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“Longsuffering with Joyfulness”, August 27
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto
all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
Colossians 1:11
.
“Strengthened with all might.” This is not might to speak hasty words,
which hurt and bruise others and which injure us more than anyone else,
making us ashamed when we think afterward of what we have said.
“Longsuffering with joyfulness.” Wherever you are, you may be tan-
talized, and reproach may come upon you. If I were to undertake to hunt
up a thousandth part of what has been said against me, I should have no
time to do anything else. I have said, “God knows all about this, and I
will let Him take care of it.” I am not at all troubled by what other people
say concerning me.... If I lose my self-control, and flash out in anger, I
would in so doing give people some reason to say that the representation
of my accusers is correct....
Never should we lose control over ourselves. Let us ever keep before
us the perfect Pattern. It is a sin to speak impatiently and fretfully or to
feel angry—even though we do not speak. We are to walk worthy, giving
a right representation of Christ. The speaking of an angry word is like
flint striking flint: it at once kindles wrathful feelings. Never be like a
chestnut bur....
When others are impatient, fretful, and complaining, because self is
not subdued, begin to sing some of the songs of Zion. While Christ was
working at the carpenter’s bench others would sometimes surround Him,
trying to cause Him to be impatient; but He would begin singing some of
the beautiful psalms, and before they realized what they were doing they
had joined with Him in singing, influenced, as it were, by the power of
the Holy Spirit, which was there.
God desires us to be patient in tribulation and affliction, content to
rest in His great arms of infinite love, believing that He is working for us
all the time. It is our privilege to be joyful in the Lord. Let us praise Him
more. By our joyfulness we reveal that our life is hid with Christ in God,
that in Him we find the most blessed companionship, and that through
His grace we have a living connection with heaven.
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