February 26 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 3:

¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
⁸Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
⁹But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
¹³But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Devotional

All suffering is caused by sin. If there were no sin, there would be no suffering. But some people bring suffering upon themselves directly. Some people sin against the laws of health, and get sick. Some commit crimes and must bear the punishment. That is their own fault. Some suffering comes to us in the way of providence for our chastening and correction, like the suffering of Job for instance. It is an evidence of God's love. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." But some suffering is the direct result of our faithfulness to Jesus. In such suffering we should rejoice. Jesus says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." Just be faithful in confessing Christ, and persecution will come, as it comes to all of God's children. But, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed unto us." Let us then gladly suffer with Christ, that we may also be glorified with him. "These are they that came out of great tribulation."

Prayer

Our Father, when we must pass through trials and persecution, and must suffer wrong, help us to remember that Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. May we remember that He left us an example, that we should follow in his steps. We thank Thee for the promise, that if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together, and for the assurance that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Help us to be thankful also for the sufferings which we must endure for Christ's sake. In his name we pray. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Heb. 12:6; Matt. 5:11, 12; Acts 5:41; Heb. 12:26; Rom. 8:17, 18; Rev. 7:14.

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