"Glory Revealed"

For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! (Romans 8:18)

For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace,

comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word. (1 Thessalonians 2:16-17) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack--rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen. I have written to you briefly, to counsel and testify that this is the true grace [the undeserved favor] of God. Stand firm in it. (1 Peter 5:6-12) But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].

When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

My feet have carefully followed His steps;

I have kept His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:10-12)

Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who endures and is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) This is a faithful and trustworthy saying:

If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, we will also reign with Him;

If we deny Him, He will also deny us;

If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)