The Hidden Glory
The cross brings both suffering and glory, and we can find comfort and joy in our suffering by thinking of Jesus' love and carrying it with Him.
In this sermon, Basilia Schling discusses the hidden glory and comfort that can be found in the cross and suffering. She emphasizes that very few people have realized and experienced the blessing of suffering. God the Father looks down sadly and wonders where those who have been comforted in suffering are. Jesus, who bore the cross, laments the lack of understanding and appreciation for the grace and honor that comes with sharing in his suffering. Schling encourages listeners to bravely bear their crosses, knowing that the suffering they endure will ultimately bring them glory and a bountiful harvest. She reminds them of Jesus' love and the transformative power of the cross, which leads to a new and blessed life.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. Can you testify to his reality in your life, even on difficult days that are filled with suffering? Our cross and suffering need not oppress us any longer. Today's meditation by Basilia Schling can help us to find the hidden glory in the cross and to discover a wonderful wealth and comfort for our entire lives.
How very few people have realized and won the glory that lies hidden in the cross and suffering. Yes, God the Father looks down from heaven very sadly and asks, where are those who have experienced the blessing of suffering? Who has been comforted in suffering? Where are the truly redeemed who do not live in bondage to their suffering? Where are those who in the midst of darkness can rejoice that they've been redeemed? Jesus probably has to lament. There are very few.
And yet, he suffered bitterly to redeem us. He drank the cup of suffering unto death for us, so that suffering might no longer lead to death, but to a new and blessed life. But who cares about Jesus' suffering? If we saw his grief, our own small troubles would seem trivial.
He offers us the fruit of his suffering, resurrection, a new and blessed life, divine life. In the midst of our troubles and afflictions, do we ever think about Jesus' suffering? All the pain and grief of the world are contained in his suffering. If we spent all our time thinking about our own troubles and spare just one thought for his suffering, we would see his amazing love.
In love, he suffered for our sakes, to heal our wounds and to comfort our hearts. If we really grasped this, we would be full of joy. Therefore, let us tell Jesus in this hour, My Lord Jesus, you show me so clearly that the cross brings both suffering and glory.
It was your cross that brought us glory. Therefore, the crosses you allow us to bear will also bring us glory, if we carry them with you. So let me think of my cross with you in mind.
Then I shall praise you for the transformation and the glory that it will bring me. I thank you for giving me the strength to carry my cross in such a way that it will bring you glory and a bountiful harvest. Cross bearing brings us peace Bearing the cross of Christ, who can such grace assess? Glory in thou, his such Lord, sharing with him the weight O what an hour of great, weeping eternal bliss! free inspirational booklet if you do not have access to the web please contact this radio station for our postal address god bless you
Sermon Outline
- I. The Hidden Glory of the Cross
- A. The cross brings both suffering and glory
- B. Jesus' suffering brings us redemption and new life
- C. We can find comfort and joy in our suffering by thinking of Jesus' love
- II. The Reality of Suffering
- A. Suffering is a part of life, but it does not have to oppress us
- B. We can find the hidden glory in our suffering by carrying it with Jesus
- III. The Power of the Cross
- A. The cross brings transformation and glory
- B. We can praise God for the strength to carry our cross and bring glory to Him
- IV. The Call to Carry Our Cross
- A. We are called to think of our cross with Jesus in mind
- B. We can find peace and joy in carrying our cross with Jesus
Key Quotes
“If we spent all our time thinking about our own troubles and spare just one thought for his suffering, we would see his amazing love.” — Basilea Schlink
“It was your cross that brought us glory. Therefore, the crosses you allow us to bear will also bring us glory, if we carry them with you.” — Basilea Schlink
“Bearing the cross of Christ, who can such grace assess?” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We can find comfort and joy in our suffering by thinking of Jesus' love and the redemption he brought through his suffering.
- We are called to carry our cross with Jesus and find transformation and peace in our lives.
- We can praise God for the strength to carry our cross and for the glory it will bring us.