If we could, most of us would choose to avoid pain, never face disease, avert loss, crisis, difficulties or problems. We’re sure that would go a long way toward making our lives “perfect.” Even when we pray, for ourselves or others, our prayers generally include petitions to remove us from situations or circumstances involving pain, disease or discomfort. We wish we could just eliminate these things from our lives. We don’t like to suffer.

Truth is, though, we only learn certain lessons and develop certain character traits through the sufferings we experience. A butterfly, if helped from its cocoon by human hands in order to eliminate some of its terrible struggle, emerges stunted and unable to fly.

In heaven, God tells us there will be no more tears, no more pain and suffering. But, here, on earth, we grow, we learn, we become, through the things we suffer. Without suffering, there’s never a need to learn endurance, patience, longsuffering, forgiveness, selflessness, compassion, mercy, tenacity, diligence, the ability to overcome or any of the other character traits we so admire and which make our world a better place to live.

In all of nature, the things we most value, find most beautiful, treasure most, are the result of pressure, suffering, difficulty or trial – not the result of what’s perfect, easy, pressure or care free. Coal becomes diamonds through years of intense pressure. Sand becomes a pearl because of the irritation it causes the oyster. Strength, whether physical, mental or spiritual, comes from continually working the muscles, mind or spirit, denying them the comfort they seek and forcing them past the limits they think they can endure.

Without suffering and the things it produces in us, we stay shallow in our thinking and character, self-centered, one-dimensional, stunted, unable to think about anyone but ourselves, prickly and full of rough edges. Without suffering and pain, we never realize how fragile, needy and desperate we are or reach up to find God, whose grace is sufficient for all our needs.

So, be careful before you wish away what may produce the most beautiful, satisfying, deepest, most accomplished parts of you yet. Instead of praying for God to simply remove the pain and suffering from the life of someone you love, think about praying for Him to accomplish the most good possible for that person through the pain and suffering being experienced, so that he or she emerges from it better for having gone through it.

And be grateful … grateful that suffering isn’t for nothing, that it can have purpose and meaning and can produce something far beyond the pain you may be feeling at the moment.    (LYN THOMPSON)

The Lord is looking for servants like this centurion:

Who have an exalted view of Christ:
He is the sovereign Lord of authority, and thus they trust Him for the impossible. The Lord is looking for people like this centurion, “big godders,” who know that Jesus Christ is Lord and who know how to come to Him in simple faith and say, “You say the word, Lord, and this will be done.” An effective servant of Christ will thus have faith in His sovereign authority.

Who have a lowly view of themselves:
They are unworthy and insufficient, but they know Christ as gracious and all-sufficient. That’s what grace is all about. I do not deserve God’s blessing. I am not worthy for Him to use me or to answer my prayers. But I don’t come to Him based on my worthiness. I come asking for His undeserved favor. To be effective servants of Christ, we need a lowly view of ourselves: “I am an unworthy servant. But God uses unworthy servants who trust in His grace. And so God can use me to bring His salvation to others.”

Who have a caring view of others:
They are helpless, and thus need compassion. Christ’s authority and grace extend to those whom society may despise. God taught me that He chooses and uses people whom I would reject. God often saves the despised of the world and uses them as trophies of His grace.  Effective servants care about such people.

Hudson Taylor, the great pioneer missionary to China, used to say, “All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.” May that same powerful God do great things through us as we trust Him in our weakness!           (STEVEN J.COLE)

We are commanded by God in the Scriptures that, when we hear His voice to not harden our hearts.

How do we harden our hearts? Simple…by KNOWING what God’s Word clearly says about something but refusing to obey because doing so might seriously interfere with the lifestyle that we are wanting to pursue.

It happens when people know they should respond to the Gospel but keep finding reasons to say no.

It happens when a person knows he/she is in an ungodly dating relationship but fears being alone more than he/she fears God.

It happens when a person knows his/her life is out of control…but fears if he/she confesses his/her sin and asks for help, it may   seriously damage his/her reputation.

It happens when someone knows he/she should stop spending money the way he/she does…but have become dependent upon numbing his/her pain with the temporary satisfaction that trinkets bring.

It happens when a church leader knows the direction God is wanting him/her to take the ministry…but he/she refuses to do so because he/she fears being unpopular with the people.

It happens when a person knows he/she should not continue to pursue the “innocent flirting” with someone at work…but…it feeds his/her ego or fulfills his/her emotions so he/she continues the practice.

It happens when a person knows he/she should stop the intimate connections he/she is making online…but refuses to stop because of the pleasure it brings.

It happens when we know we should invite someone to church and/or share Christ with them…but we convince ourselves that they would not be interested OR that we will simply do it later.

I could go on and on…but we all get the point. When people harden their hearts in Scripture it just doesn’t go well for them.

My question is this…is there anything in your life that God seems to be relentless in coming after?

If so…are you repenting or defending? Because, when you defend what you are doing in the face of a Holy and awesome God who wants nothing but the best for you…then you are actively hardening your heart. AND…one day…you might not even be able to hear His voice anymore if you don’t deal with what He’s dealing with!

It’s not that most of us don’t hear the voice of God…it’s that we don’t like what we hear, and so we either fight with Him or ask Him to tell us something else. BUT…until we deal with what He’s dealing with, we will NEVER get past where we are right now. (See Ezekiel 14:1-6)

Today…if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart!        (PERRY NOBLE)

There are many things that a church can do to pass the torch to the next generation. We can have dynamic worship to inspire, we can have good programs of Bible Study and discipleship. We can elevate the importance of biblical truth in everything we do. However, there is no greater tool for passing the torch of biblical faith than family.

When Paul spoke of Timothy’s faith, he mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother and the impact they had on his life. Not much is known about Lois and Eunice except for the fact of their impact on Timothy. In 2 Timothy 3:15 Paul writes of Timothy knowing the Scriptures from childhood – that his mother and grandmother are the ones who first taught Timothy the timeless principles of the Bible.

The presence and instruction of parents in the life of a child is of indispensable importance. No person is more equipped to discipline and nurture like a parent. Many parents have a good understanding of the need to care for the physical, emotional, and social needs of their children. Spiritual education in the faith is of no less importance. Sad is the parent who believes that spiritual education can be limited to occasional church attendance or that knowledge of spiritual things is given by some sort of osmosis because of family heritage. The offspring of spiritually apathetic parents will be spiritually influenced by forces outside the family. Our children are too important for us to entrust their relationship with Jesus to others. Sadly, as a pastor I have met many young people who thrive in the faith in spite of their parents instead of with parental help.

Consistency is the key. Since all of us are sinners, there must be a consistent push against the sinful nature of the flesh. In addition to our sinful character there are multiple forces at work in the world that will vie for the position of spiritual education. Whether you realize it or not, your child is given spiritual instruction by what they watch on TV, what they see in movies, what they hear at school, and what their friends believe. There is no greater spiritual instructor in the life of a child than that of a parent who speaks the faith and lives out the faith on a daily basis. The daily example of spiritual instruction and a life well lived for a child to imitate is the greatest tool for passing the torch of faith in the life of your child. (PASTOR FRED EVERS)