Affliction Worketh

2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Are we looking at things which are seen or things which are eternal? If we focus on the things that are seen we will not be able to see the things that are eternal. If we look at the things that are eternal we will still be able to see the things that are temporary but we will have them in the right perspective. Sometimes foul-tasting medicine is good for us. The medicine is temporary but its benefits are long-lasting.

Psalms 119:71: It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

When the roof leaks we might just hire someone to fix it. If we don*t know about the leaky roof or ignore it we won*t. When our car has a problem we might just take it to a mechanic. If we don*t know about the problem or ignore it we won*t. When we are sick we might just go to a doctor. If we don*t know how sick we are or ignore the problem we won*t. If men do not know that they are sinners on their way to Hell or if they deny it, they will not receive Christ. Knowing that we are sinners headed for Hell is an affliction we all need. It is an indispensable affliction. We cannot save ourselves. Only the Saviour can do that.

Jeremiah 13:23: Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Job 14:4: Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Romans 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

After we have become children of God the affliction we need is His chastening.

Hebrews 12:5: And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Job 5:17: Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

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