-January 13, 2023-
Good morning, happy Friday,
“For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
(Romans 8:18).
Some verses in the Bible are what I call life verses. They are so powerful, so practical, so personal, and so precious , that they grab the attention of our hearts. They are life changing. Today’s text is such a verse. It impacts our day, our month, and our year in such amazing ways! We can’t read this verse and not be stopped in tracks musing its impact on our lives.
Today is Friday the 13th, the first of two in this year, the other being in October. Many people are so superstitious that they let this day affect them. Some don’t leave their homes or do the normal, routines of life without fearing something bad will happen. As Christians, it is a normal day for us on planet earth. Bad things don’t just happen on Friday the 13th but can happen any day; and good things happen every day, even on Friday the 13th. Friday, after all is one of the most popular days of the work and school week.
When we do have troubles, trials, and testings, it behooves us to heed Paul’s message, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.” There are so many comparisons and contrasts in the Bible, especially in the Book of Proverbs. When you compare or contrast two things it is like weighing them on a scale. One is heavier than the other; one is better or more desirable than the other. Sufferings in this present world will come, but when you lay them on the scale of life they can’t be compared to the glory that we will experience in God’s presence forever.
The Amplified Bible says it so well, “[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worthy being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred upon us!” Wow! One preacher called verses like this, “wow verses.” Surely it is awesome and wows us! On the one hand we have earth, time, finiteness, limits, temporality, and mortality; on the other hand we look forward to heaven, eternity, limitlessness, glory with Jesus, timelessness, and immortality.
Paul in writing to the Corinthians said in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our sufferings, trials, pains, hardships, problems, and troubles can’t begin to compare to the glory we have to look forward to. If we just this remember and reflect on this, our lives today will be immeasurably better.
Let us then get out scales and weigh these two: present sufferings and future glories. The former can’t compare to the latter. Only believers can know it and show it in real and practical ways. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.
In the words of the hymn writer, “Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,”
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 