[:en]Thoughts from “Our Daily Bread” (4/12/17)[:]

[:en]Pain before joy and suffering before glory.  When a woman gives birth to a child, she has to undergo a long and difficult labor.  But the painful experience has a big purpose of bringing forth a descendant of her flesh and blood.  The joy that follows after the pain is beyond description.

Similarly, the painful sacrifice of Christ opens us the way to salvation.  He endured the cross, scoring its shame to accomplish God’s ultimate purpose of setting us free and giving us eternal life.  The joy of restoring our friendship and fellowship with Him outweights His suffering.[:]