1 Peter 1:6-7

“In this [heavenly hope] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while... you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love." 

Things Don't Just Happen

Things don't just happen to us who love God;They're planned by His own dear hand.Then molded and shaped, and timed by His clock.Things don't just happen; they're planned.

We don't just guess on the issues of life,We Christians just rest in our Lord.We are directed by His sovereign willIn the light of His holy word.

We who love Jesus are walking by faith,Not seeing one step that's ahead,Not doubting one moment what our lot might be,But looking to Jesus instead.

We praise our dear Saviour for loving us so,For planning each care of our life,Then giving us faith to trust Him for all,The blessings as well as the strife.

Things don't just happen to us who love God,To us who have taken our stand.No matter the lot, the course, or the price,Things don't just happen; they're planned.

by Esther L. Fields (before 1944)

OUR LORD'S SURPRISE VISITS

"Be ye therefore ready also." Luke 12:40

The great need for the Christian worker is to be ready to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience is. The battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn. That is the one great need, not the facing our belief, or our creed, the question whether we are of any use, but to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord's surprise visits. It is not service that matters, but intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This will give our life the attitude of child-wonder which He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious (that is, using religion as a higher kind of culture) and be spiritually real.

If you are "looking off unto Jesus," avoiding the call of the religious age you live in, and setting your heart on what He wants, on thinking on His line - you will be called unpractical and dreamy; but when He appears in the burden and the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.

Oswald Chambers