COMMENTS
Here is an important part of the great battle of the Christian's life. He must fight the natural tendencies of the old nature and confidently anticipate the victory in the strength of the great Captain of his Salvation. He must not succumb to the flattering and deceptive influences of prosperity, nor faint under the burdens of adversity. He must not allow the trials of life to sour and harden his disposition, to make him morose, or surly, or bitter, or unkind. Nor may he allow pride or ostentation or self-righteousness to grow and feed upon the temporal good things which the Lord's providence has granted him to test his faithfulness as a steward.
Our hope of being in God's and Christ's image and of sharing in the Kingdom blessings and work is a strong basis for joy. Our tribulations are steps preparing us for the realization of our hopes, and they call for the exercise of patience, lest we fail, while considering our tribulations, to persevere in looking with cheerful constancy to the glorious hope set before us. Let patience have her perfect work, and the glorious hope will be ours
Phil. 4:4; 1 Thes. 1:2, 3, 6, 7; 5:16; Luke 10:20; Rom. 15:3, 4, 13; 5:2-5; Heb. 3:6; 10:36; 1 Pet. 4:13; Luke 21:19; Psa. 37:7; 40:1; Hab. 3:17, 18; Col. 1:11; Jas. 1:2-4; 5:7; 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; Heb. 12:1-3; 2 Thes. 1:4.
