Title: Patience in Tribulation/Romans 12:10-13
Content The word “tribulation” in the text refers to the various trials and tribulations that life goes through. The original Greek word for the word "tribulation" is "tripis", meaning pressure, oppression, tribulation, hardship, etc. In English, it is called Trivulation, that is, "suffering" or "trial" or Affication, that is, "suffering" Translated.
Therefore, it can be understood that the original meaning of this word refers to all difficulties caused by external circumstances. To “be patient in tribulation” would be to “show patience in all your afflictions.” To endure all suffering, whether it be mental, material, or physical.
Suffering is inevitable in life. It might be a bastion that is one fatal thing. For those who want to live an upright and good life in this evil and lewd generation, it is this hardship that comes more seriously. The bigger the tree, the stronger the wind blows, so there are many times when “hardships” and “trials” will come to the saints, like Job in the old days, who rejoice in hope, stand firm in the faith, and serve the Lord diligently with the service of love.
How should we face such irresistible hardships and trials? There can be two ways. There will be a way to passively avoid it or to resign yourself as a fate. But the Bible tells us to be patient when we face tribulation. This is a very aggressive method.
Then the question arises as to why we have to endure this suffering. To know this, if you first find out what kind of suffering there is, you will naturally find the answer.
1. There is judgmental suffering.
In the beginning, after God created man, He said, "It was very good" (Genesis 1:31). But why would such a "very good" human life become a "valley of tears"? This is not by God's fickle providence or by destiny. This is due to human arrogance and unbelief transgression of the will of God.
Like the sayings, “The sinful soul will die,” or “the wages of sin is death,” some sufferings stem from human sin or error. In this way, suffering that comes from my own fault can be viewed as judgmental suffering. In most cases, people blame others or turn the arrows of resentment at God while suffering from their own faults.
2. There is a substitutionary suffering.
The pain of Jeremiah, who shed endless tears as he looked at Israel as he went, falls into this category.
The incarnation of Jesus was “to put away the devil, who had held the power of death through death, and to release all those who were enslaved throughout their lives because of the fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14,15). The Lord came to this earth to fight sin. There was a prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the suffering of Calvary on the cross to redeem life from the penalty of sin.
These sufferings are not caused by sin, but rather because of love. When we worry about the suffering of our neighbors, unspeakable suffering follows. It is like the feeling of a parent watching it next to a sick child lying in bed.
3. There is a didactic hardship.
This physical weakness forced Paul to rely more and more completely on God's grace. He found such overflowing graces in active service under the most difficult conditions. He realized that when he was weak it made him more dependent on God and that was the strongest time for Paul. Suffering is also a warning sign of danger in life. A child who has been burned will never come close to the fire again.
The Bible tells Christians to rejoice in suffering. (1 Peter 1:6) In 1 Peter 4:12, 13, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trials that try you and come as strange things happen to you, but only you Rejoice in sharing in the sufferings of Christ.”
The saints who are groaning in the midst of hardships and trials! Rather, rejoice and endure it all with joy. Suffering is beneficial to us who have been saved. Among the famous Sermons on the Mount that Jesus spoke, there is a saying like this. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11, 12).
Even a person like Moses in the Old Testament times refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's princess, but instead wanted to suffer with God's people for a while, enjoying the pleasures of sin.
What he loved more than enjoying, he said, “behold the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
According to the Apostle Peter's words, "Therefore, although you were forced to be grieved for a while because of various trials, we are overjoyed. The trial of your faith is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tried by fire, and the so that they may find praise, glory, and honor at the proper time.”
Because they are the saints who are looking forward to these precious glory, rewards, and crowns, they have to endure temptation. James 1:12 promises, "Blessed is the one who endures temptation. After being approved by this, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Nearly half of all U.S. presidents, 18, are said to have never had a college education. They are people who were born into poor families and walked down the thorny path of hardship. What does this mean? It means that a strong human cannot come out without suffering. It is also a testimony that shows the benefits of suffering. Just as hard wood that has been subjected to weathering for a long time is used for high-quality furniture, and just as placer gold becomes valuable pure gold only after being refined in a molten steel furnace, suffering makes a person. It makes people of prayer. Create citizens of the glorious kingdom of heaven.
That is why he said, "Is there anyone among you who is afflicted, and he should pray" (James 5:13), so let's pray and be patient. Let's wait for that glorious day to be given to us.
Those who look at the rainbow when it rains, and those who look at the dawn when it is dark and deep at night. This is the attitude of a believer. Only when we have this kind of faith, we will be able to endure any difficulties and obtain the crown of victory.