Redeeming Suffering

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:14

D.L. MOODY
The world can get on very well without you and me, but the world cannot get on without Christ and therefore, we must testify of Him.
The world today is just hungering and thirsting for this divine, satisfying portion. Thousands and thousands are sitting in darkness, knowing not of this great Light; but when we begin to preach Christ honestly, faithfully, sincerely, and truthfully, holding Him up, not ourselves; exalting Christ, and not our theories; presenting Christ, and not our opinions; advocating Christ, and not some false doctrine; then the Holy Ghost will come and bear witness. He will testify that what we say is true.

ERWIN LUTZER
Christianity is the only religion whose God has wounds. Isaiah spoke of One who was wounded and punished by God, yet he also said of this Suffering Servant, “With his wounds we are healed” (53:5). What kind of healing should we experience?
Jesus died to redeem us—body, soul, and spirit. We were purchased by God, every part of us—not just our souls, not just our spirits, but our bodies were purchased. We were bought by Christ in total, in completeness. When Jesus died on the cross, He purchased all that we will ever need to take us into the presence of God.
But, and this is critical, we do not experience complete healing in this life. When we die, our bodies go to the grave while our spirits go to Christ. The full healing of the body will take place on the day of resurrection.
This good news motivated Moody to preach the gospel to tens of thousands. He shared the good news that Christ is a Savior, a Light to the world. To all who come unto God by Jesus, He saves them completely.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for Jesus, who endured what I shall never have to endure, paving the way to bring me all the way home.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Why is the reality of a wounded Savior the only foundation strong enough to support a heart broken by the pains of this world?

How does accepting that full physical healing is a resurrection promise keep us from the error of thinking God has failed us when we face illness today?