Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Shout out to Mary Tave-Ihenacho for inspiring today’s encouragement.

Today’s scripture, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NLT) explains…
[19] For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. [20] So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Consider…
A common sentiment shared when a tragedy happens, or a bad medical diagnosis is given, or a someone is let go from a job is, ‘why do bad things happen to good people’.

On Monday, Mary Tave-Ihenacho opined on this sentiment in her weekly podcast, ‘Audacity Presents’. She provided a one word answer to the question, which was sin. One of the scriptures she cited for support of her answer was Romans 5:12 (KJV), which explains…
[12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

This made me brought Mark 10:18 (NLT) to mind, which said…
[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

That could be, and is for many Bible scholars, the answer for why bad things happen to good people. No one’s good except God.

However, sister Mary went on to emphasize, our focus should be on God’s good. To support that she cited Romans 8:28 (NASB1995)…
[28] And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

She aptly highlighted the words ’causes’ and ‘called’, in her explanation that bad things are going to happen, but God makes them be for good for those He summons.

Although I tracked and agreed with my sister-in-Christ’s hypothesis, I couldn’t shake the sentiment repeating in my mind, until the Holy Spirit reminded me of today’s scripture. Specially, the Holy Spirit emphasized verse 21…
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

There it was, God made a bad thing did happen to the only truly good person. However, within that verse, God answers the question of why, which was to fulfill God’s plan and purpose to bring others to Himself.

Ephesians 3:11-12 (NLT) explains…
[11] This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. [12] Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

God allows bad things to happen to ‘good’ people to bring others closer to Him.

As I read those verses, the Holy Spirit caught my eye with next verse too. The Apostle Paul said…
Ephesians 3:13 NLT
[13] So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Wow, Paul said bad things were happening to him for the sake of others.

This took my thoughts to another scripture that Paul penned, which was Romans 8:17 (NLT), which explains…
[17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

You see, suffering is a birthmark on God’s children, because we are here to help others have a relationship with Him.

That means our focus should be on fulfilling God’s plan, not feeling our pain. Please don’t misunderstand, I know pain is real, but I also know Jesus set the example that our Father wants us to follow.

Hebrews 12:2-4 (NLT) says…
[2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [4] After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Notice Jesus endured the unfair Cross of shame, because of the joy knowing God the Father would glorify His name. The Holy Spirit sent me to Philippians 2:8-11 (NLT) for understanding…
[8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [9] Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But the Holy Spirit didn’t stop there, He also reminded me that 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) explains…
[10] In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

God allows bad things to happen so that we can share in His eternal glory.

What we endure temporarily for the benefit of others, will benefit us eternally.

So the next time you wonder why ‘bad things happen to good people’, pause and reconsider how is God bringing others closer to Himself through that person and momentary affliction. And if that person happens to be you, then remind yourself of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT), which testifies…
[17] For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

God says if we will endure the bad for others, to make them good with Him, He promises He will honor us for it!

As today’s song lyrics emphasize…
And may your bad days prove that God is good
And may your whole life prove that God is good

Endure bad things to show others a good God!

Today’s song is…
God Is Good

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)