Afflict

 

    To afflict is to be in a state of pain, distress, or grief.  It is caused by sickness, loss, calamity, adversity, or persecution.  Sounds horrible, so how can being afflicted be a good thing?  How can suffering be beneficial?

    Naomi lost her home, her husband, her sons, and then one daughter-in-law.  She had nothing left but grief and one daughter-in-law that would not abandon her.  Ruth only had Naomi as Naomi returned home to see if she could find something for her again: family, friends, a home.  

    All of this loss and grief caused Naomi to change her name to Mara (very bitter).  She blamed God in her grief.  Her family had fled home due to a famine, but she felt like her life was full because of her family.  She blamed God for bringing her home empty, experience tragedy, and to suffer.  What she could not see was that God was still working for good in her life.  Grief can blind you from the truth.

    It is easy to think that troubles in life are punishment from God.  We don't see how He carries our weaknesses or that out sins afflict Him.  Jesus was the one that carried our afflictions from sin to the cross and then the grave.  When he rose again, he left our sins in the ground.  We afflicted him with oppression and harsh treatment.  He was the silent lamb butchered for our benefit.

    God loves you enough to afflict his son in a human life to suffer on our behalf.  Yet, this is good news.  Jesus' affliction opened the door for everyone to have the opportunity to find salvation and have a real relationship with God.  He suffered, so show us the way out from eternal suffering.  

    When we suffer, we are to count it as a blessing since we suffer to make sure the good news carries on to everyone in the world.  We are learning valuable lessons in life like patience, faithfulness, and endurance.  These qualities make us strong through Jesus. Endure as you wait for Jesus to come and bring you home.  

    Martyrs refuse to renounce God to be set free.  They could live their lives, but it would never be whole.  Loosing their lives to follow Jesus in obedience liberates their soul from the constitution of men and can show other people the way to Heaven.  Their hope is in the resurrection.  To follow Jesus means you may he taunted, made fun of, bullied, beaten, imprisoned, or possibly killed.  You will not be understood by the world.  The world may afflict pain onto you, but God will honor your life.

Ruth 1:20-21, Isaiah 53:4-7, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7, & Hebrew 11:35-38