Bible League: Living His Word For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.The Apostle Paul had to suffer a lot after he became a Christian. Indeed, he had to suffer much more than most Christians ever have or ever will. In point of fact, Jesus told Ananias that he was going to show Paul "how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:16). He had been imprisoned a number of times, whipped and beaten many times, stoned, shipwrecked, and faced danger and trials of many kinds (II Corinthians 11:23-27). And if that were not enough, he also had to contend with a "thorn" in the flesh that hindered his ministry (II Corinthians 12:7). Nevertheless, in our verse for today Paul tells us that all the suffering is not worth comparing with what is yet to come. Jesus told us that He came so that His disciples may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), but He also told us that in this world we will have tribulations (John 16:33) and persecutions (Matthew 5:10-11). Paul experienced the extremes of Jesus' words. On the one hand, he had a life more abundant than most. He was full of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and he had a powerful ministry all over the known world. But he also suffered many trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions. He knew the heights of the Christian experience in this dispensation and he knew the depths as well. And when he sums it all up, as he does in our verse for today, he says that all the tribulations and persecutions are not worth comparing with the abundance of life that is still to come. What is it that Paul says our troubles are not worth comparing to? What is the glory that is yet to come? It is the glory of everything associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ (I Peter 4:13). The Bible gives us only hints as to what this will be like. Paul himself says that this glory is a hope that cannot be seen yet, nevertheless we should wait for it with patience (Romans 8:23-25). Today, when the troubles of life strike, take thought of the future glory that reduces them to insignificance. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNehemiah 9, 10, 11 Nehemiah 9 -- The Israelites Confess Their Sin, Covenant Results NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 10 -- Signers and Obligations of the Covenant NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 11 -- New Residents of Jerusalem and Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 4:1-22 Acts 4 -- Peter and John Arrested and Released; Believers Share All NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.”Insight Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as “magic” and perform capricious “mountain-moving” acts. Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith. Challenge What kinds of mountains do you face? Have you talked to God about them? How strong is your faith? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 2:16, 17 My Beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.Surely if there be a happy verse in the Bible it is this--"My Beloved is mine, and I am his." So peaceful, so full of assurance, so overrunning with happiness and contentment is it, that it might well have been written by the same hand which penned the twenty-third Psalm. Yet though the prospect is exceeding fair and lovely--earth cannot show its superior--it is not entirely a sunlit landscape. There is a cloud in the sky which casts a shadow over the scene. Listen, "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away." There is a word, too, about the "mountains of Bether," or, "the mountains of division," and to our love, anything like division is bitterness. Beloved, this may be your present state of mind; you do not doubt your salvation; you know that Christ is yours, but you are not feasting with him. You understand your vital interest in him, so that you have no shadow of a doubt of your being his, and of his being yours, but still his left hand is not under your head, nor doth his right hand embrace you. A shade of sadness is cast over your heart, perhaps by affliction, certainly by the temporary absence of your Lord, so even while exclaiming, "I am his," you are forced to take to your knees, and to pray, "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved." "Where is he?" asks the soul. And the answer comes, "He feedeth among the lilies." If we would find Christ, we must get into communion with his people, we must come to the ordinances with his saints. Oh, for an evening glimpse of him! Oh, to sup with him tonight! Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.Mark 10:29,30 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, • but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 1 Peter 1:6,7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, • so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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