Sofrimento
O sofrimento é uma realidade da vida neste mundo, mas a Bíblia revela que Deus está presente em toda dor, produzindo caráter, esperança e redenção através das tribulações.
O sofrimento de Cristo
Jesus sofreu por nós, carregando nossas dores e enfermidades. Ele é o modelo supremo de como enfrentar o sofrimento com fé e obediência.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
O propósito do sofrimento
Deus usa as tribulações para produzir perseverança, caráter e esperança. O sofrimento presente não se compara com a glória que será revelada.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
From Suffering to Glory
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy tobecompared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Consolação e companhia
Deus consola os aflitos para que possamos consolar outros. Nunca estamos sozinhos no sofrimento — Ele é o Pai das misericórdias.
Comfort in Suffering
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, youare blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."
Fé em meio à dor
Os grandes homens e mulheres de fé sofreram e perseveraram. O sofrimento nos aproxima de Deus e nos leva a entender seu coração.
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lordgave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord."
"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
"Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
And though I bestow all my goods to feed thepoor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: