2 Corinthians 4:17 "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
When Luther visited a sick friend, he quoted the verse, "The Lord disciplines those He loves" (Proverbs 3:12). If that's the case," the friend replied, "I wish He wouldn't love me so much."
Sometimes life hurls us into a frenzy. We feel like saying, "Stop, world, I want to get off." At such times we should consider that God loves us too much to leave us as we are. He is intent on polishing us toward perfection. God, the master goldsmith, allows fiery trials to come in order that such impurities as obstinacy, a vengeful spirit, lack of faith, and self-love might be burned out and Christ's image burned in.
As both black and white keys of a piano are necessary for beautiful music, so bright and dark days, joys and sorrows, are needed to keep us in repentance and improvement.
Where there's trouble, God is needed; where God is needed, He is entreated; where He's entreated, His help is experienced; where His help is experienced, love and gratitude are excited; where love and gratitude prevail, there praise, goodwill, and joy reign. All this is ours because by faith "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
PRAYER: Lord, for sunny days and dark days we give you praise. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Proverbs 22-24 Acts 4:1-22
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