The blessing of God invoked

Then those who feared the LORD(A) spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and(B) a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. "They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up(D) my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall(E) see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Hope of the Lord

It is good to wait quietly (A)

for deliverance from the LORD. (B)

It is good for a man to bear the yoke (C)
while he is [still] young.

Let him sit alone and be silent, (D)
for God has disciplined him.

Let him put his mouth in the dust (E) —
perhaps there is [still] hope.

Let him offer [his] cheek
to the one who would strike him; (F)
let him be filled with shame.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained."

This is the adventure of faith that Paul defines as his desired pursuit. Knowing Christ and desiring to to partake in His life giving power knowing that the suffering inflicted from this deadened world for the name of Jesus to those who have received life is just a passing affliction. When we seek to be apart of Jesus, everything is transformed and the world's passions grow dim in the light of the great Creator-God.

"Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

This is the admonition of the Apostle to the Saints in Corinth--to seek out the life and to bear the suffering of Jesus in order to experience the power of God. He would have all of the Saints of God cultivate this lifestyle of the imitation of Christ. In doing this we fulfill the great commandment of love given by the Lord Christ. May we always, through difficulties, seek to have an uninhibited fellowship with Christ-God who has in every way become our Prophet, Priest, and King. For Jesus is the source of life, wisdom from God, righteousness, holiness and redemption--Christ is our boast of true, everlasting life.