Beloved,
We bring you salutations of love, peace, joy, faith, and hope. We hope this meets you well.
It is no news that the entire world and its systems are going through very grave socio-economic-religio- political tough times. There seems to be no answer to the mind-boggling questions in the minds of many global leaders, who are no less bewildered and baffled than their religious counterparts! The days are, indeed, evil and grim!
The nations are groaning under very harsh and imbalanced economic conditions. Prices of goods and services are soaring astronomically into wild space without any warning! Beggars and scammers, online and offline, are increasing alarmingly on our streets! This sharp increase in criminal activities in our society has heightened the uncertainty of safety and security, and the list is growing!
As Christians, we always turn to the Bible for light. The Bible says:
“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” John 16:21
Hence, we are experiencing birth pangs! Jesus implies that a woman in travail endures the pain of childbirth because of the hope of the coming child. What soothes and wipes off the pangs, anguish, and sorrow of birth is the joy of giving birth to a child. Shall we not know it? Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2).
The woman, who, with her friend, ate her son in Elisha’s days, did so because she did not have hope for better days (2 Kings 6:26-29). Barely 48 hours after she and her friend had roasted and eaten her son, God broke the yoke of hunger and famine over Samaria, giving them more than enough to eat and sell. Sadly, when the glory came, the gory memory of the gruesome murder of her son, perpetuated by herself and her friend, left her sorrowing for life!
Naomi also left Bethlehem-Judah with her husband and two sons, seeing nothing glorious coming out of a land forlorn and famished! Unable to see the coming glory, she fled to Moab and completely wiped out what would become the Saviour’s birthplace totally from her mind. Sadly, she returned empty to meet the same people she left in poverty, now harvesting barley with more than enough to glean and feed!
The Bible affirms:
“For I reckon (establish by fact) that THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME are NOT WORTHY to be compared with THE GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED IN US.” Romans 8:18 (KJV) [Emphasis added]
The above verse shows that this present time presupposes an immediate future, and the sufferings of this time firmly assure a coming glory. Not knowing this simple truth could make us lose out.
In addition, the above verse confirms that we cannot use the sufferings of the present time to measure, predict or forecast the coming glory. There will be no congruence or sync between the coming glory and the sufferings of today. Truth is, no suffering or hardship of this time will be worthy, strong enough, or sufficient to be compared with the glory which shall soon show forth in us, (if we believe)!
There is a gain that is worth the pain. There is a joy that is worth the journey and a job that is worthy of the jog. However, the coming glory will shock all; it will far outweigh our present sufferings!
“For OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for a moment, WORKETH FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV) [Emphasis added]
Whatever we are going through now is nothing but a light affliction, meant for this moment. All present sufferings are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! Glory is coming, now and hereafter!
The Coming Glory is the comfort of believers in convulsing times!
In these winding ways, it is imperative to know the winning ways. We must not exchange our faith and hope for a momentary relief that the enemy serves unsuspecting men. God must help us to stand tall amid the massive fall of men and women.
The LORD Himself calls you to the Lagos Discipleship Retreat (LDR) 2023, a meeting you should not miss.
Theme: THE COMING GLORY
Date: Thursday, 10th to Sunday, 13th of August 2023.
Kick-off Time: 7:30 p.m. (Thursday). Closing Time: 6:00 p.m. (Saturday).
(You can leave the camp immediately after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday or very early on Sunday; whichever way, we’ve got you covered.)
Venue: Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ Secondary School, 25, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos. Register for free, using this link: https://forms.gle/4tDvNBwjDmotAkoRA
For further enquiries, contact Mike at +234 803 386 6534 or Tobi at +234 802 924 2717.
Contact Yinka Adepoju at +234 802 297 5498 if you need hotel accommodation/arrangements.
We are expecting you!
Shalom!
In HIS grip,
SEGUN ARIYO,
For the Labouring Team.
segunariyowordpresscom 