March 28 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Let's take part in the greatest thing that's going on in the world today—the coming of the kingdom of God.

It's true that only the King can bring the kingdom. But it pleases him to work through us. It's true that only Christ has suffered for us. But it pleases him to complete his suffering through us.

Our suffering is not a payment for sin. Of course not! Jesus said, "It is finished," when he died on the cross. Our whole lives rest on the finished work of Christ. But our whole lives are also given shape by the unfinished task he has laid upon us.

This missionary task will also be completed by the living Lord. Christ himself will strengthen feeble Christians, and he will make their enemies harmless. Yet he works through our mouths and pens and pocketbooks. He reaches out through our hands. His compassionate heart has been transplanted into his church. The lifeblood of his Spirit pulsates through his congregation. And the hearts of Christians suffer with the afflictions of Christ.

All the strongholds of Satan must be captured. That can be done only by the power of God's Spirit. But no such stronghold is taken without painful labor on the part of Christian workers. People are not led to the Lord or kept with the Lord without the toil and tears of Christians who give of themselves until it hurts.

This price of suffering must be paid in full before the kingdom comes. The Bible talks about this Christlike suffering as if there is a quota that must be filled before the end can come, as if there is a total cost of discipleship that must be expended before all bow down before Jesus.

There is no greater joy or usefulness than to be involved in the suffering of Christ. He brings the kingdom through the life and death of his follow­ers. Then he will say for the second time: "It is finished and complete."

REFLECTIONS

"There is no greater joy or usefulness than to be involved in the suffering of Christ." Reflect on how that sense of joy and usefulness is found in your congregation, and in you.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.