“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible)
God keeps a costly school. Many of its lessons are spelled out through tears. This school of our heavenly Father will soon close for us; the term time is shortening every day. We cannot shrink from the hard lessons or wince under the rod of chastisement.
“The richer will be the crown, and the sweeter will be heaven, if we endure cheerfully to the end and graduate in glory.” – Theodore Cuyler
Did you know that the finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some more. Why does it go through that intense fire? Once ought to be enough; twice ought to be enough. But no, three times is necessary to burn the china so that the gold and the crimson are brought out more beautifully and fastened there to stay.
“We are fashioned after the same principle in human life. Our trials are burned into us once, twice, thrice, and by God’s grace these beautiful colors are there to stay forever.” – Cortland Myers
Prayer: Lord, help me to see my difficult circumstances as a refining fire that can make me more like You if I respond correctly. Please give me the grace to trust You; the strength to endure; and the peace of God to ease the way through to a victorious end either in this life or in the one to come! Amen.
Devotion by Susan Tracy