June 29 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

Peter's first epistle is addressed to "strangers in the world," who have their homeland in heaven. They are not surprised that they suffer when they do what is right. They follow the footprints of Jesus.

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 5:8–11

Bible Text:

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you (1 Pet. 5:10).

Devotional:

God has called us to glory, not to suffering. But suffering is the stretch of road we have to travel before we reach our destiny.

The time of our suffering lasts "a little while." It's a short period compared with the "eternal glory" to which we have been called. Glory is unending. Suffering is "a little while."

Our period of suffering is also called "a little while" because of the weight of the promised glory. The overwhelming joy to come will make past pains insignificant. It's like a woman who forgets her labor pain when she holds her new baby (John 16:21).

"A little while" also means that God has set the limits. Our suffering will not be too long or too much. Suddenly it will be all over.

Peter reminds us that it was "the God of all grace" who called us.God supplies grace to meet every need. God's grace called us in the first place, and grace will see us through. There is no pain for which God has no remedy.

The road leads to "eternal glory." We cannot describe what that will be like. Imagination fails when we try to think of the splendor and bliss God has prepared for us. It will be the absence of all suffering, because it will be the full presence of God.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

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 edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.