Job 2:4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

No one likes to suffer. Physical pain such as a back injury not only is painful but keeps you from feeling like a person of worth. You cannot bend, lift, twist or participate in normal activities, work or play.

Beyond pain, that loss of ability causes emotional distress. Suddenly you are thinking about self. It is difficult to think about others when we are suffering. It is difficult to have quiet time. It is difficult to hear that still small voice above one’s own crying.

This too the Lord understands. He suffered far worse than anything I’ve had to endure. His ability to think and care about others did not diminish in His suffering. While He was being nailed to the cross, He asked the Father to forgive His tormentors.

I am not the Christ. I gave up on trying to bring you a devotional Saturday because I was in pain. I tried to write about my pain, but in made no sense. How can you make sense out of pain? Once again I look back to what Jesus went through to be able to relate to us on human terms, to know suffering, to have compassion based on shared experience.

I will try and remember this when praying for others. Their suffering is not theirs alone. We have all been subjected to suffering and may our prayers be earnest and compassionate. Lord hear our prayers.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

None of us want to be wrong. When it seems that others hold a strong opinion which the Lord has not shared with you, respect the person for being firm. Too often we hold opinions lightly, easily tossed about by popular trends. If it is not a matter attached to salvation, what does it matter? Foundational truths about God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, their cause and will towards the reconciliation of man to God are the only things that matter.

There are so many thing for which clear answers are not given by God. Where He is not clear we must trust in God. As to man’s opinions, as long as he does not attach loss of salvation, grace or affection for God and each other, then it is not important enough to be an issue between brothers.

Man’s nature is to discover. Discovery is a great gift which can and should lead to enrichment of life. When its mysteries lead to hard feelings, they need to be put aside for the sake of fellowship. That is God’s will.

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;