Thoughts for another day

January 3, 2011

Today's verse: Acts 22:14b. and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Working for God is a different thing altogether than working for man; for God according to the Ministry He has given can make you slave it out. That doesn't mean God is a slave master but that God desires great things out of you. So if you see that the trials and tribulations in your life increase by your devoting yourself to the Lord, be sure that there is a great thing to happen in your life and if you have really surrendered everything to the Lord, then He will bring it about in His way and that will gain great glory to Him.

Men and women of God cannot expect to be safe from persecutions and troubles. In fact, day to day, they're face-to-face with them. Many have experienced some sort of persecution or other and they're in line for more difficult things once their ministry increases. Therefore when I see and hear someone say that a particular person is a great man or woman of God and is resting easy then I know that his or her ministry is limited and what he or she claims is actually nothing.

In Scripture today, Paul says as much very clearly when he says through much pain and trouble, we may enter the Kingdom of God. It is very true in the Kingdom of God. See most genuine men and women of God, they've actually been through hell in a way and then succeeded. A name that comes to mind immediately is Mother Teresa. All of us know her as the saint of the gutters and know nice things about her. But her life was a constant fight with the elements of the devil. There were many allegations made against her and she was persecuted with much intensity and also hated by a good number of people. But God provided special Grace to her because of which she was able to bear all the humiliation rather well. We too if we are to be doing His work have to mentally prepare ourselves to be persecuted and have trouble. The gates of heaven will seem sweeter and its portals will welcome us in due course.