2 Corinthians 4:17 ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;’

DAILY READING — Ephesians 6; Ezekiel 17; Isaiah 46

Polycarp’s story is the first recorded martyrdom in post-New Testament Church history. Though he had been a Christian since he was a child, the Romans didn’t get around to killing him until he was in his eighties.
Polycarp lived during the era of the church that followed after the death of the original apostles. Tradition has it that he was personally discipled by the apostle John and was appointed as bishop of Smyrna (in modern Izmir in Turkey).
It is not clear exactly why he was suddenly, at age 86, subject to arrest, but when he heard Roman officials were intent on arresting him, he decided to wait for them at home. Panic-stricken friends pleaded with him to flee, so to calm them, he finally agreed to withdraw to a small estate outside of town. But while in prayer there, he received a vision and later told his friends “I must be burned alive.”
Roman soldiers eventually discovered Polycarp’s whereabouts and came to his door. When his friends urged him to run, Polycarp replied, “God’s will be done,” and he let the soldiers in.
After feeding the soldiers, he desired them to give him an hour more to pray. When this was allowed him, he prayed with such fervency, that the soldiers repented that they had been instrumental in his arrest.
He was escorted to the local proconsul, Statius Quadratus, who interrogated him in front of a crowd of curious onlookers. Polycarp seemed unfazed by the interrogation, until Quadratus lost his temper and condemned him to die. The proconsul then urged him to reject Christ and he would release him. But Polycarp answered, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?”
He was taken to the stake and when the flames were kindled they encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him or burning him. The executioner, on seeing this, then pierced him with a sword, but the blood came out with such great force and great quantity that it extinguished the fire. Throughout all this, Polycarp was singing and praising God, until he finally died.

Though today we will not be burned with physical fire, yet there are fires of afflictions and trials that sometimes come to try our faith and commitment to Christ.
Anytime we face fires of trials, we should see them as opportunities to uplift our God before men.
In everything our one purpose must be that God will be glorified.

When we read amazing testimonies of early Christians as Polycarp’s, we should indeed wonder and ponder. Those early Christians totally gave over their lives to God such that for them ‘to live was Christ and to die was gain.’
They walked in the very reality of God’s Presence. They only saw every discomfort or pain as an opportunity to magnify God before men and give a good testimony of their faith.

In the same way today our existence should be centered around Christ.
His Will should always be uppermost in our lives. And in everything we give Him praise.

Often the challenges and trials that come our way serve the purpose of unveiling God’s glory in our lives.

2 Corinthians 4:17 says ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;’

Sometimes, great glory is preceded by great turbulence. When an airplane is about to rise higher, it often experiences turbulence.
As long as we maintain a close walk with God we can always trust He is in control and will cause us to triumph always.

2 Corinthians 2:14 says: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Indeed as we sincerely seek to glorify God in everything He will cause us to emerge victorious and triumphant over the fiery trials and afflictions of this present age.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to bless You at all times, despite any challenge I may face. let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth in Jesus Name.

QUOTE ; Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.