Friday after Jubilate, 5/11/01

2Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (NKJV)

In the Name of the One in whom we have new life,

The question has been asked repeatedly, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" On an individual level, one undergoing some personal struggle with serious illness, the loss of a loved one, loss of livelihood, asks, "Why is this happening to me? I've tried to be a basically good person." Therein lies the rub. How is it that when we experience such losses and afflictions we look to justify ourselves before God and others? There we see the Old Adam creeping in, with his built-in "opinion of the law," that feature of our sinful nature that always seeks to gain righteousness by works. The type of persecution and suffering spoken of in today's lesson is of a different nature than just "bad things happening to good people." Here the person suffering persecution realizes that "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" (Rom. 7:18, NIV). Rather this is the suffering one who desires to "live godly," "in Christ," that is doing good out thankfulness to Christ for full and free salvation, and relying on Christ's righteousness and not our own before God. Peter's first epistle shows the contrast between suffering that comes into our lives because of our own wrongdoing and that which we endure for the sake of our faith in Christ: "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." (1 Peter 2:20) Though our works are imperfect in themselves, their imperfection is covered by Christ's perfection, credited to our accounts through faith in Him. God grant us faith and patience as we suffer for the deeds we do out of thankfulness for what Christ has done for us, knowing that this is pleasing to Him. In the words of the hymnist, "Though a heavy cross I'm bearing and my heart feels the smart, shall I be despairing? God, my Helper, who doth send it, well doth know all my woe and how best to end it." (ELH 377, v. 2)

Prayer: Lord, I admit I often grumble when it seems the good works I do out of faith only bring more evil and hardship upon me. Help me to patiently endure, to remember that You work all things for the good of those who love You and that You have won the victory over the old evil foe and give the blessings of this victory to all who trust in You. Amen.