Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity – Wednesday
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. – Romans 12:12.
Dear Christian, child of God, you are by faith an heir of everlasting life. And you can and should be sure of your eternal salvation. Hold fast to the Word of Jesus in true faith; abide with Jesus and His precious promises! Then you will be saved. Jesus says: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal life” (John 10:27-28).
Are you troubled with doubts, my dear Christian? Do you think that the devil, the world, and your flesh might, after all, pluck you out of Jesus’ hand? Indeed they will persist in their evil effort to do so, but when, by His grace, you hear His voice and follow Him, their wicked purpose will be in vain. He says concerning you and all His sheep: “And they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (John 10:28-30).
You can and should be sure of your eternal salvation because God’s promise is sure. Therefore, what a blessed hope or anticipation you have as a believer! At the end of your earthly pilgrimage, which may be a very miserable one by God’s loving permission (Hebrews 12:6), this hope glitters like a beautiful, cheering, beckoning star, illumining your heavenward path. “Rejoicing” in this sure and certain hope! Indeed, this hope, assured to you by the Gospel, cannot but make you exceedingly rejoice, so that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” in heaven (Romans 8:18)! May God make us, His children, to be “rejoicing in hope” and to be “patient in tribulation.”
Tribulation will have to be borne for a brief time only, and then we shall enjoy that bliss which will endure forever. And “tribulation” works for your good and blessing (Romans 5:3). Hence be patient! And continue “instant in prayer”! Pray to God for help against everything that troubles you and for everything you need for the eternal salvation which He has promised to give you.
Will He refuse to give you what you pray for according to His will? It is impossible for God to “lie” (Titus 1:2). Therefore, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, continue instant in prayer!
PRAYER – My merciful and gracious God for Jesus’ sake, I see right well in Thy precious Word that Thou desirest me to rejoice in hope, that is, in anticipation of Thy blessings, and to be patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, and that Thou art both willing and able to answer my fervent pleading in Thy Son’s name. Thou earnestly desirest my salvation, which He purchased and won for me by His perfect redemptive work; and Thou wilt surely bring it to pass for me and all true believers. Here, then, am I, O gracious God. Grant my petition for the sake of Thy grace in Christ Jesus, my Redeemer! Amen.
My heart for joy is springing, and can no more be sad; ‘
tis full of mirth and singing, sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit, is Jesus Christ, my King;
the heaven I shall inherit, makes me rejoice and sing!
(Hymn 528, st. 15; TLH)