Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! We had a good day yesterday as we considered from Matthew 16 the Savior who suffered for us and calls us to bear our own crosses and be willing to suffer for Him. We see Jesus revealed as Messiah, but He is not the kind of Messiah most expected. Jesus is Messiah who sacrificed and suffered for us. Jesus suffered in our place so we could be forgiven and be counted righteous in God’s sight. But that does not mean we will not suffer in this life. In fact, suffering is a part of the human condition because all people suffer in this fallen world. Also, there will be some suffering endured because we name the name of Jesus. Jim Dennison pointed out that when we suffer or others suffer, we can question at times why God allows suffering. But we can never accuse God of not understanding our suffering, because God the Son entered our suffering by becoming a human being. Then, ultimately, Jesus knows our suffering as the One who suffered the humiliation and pain of the cross while dying so our sins can be forgiven. Edward Shillito helped us see this in the poem he wrote, “Jesus of the Scars.” He ends his poem with these words:
“The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.”
Ladies, you are invited to lunch at noon this Saturday, September 14 at the Daisy Café & Cupcakery, 2827 Atwood Avenue. Contact Carla Ray for more details.
The ladies will begin the second half of their study of Philippians on Wednesday evening, September 25.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church