November 20 Daily Devotional

They Shall Reap in Joy

the Rev. Henry Huenemann

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalm 126:5).

Bible Reading

Psalm 126:

¹When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
²Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
³The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
⁴Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
⁵They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
⁶He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Devotional

The servants of God experience both joy and sorrow as they labor in God's kingdom. Sometimes they can rejoice and sometimes they must weep. Jesus himself rejoiced in spirit, and wept over Jerusalem. Paul and Silas, with backs sore of many stripes and feet fastened in the stocks, sang praises to God in the prison at midnight in Philippi. Paul while laboring at Ephesus shed many rears, and yet he aimed to finish his course with joy. The prospect of bonds and affliction did not move him. He had learned amidst sorrow to rejoice. During the last war many believers endured indescribable sufferings in concentration camps, and yet they rejoiced in bearing testimony to the truth. Where the Word is preached, sinners repent and persecutors become witness bearers. Where this occurs, there is harvest joy in the Church of Christ, even here and now, and also joy in heaven in the presence of the angels of God. But what joy will there be, in the day of Christ, when it will become evident that the servants of God have not labored in vain. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." In heaven "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Prayer.
Our Father, may we, in bearing witness to Thy truth, be willing to suffer hardships and shame and even death, if need be, knowing that they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. May we remember that Thy Word shall not return void. May it cause joy in Thy Church here below and also in heaven above. For Christ's sake. Amen.

Scripture in Devotional: Luke 10:21; 19:41; Acts 15:25; 20:19, 31, 24; 2 Cor. 6:10; Luke 15:7; Phil. 2:16; Ps. 126:5; 30:5; Rev. 21:14; Ps. 16:17.

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