When Paul's assistant, Epaphroditus, became ill, Paul said Epaphroditus' death would have been sorrow upon sorrow. Sometimes, God lets people get sick and stay sick for a long time. Sometimes God miraculously heals people from their sickness. When we go through hardship, it can be a result of Satan, however, God is always in control. God will allow sickness and hardship if it brings us or others into a right relationship with Himself. Our bodies are amazing and one thing we realize is that sin has entered the world and death is upon us. Sometimes God uses our sickness so that other people can be a blessing to us. Though Epaphroditus was not and evangelist, but only serving and evangelist, he almost died serving Christ. Epaphroditus was in the will of God and still got sick. We should be like Timothy and fulfill the needs of others and we should appreciate someone who genuinely cares about us.
We have all messed up and sinned, but God credits the righteousness of Jesus Christ on our account. This is not excuse to live like we haven't been born again and we don't earn our salvation, we display our salvation because of what Jesus did. Temptation and sin are not the same thing. We should not give into temptation, instead, we need to do what the Lord wants us to do. Jesus had to suffer in order to be made complete.
Biblical translations should make the context of what God says clear.
Program for 08/04/16 SAS Devotions: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Demons Attached
Program for 08/03/16 SAS Devotions: Acts 16:16-24, Can a Demon Tell the Truth?
Program for 06/01/15 SAS Devotions: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:25