the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8.
Read this whole chapter and study it thoroughly. Here you may see how glorious, how unharmed and transfigured all those are to be in heaven who here have laid stress on sanctification and who therefore have had to suffer dishonor, ridicule and persecution at the hands of the world. Here you may also see what will happen to those who have ridiculed piety and faith, and persecuted pious men. They will confess who and how they have been. Now they imagine themselves to be wise and enlightened, and grossly abuse the godly and call them fools, fanatics, eccentrics and muddled pates. In eternity they will realize that they themselves have been such that they lost the right way, walked in darkness and have not known the true light. Then they will see those pious ones whom they have reviled and despised, among the children of God, and themselves among the children of the devil and of darkness. They will see how empty, useless and perverted that active life was by which they thought they rendered such important services to the world. Thus the Holy Spirit knows how to predict how the pious and the impious are to fare in the beyond, to the encouragement and strengthening of the former, and to the warning and awakening of the latter, that they might repent and save themselves from this eternal remorse and disgrace. Ye beloved, who suffer ridicule and persecutions for righteousness’ sake, be of good cheer and take to heart what is presented to you in this chapter. See to it that you really pursue sanctification, and that you truly suffer for righteousness’ sake and not for the sake of your own sins. He who suffers for the sake of that which is good, may be undismayed. His joy and glory shall soon become great and eternal.
When temptation sorely presses,
In the day of Satan’s power,
In our times of deep distresses.
In each dark and trying hour,
By Thy mercy,
O deliver us, good Lord!
