帝要使用我们的经历为祂作见证明。
 
今日祷告：亲爱的上帝，谢谢祢，在不能控制的痛苦临到我身上，我痛苦难当之时，我知道我绝对不是孤独一人，因为祢愿意成为我的安慰和随时的帮助。祢应许不撇下我，也不丢弃我又与我同在，是我可以依靠的神，谢谢祢愿意陪伴我走过整个不可预计的人生。谢谢祢天父。诚心感谢是奉主耶稣的圣名。阿们。