Trials

Acts 5:40-41 says, "And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."
Why did the disciples rejoice when they suffered?? James says so we can be "perfect and complete". The disciples, up until the time of Jesus, knew life to operate in one order: one lives and then one dies. With Jesus, it all changes! One lives, dies, and now has the ability to be resurrected! The beatings you receive will eventually cease and turn into glory. Pain and suffering, blood and death: it all is just a shadow of what is to come. I do not mean to say that pain is not real (because it is!), but rather that pain is not final. Death lost its sting when the Life died. Now the future glory to come outweighs and overrules all trials, as fiery and as heavy as they may be. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Jesus suffered so we may suffer well now, and eventually, suffer no more!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending your Son to suffer in our place.
Give us the strength to suffer well for Your sake.
Let us walk in Jesus' footsteps with humility,
Realizing our suffering is for God's Glory!
Let us look past what man can do To us
And realize what You have in store For us.
Amen

The Broken Mirror

The Earth is cursed.
It once was perfect, the way it should be
Now it's a broken mirror.
The small reflections of Glory
Point us to the days ahead.
Lord, may we be consistent in love,
Persistent in prayer,
Hopeful in trials,
Merciful in relationships,
Humble in our walk-
All in anticipation of the blessed trump!
Lord, you make all things new.
You melt the heart of stone.
You wash us white as snow.
Help us abstain from the World's temptations
and help us to wait well for your
Triumphant Return!
Amen