July 27

John 16:2‑3
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me”— John 16:2, 32They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (John 16:2‑3).
TERRIBLE are the scenes depicted in these verses; yet in them all we may see a devoted company to whom Christ is precious, who for His name’s sake endure grief and suffer reproach. God will never overlook the trials and afflictions of His people. He values aright the patience of His saints who manifest their love for Him by obedience to His commands and by their steadfast faith in His sure testimonies. “Ye have need of patience,” we read, “that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:3636For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)). And again we are told, “If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom. 8:2525But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25)). As our hearts are fixed on Christ and we look on in faith to the fulfillment of His promise to return and take us to be with Himself in the Father’s house, we are enabled to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. He, Himself, is the Man of patience waiting expectantly at the Father’s right hand until His enemies shall be made His footstool and the appointed hour will come when He is to descend to the air to call His redeemed to meet Him there. May we then be patient unto the coming of the Lord.
“O patient spotless One,
Our hearts in meekness train,
To hear Thy yoke, and learn of Thee,
That we may rest obtain.
O fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied,
We elsewhere none may see.”
Miss Wigram.