Wednesday, April 6
Glory Awaits Us
In the same hour I was invited to write this devotional, I was having a discussion with a friend about why some feel that God isn’t with us in every aspect of our lives, guiding us to positive outcomes, preventing hardships, even preventing death. I can assure you I don’t have answers and find it difficult to answer those questions for someone else. I am perhaps not qualified to answer those questions of a friend who has suffered in their life in various ways. It seems as though, compared to most in this world, I have not endured much adversity.
But I do have faith and want to find those answers because of my faith. At least partly, I also do not need all the answers. Isn’t that what faith is anyway? But, for my questioning side, I went searching. And here are just a few things, among countless others from the Bible, that my search revealed.
And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. —Romans 5:3-5 (CSB)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (CSB)
As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.” —John 9:1-3 (CSB)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. —Romans 8:18 (CSB)
During this time of Lent, we focus more on Jesus’ suffering. Yes, even Jesus suffered and not just in the end. His life (and his disciples’ lives) was filled with adversity from what I gather in reading the Bible stories. Jesus kept his eye on his Father, taking plenty of time to be with his Father. Jesus, more than anything, wanted to do his Father’s will, even knowing it would bring suffering. Jesus knew that our suffering on earth is a small price to pay for the vast riches and glory that await us.
Holy and Loving God, help us keep our eyes on you. Amen.
Kathy King