Daily Devotions
Sunday, June 29, 2025
“We marvel how Your saints become in hindrances more sure; Whose joyful virtues put to shame the casual way we wear Your Name And by our faults obscure our pow’r to cleanse and cure.
“In what You give us, Lord, to do, together or alone, In old routines or ventures new, may we not cease to look to You, The cross You hung upon—all You endeavored done.”
The phrase “no pain, no gain” has been used as a fitness motto. As muscles gain strength through exercise, they may become sore, although pain may also indicate an injury. In the lives of God’s people, the pain of persecution and trials can lead us to grow stronger in faith. We see this in the lives of the saints in Scripture, in the early centuries of the church, and in brothers and sisters in Christ we know today or have known the past. The hymn expresses our wonder and praise as we regard the lives of these saints: “We marvel how Your saints become in hindrances more sure.” Through trials, temptation, and persecution, these faithful believers—empowered by the Holy Spirit—grew strong in faith. They are people “of whom the world was not worthy,” saints who remained faithful to Christ, even into martyrdom (see Hebrews 11:36-38). We look on their “joyful virtues” and feel ashamed of our careless faith and the casual, unchallenged way in which we bear the Name of Jesus.
Yet our Lord has called us, even with all our faults and failings, to be His witnesses. We, like saints of old, may suffer the hatred and disdain of the unbelieving world. People will regard our faith as foolish or as something that is simply unnecessary. The apostle Paul echoes the slogan of “no pain, no gain” as he writes about the earthly troubles we will endure: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Through the trials and hindrances of ridicule and persecution, the Spirit is working to make our faith strong, faith that will one day result in a welcome weight of glory beyond anything we can imagine.
We learn from the saints of the past and follow the example of believers today as we grow in faith, just as they grew strong through their faithful response to trials. Above all we look to our Lord, the faithful Witness who endured betrayal and unjust persecution for us. As He hung on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30b). He completed what the Father sent Him to do. All that the faithful Son of God endeavored was done. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, our salvation was accomplished. No pain, no gain? That slogan rings true at the cross of our Lord. Through Jesus’ pain we, with all the saints, receive forgiveness, life, and eternal glory. His pain is our gain.
WE PRAY: Jesus, lead me to be a faithful witness for You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord,” which is number 853 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
- What is the hardest thing you ever had to train for?
- What kinds of things did the apostle Paul go through that strengthened his faith?
- What resources does God give His people to live righteous lives before Him?
Today's Readings:
Ecclesiastes 4-6Acts 9:23-43