Daily Inspiration: Explore God--Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? 5
Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Thought for Today
If God is good and all-powerful, why does He allow evil to persist? Isn’t He morally obligated to use His divine power to eradicate evil? The answer to those oft asked questions is “YES!” God must do something about the problem of evil or He cannot be truly good. The good news is He did tackled the problem of evil by coming personally in the person of Jesus Christ and taking sin and every evil and nailing them to the cross. He poured out His precious blood to pay the debt left behind by the wickedness of our hearts and lives. If this is true, why is there still evil in the world? While God has disarmed sin and evil at the cross, however, He has not brought about the final judgment upon them. When He does He will have to do away with everything that causes evil. Those who have not passed under the cross of Christ, leaving behind their sin and shame, will have to be removed from God’s presence permanently, for sin and evil will still reside in them. Jesus’ dear friend Peter tells us that God is “slow” to do this because He doesn’t want to lose any of His beloved people. So He delays the Day of Judgment on sin and evil in the hopes that more of His children will turn to Him and, repenting, walk under the cross of Jesus and leave their evil behind. Evil still exists because God holds out hope for those who don’t know or believe what He has done for them. So while we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Father stays His divine hand to keep the judgment at bay one more day. He is willing to leave evil in the world temporarily so that eternal life is still a possibility for those who are far from Him today.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, use me to draw those I love to Your cross and the gift of eternal life. While I long for the day when everything will be perfect again, I praise You for Your patience for their sake. Amen.
Devotional Quote
God is never late and rarely early. He is always exactly right on time--His time. ― Dillon Burroughs
Quote of the Day
I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done. ― Elisabeth Elliot
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Daily Inspiration: Explore God--Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? 4
Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?
Romans 5:6-8
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Thought for Today
Though many people believe that God ignores evil and suffering in the world, the truth is that God has already dealt with them. Because of the pain, suffering and sin in the world God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus did not come to condemn the world, though He certainly could have. Nor did He call us to get our act together. Jesus came to put an end to sin and the pain that it causes. He did not do this by destroying everything that causes sin. As we said yesterday, that would have included you and me. Instead, He came to take all of the sin, pain and suffering in the world and place it on Himself. He took our ungodliness to the cross and there paid for them with His very life. If that is the case, why is there still so much suffering? Come back tomorrow and I’ll tell you.
Prayer
Lord God, I praise You for sending Your Son to take my wickedness upon Himself. Help me to live today with gratitude for Your great love. Amen.
Devotional Quote
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. — Jesus Christ
Quote of the Day
The love which moves the world, according to common Christian belief, is God's love and the love of God. — Mortimer Adler
Daily Inspiration: Explore God--Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? 3
Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . .
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thought for Today
The question of why God allows pain and suffering in the world can lead us to some very deep and disturbing answers. One of the most important answers is that if God decided to get rid of all the evil in the world, He would have to deal with us, too. You see, evil isn’t all out there in the world. There is evil in you and me, too. God created us with the ability to love and follow Him or to reject and turn away from Him. As we saw on Monday, we chose to rebel against Him and follow our own inclinations. The Bibles tells us that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And then it adds that “the wages of sin is death…” Knowing that we are all part of ‘the evil’ that people say ‘God should do something about’ gives us a new and important perspective. The Bible also says that God will one day judge all evil. No one will get away with anything. But right now, He is patiently giving us an opportunity to turn to Him and receive the forgiveness and life He offers.
Prayer
Holy God, thank You for not dealing with me as my sin deserves. You are merciful and compassionate, even though I don’t deserve it. Help me trust Your justice with the same faith I trust Your mercy. Amen.
Devotional Quote
Mercy is what moves us toward God, while justice makes us tremble in his sight. — Pope Benedict XVI
Quote of the Day
I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever. — Thomas Jefferson
