Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Sunday, May 30, 2021

Theme: BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION

Text: “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” – Acts 14:22.

Comment: Some have not realized that those who claim to be dedicated to God must be tried, and that judgement begins with those in His house. The trials are persecutions from the devil which are allowed by God to prove the depth of our faith. In his days, St. Paul went about “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”. In another letter he pointed out that “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. (2 Timothy 3:12) We must march on however, knowing that, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;…” – 2 Corinthians 4:17,18.

Since the coming of Jesus Christ to his temple, the judgement has been going on among God’s people (1 Peter 4:17,18; 2 Timothy 4:1) Jesus Christ said he will send his angels to “gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity…” (Matthew 13:39-43).  We can therefore better appreciate why St. Paul thus warned: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity…” – 2 Timothy 2:19-21