Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 1
Monday


WAITING
FOR JOY

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
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Weeping may endure
for a night, but joy
comes in the morning.
__Psalm 30:5
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A large part of life centers around anticipation. How much we would lose if we were to wake up one day to the unexpected announcement: "Christmas in 10 Minutes!" The enjoyment in many of life's events is built on the fact that we have time to anticipate them.

Christmas, vacations, mission trips, sporting events. all grow in value because of the hours we spend looking forward to them__eagerly running through our minds the fun, challenges, and excitement they'll bring.

I think about the value of anticipation and the thrill it can bring to the human heart when I read Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." The psalmist is declaring the comforting idea that our earthly sorrow lasts but a short time when compared with the anticipated joy that will begin in heaven and last forever. Paul pens a similar idea in 2 Corinthians 4:17, where we discover that our "light affliction" leads to a glory of eternal value.

For now, those of us who weep can dwell on hope instead of hopelessness and anticipation instead of sorrow. It may be nighttime in our hearts, but just ahead lies the dawn of eternity. And with it, God promises the endless joy of heavenly morning. __Dave Branon
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````````````````````Tribulation, grief, and sorrow`````````````````
```````````````````Are but heaven's steppingstones```````````````
````````````````````To a bright and glad tomorrow````````````````
```````````````Where no heartache can be known. __Glass`````````
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We can endure this life's trials
because of the next life's joys

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:8-18*********

8 We are hard-pressed on
every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in
despair, 9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but
not destroyed__ 10 always
carrying about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also
may be manifested in our
body. 11 For we who live are
always delivered to death for
Jesus' sake, that the life of
Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal
flesh. 12 So then death is
working in us, but life in
you.

13 and since we have the
same spirit of faith,
according to what is written,
"I believed and therefore I
spoke," we also believe and
therefore speak, 14 knowing
that He who raised up the
Lord Jesus will also raise us
up with Jesus, and will
present us with you. 15 For
all things are for your sakes,
that grace, having spread
through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose
heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17 For
our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is
working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, 18 while we
do not look at the things
which are seen but at the
things which are not seen.
For the things which are
seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen
are eternal.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Corinth was a wealthy center of commerce on the isthmus
connecting the Ionian and Aegean Seas. It was the principal city of
the province of Achaia and was the host city of the Isthmian games,
an Olympic-style athletic competition. In planting the church at
Corinth, Paul spent more than 18 Months there. __Bill Crowder