FCA tonight...

Matt Rogers brought us the word tonight based on "why do bad things happen to good people?"

First of all, this is the wrong question. This question is man-centered, therefore the answer is man-centered.... FAIL. Without the answer being God-centered, we are not destined to succeed. This question is also saying that God gives out blessings and hard circumstances based on our performance. That is a scary thought. We fail so much more than we succeed. If we were to ask this question properly we must say, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" The fact that we are still living is evidence of God's grace.

Suffering has nothing to do with you. It's about God. Life has nothing to do with you. It's about God.

In John 9, we read the story about Jesus healing the blind man at the pool at Siloam. The disciples ask Jesus why the man is blind. They think it was based on his sins or the sins of his forefathers. (That is a common view of the day.) Jesus responds, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." SO THAT... there is purpose in our suffering. Now, we are not always promised to see the reason we are suffering, because again... it's not about us.

Another cool part about this story is the fact that Jesus stooped down, spit on the ground, and made clay to put on this man's eyes. He met the man where he was. He saw the blind man in his brokenness, in his blindness, and came to him. How often do we meet people where they are in their time of need and time of hurting? I am not talking about a mission trip or a small group project, or a youth service day. I am speaking of walking out of class and seeing someone hurting, and reaching out in compassion and meeting them where they are. Sometimes the reason that we suffer might be so that we can feel compassion for others who are suffering. We just don't know, but we do know that God knows. We serve an all-knowing God who loves us deeply, personally, and passionately. He is what we seek: not our circumstances, not comfort, not happiness. We seek Him. Although our trials come and people and situations fail us, He NEVER will. Isn't He great?