We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Benefits of suffering: 1. Divine retribution. 2. Divine discipline (Pr. 3:11; Heb. 12:5-11). 3. Testing, proving (Gen. 22:1; Dt. 8:2, 16, Jas. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:7). 4. Vicarious suffering (Num. 11:1-15; Hos. 1-3, Isa. 52:13-53:12). 5. Educational (Heb. 5:8). 6. Revelation (Jn. 9:2-3). 7. Repentance, seek God (Hos. 5:15; Isa. 19:22; 2 Cor. 7:9-10). 8. Self-denial (Lk. 22:42; 2 Cor. 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 12:7; Rom. 5:3-4; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 4:10-11; Heb. 12:10; Jas. 1:2). 9. Solidarity - In suffering we band and bond together (Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 12:26). 10. Ministry of comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-4; Heb. 4:15). 11. Glorification (Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:17).
James Fowler