SEEKING BETTER THINGS

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6)

Devotion 25 of 26

WHEN SUFFERING IS BETTER

Faith, and the grace that brings it, has a sanctifying effect upon the soul. When we live by faith (and the just so live by faith, Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38), the whole of life is changed. Even the bitter dregs of suffering are turned to our advantage. Afflictions, or troubles, are lightened, and perceived as but for a moment. They become our employees, working for us a glory that outweighs them all. As it is written, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor 4:17). That is the exclusive perspective of faith.

This brings us to a text worthy of our consideration. We must occupy lofty realms in order to take hold of the truth here declared. "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing" (1 Peter 3:17).

When believers are faced with suffering, they must ever remember, "it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." There is no virtue in suffering for wrong doing. The world says, "I will take it if I have it coming." But faith says, "I will rejoice that I have been counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).

Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt 5:11-12). You must have a faith that can receive that truth!

Even when we suffer for righteousness sake, or for well doing, our suffering is seen as an "IF." Our enemies do not have control of us. They are not able to do what they will whenever they want. Even the devil cannot test or sift us without getting permission from God Almighty (Job 1:8-12; 2:3-6). Even then, for those in Jesus Christ, He intercedes for them, praying their faith will not fail when they are sorely tested (Luke 22:31-32). If we suffer, it is according "to the will of God." Israel had to cross the Red Sea, go through the wilderness, and cross the Jordan River at flood tide, in order to enter Canaan!

God has noble purposes that are served in our sufferings. Many times, such suffering is in order that you "may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer" (2 Thess 1:5). Such suffering has a way of stripping from us the things that cannot transfer to the world to come.

Suffering unjustly is not by chance! When we do well, living by faith and in a good conscience, and affliction results from it, the working of God is being made known to us. He is showing us the conflict between this world and the one of which we are citizens. The suffering can endear heaven to us, and remove us even farther from the cursed order.

In such suffering, we are being better suited for the glory that awaits us. We are also being loosed from the hold of this world. There is also a richness of fellowship in suffering for doing good, that cannot be realized any other way. This is called "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil 3:10), and is worth the forfeiture of all fleshly advantages. That is what makes suffering for doing good "better" that suffering "for doing evil."

The marvelous truth unveiled in this text will be best understood in contemplation and meditation. It is not something that can be learned like a mathematical table or a mechanical routine. The richness of its truth will be unfolded as you muse upon it. In your musing, the Lord will correlate what He has declared with what you have experienced.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I thank You for showing the value of suffering for doing good. I also praise You for monitoring and controlling all of my troubles.

-- Tomorrow: CONCLUSION to Series --
Wednesday, New series: WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET