God lives and works today.
This motto should be written over every life,
especially in view of the dark and ominous
future which lies before us.
However, God can only intervene and demonstrate His
all-conquering power under a certain condition.
What is this condition?
The answer is in today's meditation by Basilía
Schling called The Way of the Cross.
Today, we're approaching the time of martyrdom.
Men are hated and persecuted for their faith
in Jesus Christ.
And even in the so-called Christian countries,
the spirit of the Antichrist is on the
march.
This spirit not only ridicules God and Jesus
Christ, but also seeks to use violence against
believers and to exterminate everything Christian.
Soon, the atheistic Antichristian wave will roll over
all countries, just as Jesus prophesied for the
last times.
The times in which we're now living, you
will be hated by all nations for my
namesake, Matthew 24.
That's why there's nothing so important in our
time as the love for Jesus, exclusive love
which has known something of the fellowship of
His sufferings.
Otherwise, we're lost.
Otherwise, we have no strength to endure suffering
for His sake.
Many cases could be mentioned of believers who
had not entered into the fellowship of His
sufferings.
In the hour of trial, they either denied
the Lord or forsook Him.
They were people who earlier had not been
willing to suffer or sacrifice for Jesus' sake.
They didn't want to sacrifice their position or
income, their honor, livelihood, or family.
Such people, when they had no opportunity to
escape martyrdom, broke down completely in despair.
They had nothing of the joy of the
first Christians.
It wasn't written in vain that those who
love Jesus will receive the crown of life.
Those who love Him are conquerors even in
the deepest suffering and martyrdom.
If, therefore, one should sell all his possessions
to attain this love, Song of Solomon 8,
verse 7, he would still have given too
little, for it's such a precious treasure.
It's worth everything.
Because Jesus knows the treasure He's offering, He
can justly call us to take up our
cross and to follow Him in the fellowship
of His sufferings.
He knows that He is offering eternal life.
He knows that He will repay us a
hundredfold for everything we forsake out of love
when we follow Him on the way of
the cross.
He will repay us while we're on earth,
and even more in eternal glory.
Who can measure the great treasure suffering and
grief hath brought?
Who has sight and understanding for the good
that pain has brought?
Heaven is ringing, all are singing Round the
throne the sounds of pain There Christ's glorious
stars are shining Show how grief can victory
gain You have been listening to a program
written by Basilia Schlink of the Little Land
of Canaan To learn more about how God
lives and works today, visit us at our
website, www.canaan.org That's K-A-N
-A-A-N.org If you contact us,
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If you do not have access to the
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Today, 9849 North Fortieth Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028
-4099, USA.
God bless you.