CRU Update

As we continue to look at tough questions in our CRU group this term, on Friday we focused on the question of suffering. In hard times, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, you may have been thinking to yourself “why does God allow suffering for Christians? Why doesn’t He just end the pain?”

This week at CRU, Nathanael Robertson was speaking about our present sufferings, and the amazing hope to come. We looked at the passage Romans 8 and how in our world there is suffering, and this can be tremendously hard for many people.

Sometimes we may not have answers to the suffering we face, however, Romans 8 mentions that our present sufferings can’t be compared with our future hope. The Bible says our suffering should point us ultimately to God Himself. Suffering is experienced by everyone, but we can trust that God is for us and working everything for the good of those who love Him in the end.

It is amazing to look back at times when we were suffering and see how God has used these times for our good. Nathanael mentioned verses from Isaiah and Revelation speaking of the incredible hope we have because of Jesus. Even Jesus suffered and died! God knows about our suffering and the Bible says that God will make all things right and eliminate sin and suffering. We can trust that God has a plan and is in control of the future even when our suffering is terrible. This was a great encouragement to everyone.

The second question we looked at related to “why do Christians go to church? Why do Christians sacrifice so much of their time for the one they believe in? Is there a point to all of this?” Mrs Reid spoke about how, as Christians, we have a relationship with God.

It is similar to a fatherly relationship but on a much grander scale. If you’re in a relationship with someone then you would want to learn more about them. For instance, if you are in a relationship with a new friend, you would want to know more about them and speak to them more. Mrs Reid reminded us that it is similar for Christians.

We are in a relationship with God and as such, it is our desire as Christians to get to know God better. It is this which drives us to spend our time doing these things. While we don’t do these things to win God’s favour, we do them to grow in our knowledge and understanding of him. As Ephesians 2:8 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Daniel Becker
9 TY4