A comparison - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17

A comparison
In 2 Corinthians 4, the apostle Paul addresses the toil and effort involved in serving the Lord. He also reminds us that the body deteriorates through sickness and old age. All this is not easy to bear. But Paul wants to encourage us to persevere in the work of the Lord and in physical sufferings. That is why he compares the present tribulation with the future glory.

In view of eternal happiness in heaven, the difficulties on earth pass quickly. When we are troubled by problems in service or by physical pain, we might ask: Lord, how much longer? The burden seems to last endlessly. This is where looking by faith to the eternal glory helps. The trial will surely end one day, but the heavenly joy will never cease.

Compared to the indescribable glory that awaits us in heaven, faith estimates the tribulation as easy. Often, we feel that the problems are heavy and depressing. When there is no prospect of improvement and the sufferings get worse and worse, we feel the full weight of the trial. But we do not want to despair but to look forward with faith. We are going towards a great, meaningful future: the Lord Jesus will come again and rapture us to heaven. We will be with Him eternally and see Him as He is.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 15:1-16 · Psalms 101:1-8