March 31 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We have been called to glory—not to suffering. The suffering is the stretch of road we have to travel before we reach our destination.

We will reach the eternal glory after we have "suffered a little while." Why is the time of our suffering spoken of as a little while? First, because it is only a short period compared with the "eternal glory" to which we have been called. Just as the pain of childbirth is forgotten when the child is born, and just as the patriarch Jacob found seven years' work for Rachel as short as a few days (Gen. 29:20), so the overwhelming joy of eternal glory makes our present suffering but "a little while."

At the same time, God is assuring us by these words that we will not suffer beyond measure or beyond endurance. "A little while" means that God has set certain limits. Suddenly it will be over. Then we will admit that it wasn't too long.

We are also comforted by the reminder that it is "the God of all grace" who calls us. Not only are we called by grace—and not because we were worthy of the call—the God who calls gives us grace for every circum­stance during our time of suffering. Therefore he is "the God of all grace." His grace will see us through. God himself will restore, establish, and strengthen us. Peter, who gave us this assurance, knew very well how we still need the gracious arm of God to lift us up and hold us fast after we have obeyed the call to take up the cross and follow the Master.

The road leads to eternal glory. We cannot say much about that. Glory is the radiance of God's being and the enjoyment of his presence. Imagi­nation fails us. No doubt it will be better and richer than we can foresee. It will be the complete absence of all suffering, because it will be the full presence of God himself.

After you have suffered for "a little while," you'll see it.

REFLECTIONS

Read verse 10 to yourself several times and be open to its wonderful promises. Then give thanks and praise to the "God of all grace."

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.