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marbella3 70F
2483 posts
10/9/2014 6:45 am

Last Read:
10/9/2014 6:47 am

What Do You Expect?




Read: John 16:25-33

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. €”John 16:33

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

In C. S. Lewis€™ book God in the Dock, he wrote: €œImagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable.€ Lewis cleverly used this contrast between a hotel and a prison to illustrate how we view life based on our expectations. He says, €œIf you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad.

Sometimes we expect that life should be happy and pain-free. But that is not what the Bible teaches. For the believer, this world is a place of spiritual development through both good times and bad. Jesus was realistic when He explained what to expect in life. He told His disciples, €œIn the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In facing life'€™s blessings and bruises, we can have the inner peace that God is orchestrating events according to His sovereign plan.

Christ'€™s presence in our lives enables us to €œbe of good cheer€ even in the midst of pain.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best€”
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.


lilium6 74F
4498 posts
10/9/2014 3:55 pm

Thanks for this post, appreciated :- )