Comments on: The Power of His Resurrection, The Fellowship of His Sufferings http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/ reflections on life, death, and everything in between Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:35:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Barry Wallace http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/comment-page-1/#comment-1338 Barry Wallace Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:05:27 +0000 http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/?p=3846#comment-1338 Corrie Ten Boom used to give a lot of powerful illustrations. I shared one of them <a href="http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/forgiveness-and-corrie-ten-boom/#comment-1134" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Your comment reminds me of another: <blockquote>"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said, "Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a marty for Jesus Christ." "Tell me," said Father, "When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?" "No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train." "That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time…"</blockquote> Corrie Ten Boom used to give a lot of powerful illustrations. I shared one of them here. Your comment reminds me of another:

“When I was a little girl, ” I said, “I went to my father and said, “Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a marty for Jesus Christ.” “Tell me,” said Father, “When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?” “No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.” “That is right,” my father said, “and so it is with God’s strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time…”

]]> By: Barry Wallace http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/comment-page-1/#comment-1337 Barry Wallace Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:59:18 +0000 http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/?p=3846#comment-1337 Andy, good to hear from you! I think it's both. We certainly have hard edges, as you pointed out. But so does God. "Behold the goodness and severity of God." (Romans 11:22). God is both good <strong>and </strong>severe, and we're warned to take note of that fact. Always remembering that God is both tender and severe is good medicine for our souls, I think. Andy, good to hear from you! I think it’s both. We certainly have hard edges, as you pointed out. But so does God. “Behold the goodness and severity of God.” (Romans 11:22). God is both good and severe, and we’re warned to take note of that fact. Always remembering that God is both tender and severe is good medicine for our souls, I think.

]]> By: Laurie http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/comment-page-1/#comment-1334 Laurie Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:19:06 +0000 http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/?p=3846#comment-1334 "...we wouldn’t normally link power with suffering–but God does". I've been having some nightmares about torture lately along with waking imaginations that are hard to eschew. The thoughts that accompany them are troubling, causing me to wonder how I could endure such things for the sake of Christ. And suddenly I'm reminded of Augustine's prayer: "Give what you command, and command what you will." And then Jeremiah Burroughs: "...if a man has a burden to bear, and yet can have strength added to him - if the burden is doubled, he can have his strength trebled - the burden will not be heavier but lighter than it was before to his natural strength....Christ's strength is yours, made over to you, so that you my be able to bear whatever lies upon you." And then, of course there are the words of Scripture, that He will not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to bear, and that we are not to be anxious about tomorrow. I'm saying all this to affirm your assertion that power is definitely linked to suffering. Never is the power of God more evident than when a person faces tribulation and hardship with joy and confidence because of Christ. “…we wouldn’t normally link power with suffering–but God does”. I’ve been having some nightmares about torture lately along with waking imaginations that are hard to eschew. The thoughts that accompany them are troubling, causing me to wonder how I could endure such things for the sake of Christ. And suddenly I’m reminded of Augustine’s prayer: “Give what you command, and command what you will.” And then Jeremiah Burroughs: “…if a man has a burden to bear, and yet can have strength added to him – if the burden is doubled, he can have his strength trebled – the burden will not be heavier but lighter than it was before to his natural strength….Christ’s strength is yours, made over to you, so that you my be able to bear whatever lies upon you.”

And then, of course there are the words of Scripture, that He will not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to bear, and that we are not to be anxious about tomorrow.

I’m saying all this to affirm your assertion that power is definitely linked to suffering. Never is the power of God more evident than when a person faces tribulation and hardship with joy and confidence because of Christ.

]]> By: Derek Ashton http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/comment-page-1/#comment-1332 Derek Ashton Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:19:09 +0000 http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/?p=3846#comment-1332 Barry, Lots of good balance here. This is really edifying, thanks for posting. Derek Barry,

Lots of good balance here. This is really edifying, thanks for posting.

Derek

]]> By: AndyC http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-power-of-his-resurrection-the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings/comment-page-1/#comment-1331 AndyC Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:36:12 +0000 http://barrywallace.wordpress.com/?p=3846#comment-1331 Great post Barry! As I think about it, I wonder if it is Christianity that has the hard edges or me? Is the problem that my own sin makes it hard to fit the cross into the whole in my heart that it was designed by God to fill? There is definitely abrasion as I walk with my faith, but I cannot blame God for it. Without Christ, there would be only desolation, so I live happily with the abrasion caused by my shortcomings as I rub up against the cross as it seeks to fit snugly and securely into my life. Great post Barry!

As I think about it, I wonder if it is Christianity that has the hard edges or me? Is the problem that my own sin makes it hard to fit the cross into the whole in my heart that it was designed by God to fill?

There is definitely abrasion as I walk with my faith, but I cannot blame God for it. Without Christ, there would be only desolation, so I live happily with the abrasion caused by my shortcomings as I rub up against the cross as it seeks to fit snugly and securely into my life.

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