Our Trials Can Give Us Joy, Part 2 (TMF:979)

Thursday, September 20, 2018
Peace to Live By: Our Trials Can Give Us Joy, Part 2 (TMF:979) - Daniel Litton
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       We have this hope which unbelievers don't have because they are only focused on the earth, on the material, on those people who are around them. We as believers know that soon we will be with Jesus, and our bodies will be transformed and made perfect. That includes our getting rid of our sin natures. That includes getting rid of any sicknesses or struggles we may have. We will have perfect minds. It is noted in Proverbs: "The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish" (10:28, ESV). Now God, in our lives, keeps us from stumbling so that he can present us blameless before him, and this gives God great joy (see Jude 1:24, 25, ESV). Even though we do have struggles, he helps us with them. And the thought of obtaining our rewards when we get to Heaven, our future possessions, for our obedience and enduring persecution here on earth, also gives us joy. Jesus told us, "Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets" (Luke 6:23, ESV).