Sunday, 10 March 2013

First there comes bitterness


    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~



(J.R. Miller)

" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2

Christ Himself had humiliation, darkness, and the shame of the cross--and then exaltation, power, and glory. In Christian life, the same law holds: First there comes bitterness--but out of the bitterness, sweetness flows.

There is the deep sorrow of penitence--but this gives way to the blessed joy of forgiveness.

First there are self-denial and cross-bearing--but out of these experiences comes a holy peace which fills all the heart.

Sorrows are to be endured--but the good wine of comfort is poured into the empty cup.

There is also a constant progression in the blessings of the Divine life. We never get to the end of them; indeed, we never get to the best. There is always something better yet to come. Heaven will make amends for all!

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5

    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

No comments:

Post a Comment