Handling the Truth
- jacarroll71
- Sep 16, 2016
- 2 min read
Today’s reading:
My Selection:
“He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time” Daniel 11:32-35.
Praise God that He gives us the truth about life and eternity.
There is an insidious message being proclaimed in all the world that God exists primarily to make everyone healthy and happy. Suffering is a result of unbelief. God never wants us to suffer in any way. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Can you handle the truth?
The truth is we suffer in this world because God’s purpose is to make us holy and fit us for eternity. Meanwhile, godly men like Daniel knew that “some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end” (Daniel 11:35).
The Apostle Paul said it this way:
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” 2 Timothy 3:12,13.
And,
“… through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” Acts 14:22.
God’s purpose and end for us
God is perfecting us through trials and struggles, but His end is to bring us to His kingdom to glorify Him.
“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” Daniel 12:3.
By God’s grace, we can handle the truth and the trials He sends our way, learning from them until He takes us home and completes His work. Meanwhile, stand firm in Him today.
[For more reflections on today’s reading, see the corresponding reading in my book Cover to Cover: Through the Bible in 365 days].
[Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.]
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