REFLECTIONS

Living Examples

Other people knew things he didn’t. But for their chatter, he might never have known his life was different. Oh, he knew about the obstacles in his path because he bumped into them. He may have learned about pitfalls in the ground when he stepped into a hole and nearly fell to his death. He might have known about daylight and darkness from the comings and goings of others. But until Jesus placed mud on his blindness and instructed him to wash it off in the Pool of Siloam, he had never seen the light of God’s glory. And it all happened as Jesus said,“so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Now I wonder how often Jesus would provide that same answer to the many questions we ask about our troubles in life? I wonder how many times we fail to notice the work of God in us. And when painful times befall us, I wonder if we too often fail to recognize it is “so that the work of God might be displayed in [our lives.]”

As Peter wrote: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Difficult and painful times befall us all. Many times we wonder why. But when God revealed his work in the man born blind; when his brothers sold Joseph into slavery; and when God stripped Job of everything he loved in this world, they each became living examples of God’s great work. Notably, none of them lost hope when tragedy struck. Job declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…,” (Job 13:15)

As with these biblical heroes and countless others who suffered through painful trials, may we one day rejoice when God’s glory is revealed through our own trials in faithful participation in the sufferings of Christ.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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