Looking forward to that time, Paul wrote, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). As I think on what Paul said, I visualize in my mind a pair of old-fashioned balance scales. Paul first puts all our sufferings, all our heartaches and disappointments, all our adversities of whatever kind from whatever source onto one side of the balance scales. Of course, the scales bottom out on that side. But then he puts on the other side the glory that will be revealed in us. As we watch, the scales do not balance or even come into some degree of unbalanced equilibrium as we might expect. Instead they now completely bottom out on the side of the glory that will be revealed in us. Paul said our sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory we will experience in eternity. ...This is not to say that our present hardships are not painful. ...But we need to learn to look by faith beyond the present pain to the eternal glory that will be revealed in us. Remember, the God who disciplines us will also glorify us.
So the discipline of adversity is given to us by God as a means of our sanctification. Our role in this discipline is to respond to it, and to acquiesce to whatever God may be doing, even though a particular instance of adversity makes no sense to us. As we do this we will see in due time the fruit of the Spirit produced in our lives." -Jerry Bridges
6 comments:
Good word Don. Thanks...
(been a while since I've been here...). :)
Nice to have you drop in Chris.
Love the new look. took me by surprise. So much so I reread the message and was thrilled again
Thanks momanator.
It's such a hard lesson to learn, especially when life consistently is handing you lemons while other Christians seem to be drinking nothing but lemonade (and not even the kind they had to make, but the instant stuff).
Um... not sure how well that analogy worked out. It sounded better in my head. In either case, if you know about my personal story, you know what I mean.
(And to fall back into the bad analogy, I'm well aware that the lemons of my life aren't anywhere near as numerous as those of others, to the point where complaining about them makes me sound like a whiner indeed).
Convicting post, Don. God bless.
"..Christians seem to be drinking nothing but lemonade.."
They seem to be. And even what they seem to have will be taken away. There's the real, and the pseudo-Christian.
Not that God doesn't bless his children.
The Lord sovereignly disperses His grace in different measures to each of His beloved children. He loves us all the same in Christ, but He has called us to a diversity of trials and blessings.
Our father knows best. We can trsut Him. It's not always easy though.
Thanks for the good words Jay. You have been blessed with much wisdom from above. And I believe you have rewards in heaven my brother.
The most magnificient reward will be Christ our Redeemer and Friend Himself, and to see Him, and hear Him close up! But there are other rewards as well.
There I go rambling. But, hey, it's my blog.
Have a grand weekend!
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