Preparing My Heart
Some days it seems I can hardly get past my discouragement to exercise my faith. The “wearied and faint” stage seems far too long and way too overwhelming. The point of hanging on “a little longer” can seem foolhardy. Then I wish someone would do something to end the end of my endurance.
Now, looking back, I wonder, how well do I empathize with those who can hardly go on? I need to learn to extend to others “the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Making the Bible Personal
What do I do when I have almost exhausted my patience to run?
Discouragement — how do I get it and how do I get rid of it?
When I set out to encourage someone, what is my approach?
How do I distinguish between chastening and “faultless” testing?
What keeps faith from becoming just so much wishful thinking?
How may I help the chastened one to endure?
Reviewing Basic Truths
Enduring faith looks beyond self and circumstance…to God.
Faith about the final outcome helps us endure the present hardship.
Chastening is a token (or seal) of our sonship and of the Father’s love.
Submitting to divine correction always brings good.
Applying God’s Word to Me
Section omitted from free version; purchase entire quarter as PDF or for Kindle.
This concludes my comments based on the passage for the International Bible Lesson. To read my comments on the alternate lesson developed by Christian Light Publications, click here: Healing of the Lame Man.
excerpted from Panting
