Hebrews 5:7-10
While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.
If Jesus was criticized, misunderstood, and rejected, it makes sense that we will experience the same kind of treatment from other people.
I used to jump over grand pianos and jump onto moving boats to get teens to connect when I was a youth pastor. Now I’m in my 50’s and I wince in pain, when I watch those same videos. What happened is that I changed. Pain changes us. Emotional, mental, and relational pain also changes us. The question is, are we going to let it change us for the better or for the worse. I promise you this, you will never stay the same.
Paul wrote to a group of Christians who had just gone through intense persecution, suffering, and pain. He shared these encouraging words.
2 Corinthians 7:11-13a
11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
Paul told the Corinthians that suffering had produced positive change in their lives. This life transformation had not only blessed others, but it was a great blessing to Paul and his friends.
No matter what you are going through, if you turn it over to the Lord and search His word for understanding, you will be blessed through the wound.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
