April 30 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 theirs 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

By nature we are averse to suffering. No one likes to suffer. But in this life all must suffer, believers as well as unbelievers. Suffering came by reason of sin. From this we must not conclude that all special suffering is directly due to special sins. God sends suffering and affliction, that his works should be made manifest.

There is also a suffering for Christ's sake, that comes upon all that live godly in Christ Jesus. "We must through much tribula­tion enter into the kingdom of God." We must all experience the fellowship of his sufferings. But that must not discourage us. For if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Moses made a wise choice, when "he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." James holds up for us the prophets as an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. And the apostles, "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." And Christ says, "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heav­en." In heaven there shall be no more sorrow, but we shall be glad with exceeding joy.

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, forbid that we should suffer as evildoers; but if we suffer for Christ's sake, let us not think it strange, but let us rather rejoice, and glorify Thee on this behalf. Help us to remember that, if we are partakers of Christ's sufferings, we shall also be partakers of his glory that shall be revealed at his coming, and that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with this glory. So we thank Thee for the joy of salvation, but also for the sufferings we must endure for Christ's sake. Help us to be faithful to the end. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 9:3: Acts 14:22; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 8:17, 18; Heb. 11:25; James 5:10; Acts 5:12; 1 Pet. 4:13.

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