Food For Thought - Youth News Letter

Written by Kelton Anderson

Get to a movie theater and you will quickly find that pain is shown to be “cool” and suffering “fun”. But is pain really all that fun? Of course not! In fact pain is a direct result of Adam’s sin. We find ourselves always asking this question, “why is the world in so much remorse and pain?” It’s all due to the fall. And, when we look at our human bodies in this sinful world; we find ourselves like tropical birds in Antarctica. And God in all His love, understanding, power, and wrath uses affliction for His glory. This may seem strange, but you’ll see it clearly in a second. There are a few different types of affliction:

1. Correcting affliction- we find this affliction with Bill, who disobeyed his parents and now gets a “spanking”. God uses this affliction in many ways to correct us.

2. Protecting affliction- the apostle Paul had “a thorn in the flesh” although we don’t know much about the “thorn” it may have been to protect Paul from pride.

3. Perfecting affliction- Much like boot camp, God sends us through “trials and tribulations”… afflictions to build character

4. Cosmic Affliction- As seen in the book of Job, the Devil has a part in pain, and may “dare” God to test His believers with affliction. In the case of Job, Job never cursed God through all his afflictions.

5. Glorifying Affliction- Jesus showed this in many ways and circumstances while He walked the Earth; healing those who were born with defects.

In the end we see that affliction, although not comfortable or fun, is important in shaping us in our Christian walk. Having said this…

1. How was glory shown in Christ's death on a cross, burial, and resurrection from the dead?

2. What type of affliction did God show with Christ?