If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also gloried together–Rom. 8: 17.

Reading the Father’s plans for ourselves, in the light of His will exemplified in His dealings with our Master, we may settle it at once that it is not His will to keep us from all pain and trial and sufferings, and to carry us triumphantly to glory on flowery beds of ease. Quite the reverse, indeed, must be our course, if we would follow in the footsteps of Him whom God set forth to be, not only a satisfaction for the sins of the whole world but also a pattern to all of Christ’s disciples. And this much learned of God’s Plan and will promptly teaches us that we must not expect and should not ask freedom from pain and trouble, which His wisdom has ordained to be the path to glory—Z 96, 151 (R 1997).

We are God’s children, who have His Spirit, and we may therefore anticipate an exceedingly great inheritance. Our inheritance under Christ, the Chief Heir, will be undivided throughout all eternity. Who then will be accounted fit to enter into this inheritance? Only those whose devotion to the Father, the Son and the Truth (for the brethren and the world of mankind) prompts them in the Spirit of God to suffer with Christ, will be accounted worthy of this great inheritance—P ’26, 76.

Parallel passages: Heb. 2: 10; 2 Tim. 2: 10-13; Col. 3: 4; 1 Pet. 5: 10; 2 Thes. 2: 14; Rom. 8: 18; 9: 23; 2 Cor. 4: 16-18; Isa. 60: 14-22; 1 Cor. 15: 41-57; Phil. 3: 21.

Hymns: 326, 58, 92, 201, 72, 310, 281.
Poems of Dawn, 205: Some Glad, Sweet Day.
Tower Reading: Z ’12, 61 (R 4973).

Questions: Have I this week amid suffering with Christ hoped for the Kingdom? How did it affect my spirit?

SOME GLAD, SWEET DAY

SOME day, some glad, sweet day
We shall be like our blessed Lord
And see Him as He is.
Soon we shall strain our
Weary eyes no more
To catch, beyond this earthly
House of fettering clay,
A gleam of heavenly glory
From His radiant face.

Some day, some fair, sweet day
His loving hand will wipe
Away our tears. His tender
Voice will thrill our souls
With rapture, when we
Hear Him say, “Well done,
Dear heart, well done,
My joy is thine; for thee
The victor’s crown is won.

“Thou hast been faithful,
Thou hast borne the cross,
The thorns have pierced thy feet;
But now the Night is past–
The Day hath come—bright,
Glorious Day of endless joy and love,
The trial time hath proved thee true,
And thou art safe, beloved,
In thy Father’s home.”

O, glorious Day, for thee we long!
We will be faithful, will the
Burdens bear, sustained by grace Divine.
In meek submission to Thy holy will,
Dear Lord, by faith we clasp Thy hand
As side by side we tread the Narrow Way
And wait—for it will surely come–
Some day, some dear, sweet day,
O, tarry not too long!