November 7

Rejoicing or resigned?

“But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:13).
“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Luke 6:23).

Joy is “the fruit of the Spirit”—not a counterfeit, but real, with supernatural and divine power. The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that hard times meant blessing. This is what He said: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.”
And how did the Lord say the disciples should take these experiences when they came? With resignation? God forbid! This is what He said: “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy.” They were to look upon these experiences with thanksgiving and exultation, as an investor would look upon an investment that was going to bring him inordinately large returns, and returns absolutely guaranteed by resources that never could fail. “For,” continued the Lord, “behold, your reward is great in heaven.”

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