We Always Focus on the Victim Instead of the Perpetrator
Blog – 4/1/23
Learn to See Past the Pain
God uses “localized” suffering to deliver us from “distant” maladies. Although the “localized” pain captures our attention, it’s the “distant” issue God is working on.
Godly Perspective on Suffering
Suffering is a necessary aspect of spiritual growth (analogous to growing pains, physically). Suffering is not the end goal, nor is it a “right of passage” or “badge of honor”. Suffering is like fire in that it burns off impurities – the end goal being sanctification (aka, being more like Christ).
Job 42:12
And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.
Job 42:1-3
Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
The essence of discipline is maintaining the perspective that God is sovereign, holy, and in control.
The Rhetoric in Hebrews
- Prologue: v1:1-4
- Thematic Statement: v1:5-4:16
- Statement of Plausibility: ch5-6
- Demonstration of Proof: v7:1-10:18
- Closing Inspiration: v10:19-13:25
Theology: Types vs. Antitypes
A type is a symbol of something future and distant, or an example prepared and evidently designed by God to prefigure that future thing. What is thus prefigured is called the antitype.
The Rhetoric in Hebrews
- Prologue: v1:1-4
- Thematic Statement: v1:5-4:16
- Statement of Plausibility: ch5-6
- Demonstration of Proof: v7:1-10:18
- Closing Inspiration: v10:19-13:25
Ro 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Rom 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Php 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
