Author's Note: Every day on the YWAP Fast Jan. 6-26, 2020 we’ll write about our experience as we respond to what God plants on our hearts during our extended time with Him.. Eventually the story will be chronicled into a book. “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:33 AMP
WHAT IS REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING?
Once upon a season in time, there was a Tall Tree who stood towering over all the other trees in the forest. On the forest floor stood Little Tree who was suffering from lack of sunlight. It's withering leaves were turning brown and it's bark was curling as its life was slowly ebbing away. Little Tree was exhausted from using all its energy to bend toward what little sunlight reached the forest floor. Little Tree didn't complain to anybody. it was too tired to bother. Nobody listened anyway the tree thought sadly. Soon I'll be just another dead tree in the forest. One moment in that season changed the life of the little tree forever.
Tall Tree looked down from its height that almost reached the heavens and noticed Little Tree struggling. "How can I help you?" Asked Tall Tree. Little Tree was shocked that someone actually offered help. Weakly, Little Tree replied, "I need some sunlight." Tall Tree smiled and said, "I think I can help you with that!" Tall Tree called to the wind and asked if the wind would use all its might to blow the tall trees branches to one side. It worked for a short while as a few rays of the sun reached Little Tree far below. As Tall Tree spent considerable time bending to one side, it caused a crack to open in its trunk.
In spite of the few rays of light that Little Tree was receiving, it still wasn't enough to bring about the shedding of its sluggish depression and help it to grow. "There must be more I can do," thought Tall Tree. The season's changed and the cold of winter arrived. Tall Tree called to the snow and ice, "Can you load up some of my branches so they break under the weight of the snow? I must prune some of my branches off so more sunlight can reach Little Tree." After a few heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures, snow and ice piled on top of tall tree. Soon the weight broke many of Tall Tree's limbs and they fell crashing to the forest floor. The second effort of Tall Tree began to make a difference in Little Tree's life.
Spring arrived and with it came fresh sunshine pouring down like a river over Little Tree's shriveled trunk. Little Tree began to grow alongside Tall Tree. Sadly, Tall Tree was beginning to show signs of old age. All the leaning and pruning had taken its toll on Tall Tree. Several seasons passed and Little Tree grew to the same height as Tall Tree. Until one day, Tall Tree fell over and collapsed on the forest floor where it died and became mulch for Little Tree's roots
The picture above shows a street corner memorial where a young man was murdered. Teddy bears are tied to a street light and notes are written in the young man's memory. Can you walk a mile in the dead man's shoes? Maybe not, but how about walking in his mother's shoes? What will it cost you to engage yourself completely in the suffering of another human being? Can you redeem the life of a dead young man by promising his Mom to keep the young man's memory alive? Can you use his story of life and young death to give a message that will change the lives of other young people?
DAY TWELVE WORD
John 3:16 Complete Jewish Bible
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.”
Mark 8:34 Amplified Bible
“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
Colossians 1:24-25 The Message
“I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.”
Matthew 5:1-11 New Living Translation
The Sermon on the Mount
5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
DAY TWELVE PRAYER
Thank you God for making a way for suffering to become a blessing. Your Word says that joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark the night becomes, your Light always rises in the midst of our mourning. Help me to be more of your Light no matter how much suffering I have to endure to show your Love. Amen.
DAY TWELVE DEEP THOUGHTS
Tall Tree looked down from its height that almost reached the heavens and noticed Little Tree struggling. "How can I help you?" Asked Tall Tree. Little Tree was shocked that someone actually offered help. Weakly, Little Tree replied, "I need some sunlight." Tall Tree smiled and said, "I think I can help you with that!" Tall Tree called to the wind and asked if the wind would use all its might to blow the tall trees branches to one side. It worked for a short while as a few rays of the sun reached Little Tree far below. As Tall Tree spent considerable time bending to one side, it caused a crack to open in its trunk.
In spite of the few rays of light that Little Tree was receiving, it still wasn't enough to bring about the shedding of its sluggish depression and help it to grow. "There must be more I can do," thought Tall Tree. The season's changed and the cold of winter arrived. Tall Tree called to the snow and ice, "Can you load up some of my branches so they break under the weight of the snow? I must prune some of my branches off so more sunlight can reach Little Tree." After a few heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures, snow and ice piled on top of tall tree. Soon the weight broke many of Tall Tree's limbs and they fell crashing to the forest floor. The second effort of Tall Tree began to make a difference in Little Tree's life.
Spring arrived and with it came fresh sunshine pouring down like a river over Little Tree's shriveled trunk. Little Tree began to grow alongside Tall Tree. Sadly, Tall Tree was beginning to show signs of old age. All the leaning and pruning had taken its toll on Tall Tree. Several seasons passed and Little Tree grew to the same height as Tall Tree. Until one day, Tall Tree fell over and collapsed on the forest floor where it died and became mulch for Little Tree's roots
The picture above shows a street corner memorial where a young man was murdered. Teddy bears are tied to a street light and notes are written in the young man's memory. Can you walk a mile in the dead man's shoes? Maybe not, but how about walking in his mother's shoes? What will it cost you to engage yourself completely in the suffering of another human being? Can you redeem the life of a dead young man by promising his Mom to keep the young man's memory alive? Can you use his story of life and young death to give a message that will change the lives of other young people?
- Redemptive suffering is like walking a mile in someones shoes while carrying them on your back with their heart in your hands. It will cause you some pain.
- Redemptive suffering is taking your own pain and using it as launching point to help others in their pain.
- Redemptive suffering is like a regurgitation.
- When you take your suffering to God,
- He blends your suffering with the peace and comfort of His Holy Spirit.
- This helps you regurgitate a blessing on someone who is suffering.
- He blends your suffering with the peace and comfort of His Holy Spirit.
- When you take your suffering to God,
- Redemptive suffering is God sending Jesus to die for our sins.
DAY TWELVE WORD
John 3:16 Complete Jewish Bible
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.”
Mark 8:34 Amplified Bible
“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
Colossians 1:24-25 The Message
“I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.”
Matthew 5:1-11 New Living Translation
The Sermon on the Mount
5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
DAY TWELVE PRAYER
Thank you God for making a way for suffering to become a blessing. Your Word says that joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark the night becomes, your Light always rises in the midst of our mourning. Help me to be more of your Light no matter how much suffering I have to endure to show your Love. Amen.
DAY TWELVE DEEP THOUGHTS
- How can you join somebody in suffering?
- The Bible talks about "redeeming the time." I take this to mean that we should treat each moment as a valuable moment and each life as a valuable life.
- Redeeming something is buying it back or restoring something that was lost. There is a cost. Partaking in the suffering of another is part of the cost in redemption.
- What is your cost? How will you pray? How will you fast? What will you give?
- Is it time for a second effort to help someone who rejected you the first time?
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