On Sunday morning, April 25, the sermon came from Acts 5:33-42 and the attention-grabbing words in the text were, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." As I said on Sunday, most people do not associate joy with suffering but there they are, "joy" and "suffering" together in the Word. That's why I believe the Lord is leading me to study and preach further about this subject before going on to Acts 6. Please pray for me as I choose a text for May 2. Romans 5:1-5? Colossians 1:24? Matthew 5:11-12? 1 Peter 4:12-14? Yes, there are depths of truth to explore here and let us expect to find that, yes, in Christ there is joy even in suffering. He is that great!
As we trust God's purpose in our suffering and take our eyes from temporal things, there is joy.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate those scriptures, and am also encouraged by words from men such as Horatius Bonar:
'The "many sorrows" which compass them [mankind] about are His many messages of grace, His unwearied knockings at their fast closed door. He writes “vanity” upon the creature, “weariness and vexation” upon earth’s best delights, that men may not place their confidence in these. Most mercifully does He hedge them about with disappointment of every form, that they may lift their eyes above this earth and beyond these heavens to the enduring blessedness that is at His right hand forever. With what kindness, though with seeming severity, does He mar their best friendships, that He may attract them to the communion of His own far better and everlasting companionship? With what compassion does He break in upon their misguided attachments, that He may draw them away from earth and bind them to Himself by the more blessed ties of His own far sweeter love? With what tenderness does He tear asunder the bonds of brotherhood and kindred, that He may unite them to Himself in far dearer and eternal relationship?
With what mercy does He overthrow their prospects of worldly wealth and bring down their hopes of earthly power and greatness, that He may give them the heavenly treasure and make them a “royal priesthood” to Himself in the glorious kingdom of His Son. With what love does He ruin their reputation among men, breaking in pieces their good name which was their idol, that He may show them the vanity of human praise, leading them to desire the honor that cometh from God, and to know that in His favor is life and that the light of His countenance is the very sunshine of Heaven.
Oh, that a weary, brokenhearted world would learn these lessons of grace! Oh, that they would taste and see that God is good!'