SATAN
INTENDS TO HARM - GOD INTENDS FOR GOOD
BREAD
19 But
Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of
many lives. 21 So
then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he
reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:19-21 (NIV)
36 Some
faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were
sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in
sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of
them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the
ground. 39 These
were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been
promised. 40 God
had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be
made perfect.
Hebrews 11:36-40 (NIV)
2 Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
6 In
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine
and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him,
you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and
are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal
of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 (NIV)
28 And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Peter stressed that a Christian's joy is independent of his
circumstances. James used the same two Greek words (‘all kinds of trials’). The
trials themselves are seen as occasions for joy (James 1:2). Though trials may
cause temporary grief, they cannot diminish that deep, abiding joy which is
rooted in one's living hope in Christ Jesus.
These various trials—which seem to refer to persecution rather than
life's normal problems—have two results: (a) they refine or purify one's
faith—much as gold is refined by fire when
its dross is removed, and (b) trials prove the reality of one's faith.
Stress deepens and strengthens a
Christian's faith and lets its reality be displayed. The word ‘dokimazomenou’, rendered proved
genuine, means ‘to test for the
purpose of approving’”. Bible Knowledge
Commentary
“What was intended to tear you apart, God intends it to set
you apart.” Ann Voskamp
“If the worst things work for good to a believer, what shall
the best things? Nothing hurts the godly…all
things…shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into
blessings.” Puritan Thomas Watson
“God is so powerful that He can direct any evil to a good
end.” Thomas Aquinas
“See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that
thou dost see! It may be that the
circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain
unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our
grief and gloom, ‘He will compass us about with songs of deliverance’. To see Him, and to be sure that His wisdom
cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even
His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able
to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, ‘The Lord gave,
and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’. Nothing else but seeing God in everything
will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for
accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find
ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessing they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to
all murmuring or rebelling thoughts.”
Hannah
W. Smith
HEART SAVOR
- · God is a Master at making beauty from ashes. 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
·
Trials are a part of life for both the believer in Jesus and
the unbeliever. As a believer, our pain
always has purpose.
·
My trials refine
my faith which is of greater worth than gold.
