Friday January 13, 2023
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Hope sheds its light upon us also in our suffering. We glorify God by suffering.
There are always some of His friends in the fires of suffering, in order that the world may know what the power of Christ can accomplish. If He someday takes you away from the work in which you are busily engaged and lays you aside upon a bed, then look up! Hope is still shedding its bright rays upon you.
Let your remaining powers be employed in suffering quietly and patiently. When you reach your heavenly home, you shall see that your heavenly Father has not forgotten the things that you have suffered.
The star of hope shall shine also in the dark valley of death. When the earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolved, it will be because our heavenly home is ready for occupancy. Hope shines brightly over the death-bed of even young Christians who die before they have been permitted to use their strength to glorify the Lord. They shall be permitted to serve the Lord then! They are simply transplanted to that part of the garden of God where it is easiest to work and where it is most beautiful. There we shall serve the Lord day and night.
There we shall also be permitted to serve Him without doing any harm. While we live here on earth, we often do damage to the vineyard of the Lord. Oftentimes we trample down some of the little plants with our hard, uncouth feet. If we could see all the damage that we have done to our Lord’s vineyard by our spirit, our nature, our thoughts, words, and deeds, and by the omission of the good things that we have neglected to do, it would be an exceedingly sorry sight.
Then we would no doubt look forward with greater joy toward the day when we shall be permitted to serve the Lord without doing damage to anything in the beautiful garden of God.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 