“Now MY SOUL HAS BECOME DISMAYED; and what shall I say, ‘Father, SAVE ME from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
John 12:27–28, LSB
I have heard it said that we are not to be children of wrath and of God this is true, but of those who belong to the world, we will meet their wrath. We will suffer and we will struggle as we see the glory of God denied. Our Lord knew suffering and He understood this was a part of His purpose. It isn’t our lack of suffering or pain that shows that we are a people of God, but how we are carried through it all and the faith that we hold is unshaken when we are confronted with great difficulties and pain. God doesn’t show His chosen through the great wealth or prestige that His followers accrue. He doesn’t desire large monuments to be built in His honor. The greatest monument that can be built to glorify our Lord is the lives transformed through the Gospel and hearts that are faithful to Him. He is glorified most greatly in the lives of those sacrificed because they refused to deny Him. His love isn’t shown by conforming faith to this world but in standing against the diversity that has become the god of this world and being unwilling to let the hate of those who despise the Gospel bring anger or hatred into the souls of those who stand firm in their witness but proclaim His love with full compassion and love. It is in His Word and understanding His calling that our Lord desires to be glorified; in this, we may have peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.