"Greater Glories"
To have physically known the Lord Jesus Christ as companion, master, teacher, and friend surely blessed the disciples who walked with Him during His three years of earthly ministry. More blessed, however, came the time after His death, resurrection, and ascension when the indwelling Holy Spirit brought Christ into their hearts.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you… He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you… I will come to you" (John 16:7; 14:17-18).
A great illumination regarding God's working in our lives lies before in this experience of our brothers of old. When particular blessings of God's grace must leave us in accordance with His perfect providence, we can be sure He purposes to reveal His goodness to us in other ways and means. For the disciples, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" transcended Christ's physical presence and fellowship (Colossians 1:17). Doubtless it did not feel this way after the Lord's departure. One can only imagine the brokenness of heart known by the Lord's followers, first when He died, and then when He ascended to Heaven after His resurrection. The disciples, however, trusted and obeyed the Savior when He commanded them to "wait for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). Luke records they remained together rather than scatter, and the day of Pentecost brought the Lord Jesus back to them in the Person of the Holy Spirit living within their hearts.
When we lose things, opportunities, and even people, we can be sure the promise of old applies to us. "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you" (John 14:18). Like the disciples, however, we must believe our Lord's promise that loss prepares the way for life - His risen life - revealed in ways that transcend the blessings of old. Such a step of faith does not come easy. To lose God's gifts in this present lifetime hurts, sometimes to the degree of a broken heart. However, the Lord Jesus promises transcendent glories to all who will see through their tears to behold His light. Long ago, brokenhearted disciples became Spirit-indwelt sons and daughters of God because their visible Lord departed, only to return as the victorious Lord of their hearts. We will realize such redeeming grace in countless ways as we remember that in Christ, resurrections follow deaths, resulting in greater glories to all willing to believe that the loss of one blessing makes way for the gain of others even greater…
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
(II Corinthians 4:8-11)
"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord."
(Psalm 27:14)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Lord, Thou hast been our dwellingplace in all generations."
(Psalm 90:1)
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