09 August: Why Do People Suffer?

When so many bad things are happening to good people, we can’t help but wonder why…

READ ISAIAH 53  Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The news headlines of harrowing life-experiences continue to cause me to shake my head with incredulity. When bad things happen, especially to Believers in the Creator God, it’s easy to lose trust in Him. If He is a Good God, then surely there must be a sort of invisible shield around those who put their hope in Him!

Isaiah’s vision, in today’s chapter, shows that the Jews’ long-awaited Messiah (saviour) – sent specifically from the Creator to restore all things – was Himself going to suffer! [v7-9] If that wasn’t bad enough news, to top it off, He would suffer at the hands of those He came to save! [v3] So, in a world that is far from perfect, there’s little wonder that bad things happen to good people. Some suffering is caused by our own mistakes. Some comes from the consequences of other people’s choices and behavior. But most comes from being tumbled up in this seemingly out-of-control world. However, there’s one thing that I’ve learnt from Isaiah’s vision: our Maker never asks us go through something that He wasn’t first willing to suffer Himself, for our sake. [v4-6]

Read More? …CLICK on “09 August – Additional Notes”

But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.

Wanting to connect with the One who’s walking life beside you? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[a]

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

   1.   Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”

I give thanks to You, Lord, for You are good. Your loving-kindness is everlasting. Save us, gather us, and deliver us from the nations, so that we can give thanks to Your holy Name and glory in Your praise. [1 Chronicles 16:34-35]

   2.   Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”

  • The World: God’s GRACE on Laos[b]
  • Your Country: Your Extended Family
  • Yourself: Obedience in the little things
  • Your concerns for today
Father God, please help me to remember that faith comes from hearing, and hearing, from the Word of God. [Romans 10:17]

   3.   Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”

Cleanse me from all my God-less ways by which I’ve sinned against You Lord. Pardon all my secret faults (whether thoughts, or words, or actions) by which I’ve sinned and disobeyed. [Jeremiah 33:8]

   4.   Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

Thank-you Lord for your ancient promises to me that You’ll guard my going out and my coming in, from this time forth and forever. [Psalm 121:8]

“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”

When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[c] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Topic = Prayer

“If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” [James 1:5]

 

[a] Matthew 6:5-15

[b] http://www.operationworld.org/country/laos/owtext.html

[c] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31

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