Bible Lessons

Bible Lessons

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

— 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17

Discovering God’s hand in your hardships is really a discovery of God’s Word. Consider these power-packed verses that serve as a lens through which we can gain a clearer perspective on our afflictions. Psalm 68:19 says, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” This tells us suffering is used to increase our awareness of the sustaining power of God. Second Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” This reminds us that suffering allows the life of Christ to show up in our mortal flesh. Second Corinthians 12:9 says, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” This underscores how suffering completely bankrupts us, making us totally dependent on God.

Second Corinthians 12:7 states, “To keep me from becoming conceited . . . there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.” This tells us that God uses suffering to teach us humility. Actually, all of Philippians 2:1 – 11 shows us how God uses our hardships to impart to us the mind of Christ. The Bible is jam-packed with lessons like these.

The only way we can gain a right perspective on our headaches and hardships is to spend time meditating on such verses. All Scripture is useful for teaching us heart-pumping truths like these in order that we might be thoroughly equipped, as today’s verse tells us. Meditate on these brief Bible lessons and rejoice today that God wants to conform you to his Word.

You are the great Teacher, Lord Jesus, and I thank you for instructing me from your Word today. Bring these truths to mind when I am confronted with suffering this week.