Distress

Monday, April 27, 2009: John 16:16, 21–22

“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
Background: Jesus Christ has just prophesied to the disciples about His death, burial and resurrection.
Can a man experience the anguish before childbirth? No, but the disciples would experience the change from anguish to joy when they would see the resurrected Christ!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009: Romans 2:8–9

but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
Background: Paul speaks to the Romans about old ways that we had before salvation.
What should a believer do in his new life? Obey righteousness: pleasing God counts now for eternity.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009: Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Why does Paul mention these negatives? It is a reminder that we’re not of the world and are hated by it.

Thursday, April 30, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 3:6–7

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.
Background: The early Church in Thessalonica was strongly persecuted by unbelievers who forced Paul to leave for Berea in his 2nd missionary journey in 51 AD. He sent Timothy back to check.
What was Paul’s distress and what comforted him? Continued persecution distressed him, but the news of the Thessalonian Church standing firm in their faith brought him comfort.

Friday, May 1, 2009: Galatians 1:6–7

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Background: Paul brought the gospel to Galatia during his 1st missionary journey in 49 AD. No legal requirement, such as circumcision or keeping the law was included: only faith in Christ’s finished work.
What was the perverted gospel? Faith in Christ plus works of the law is salvation.