Saturday

Saturday must've been the worst day. Trying to quietly observe the Sabbath, whilst making sense of yesterday's events would've been a struggle, to sat the least. We know that at least two of the disciples were making escape plans, maybe others were planning to leave at sunset, hoping their old lives would except them back.

But today, Easter Saturday, we know only hope because of the cross, when the disciples knew only despair. Hear these words from John Piper, from 'Faith in Future Grace.'

God strips every pain of it's destructive power. You must believe this, or you will not thrive, or maybe even survive as a Christian, in the pressures and temptations of modern life.

There is so much pain, so many setbacks and discouragements, so many controversies and pressures. I do not know where i would turn if i did not believe that almighty God is taking every setback and every discouragement and every controversy and every pressure and every pain and stripping it of it's destructive power, and making it work for the enlargement of my joy in God.

The world is ours, life is ours. Death is ours. God reigns so supremely on behalf of His people that everything that faces us in a lifetime of obedience and ministry will be subdued by the mighty hand of God and made the servant of our holiness and our everlasting joy in God.

If God is for us, and if God is God, then it is true that nothing can succeed against us. He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will infallibly and freely with Him give us all things - all things - the world, life, death, and God Himself.

Romans 8:32 is a precious friend. The promise of God's future grace is overwhelming. But all important is the foundation. Here is a place to stand against all obstacles. God did not spare His own Son! How much more, then, will He spare nor effort to give me all that Christ died to purchase - all things, all good?

It is as sure as the certainty He loved His Son.

Future Grace, John Piper, P114