Affliction

Psalm 119.67-68

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119.71-72

It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.

The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119.75-76

I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

"Affliction" is always for our benefit, if we love God. Like a good parent God looks at our lives and desires to change habits, attitudes, allegiances, minds sets, dispositions, etc. And he allows us to fall in order to teach us. At times he inflicts discipline upon us, his children. I'm so glad he cares! I'm so glad he doesn't just leave me to my own demise, to my own sinful nature, to my own self destruction!

Father, may I be able to say, with this psalmist, "in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Help me to recognize Your 'affliction' and embrace it, help me to long and learn from it, help me to grow and be grateful from it. May I understand that things don't 'happen TO me' but things 'happen FOR me'!

Here is the process:

1. God's 'affliction' is good for me.
2. I desire to learn God's ways and love him deeply.
3. Without discipline I WILL NOT learn his ways.
4. God gives me what I need. (namely 'affliction')
5. God and his ways become "more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver & gold"!

These thoughts made me think of Peter. (John 21.15-19) Peter was on this same journey. He loved Jesus, but by his own admission it was just an affectionate love, a friendly love. ('phileo' in the Greek) Jesus asked him about his love (twice using 'agapao' the highest form of love in the Greek), I believe to spur him on to the next level (#1). Peter had a deep desire to love Jesus and follow him (#2). Peter becomes hurt in this passage because Jesus asked him a third time about his love (this time using the 'phileo' word). Peter here realizes that his love is not as high as he desires it to be; this is truly revelation to him, I believe because he "is hurt by it". (#3 & 4) Then Jesus tells Peter that his love will grow, it will reach to that 'agapao' love, the love of abandonment. (#5) Peter never would have gone to death for Jesus if he did not love him with 'agapao' love. It is the same process we are all on! Happy journey friend.