Thursday | 31 July 2025
The fellowship of Christ’s travail is painful. As Paul observed, ‘Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’ Heb 12:11. This can be a time of weeping that endures as though ‘through the night’. However, joy comes ‘in the morning’. Psa 30:5. This joy belongs to what is made new, which has been brought forth in our life and understanding.
The word of the messengers, which is a light to our path, reminds us that travail and restoration are to be a daily and lifelong reality for us. We note, in this regard, the words of Isaiah, who declared, ‘The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will enquire, enquire; Return! Come back!” ’ Isa 21:12. Each morning, we are awakened to hear the word of Christ by the Spirit, knowing that the next morning will be followed by an evening that involves travail. This is our expectation as those who have taken Christ’s yoke upon us.
The rest that we receive, as we remain yoked to Christ, marks the end of anxiety and of other emotions of sin that arise when we live according to the flesh. Rest belongs only to those who are properly yoked to Christ. This yoke is the headship of Christ. The Lord is calling every man to be yoked to Him. He is calling every woman to be yoked to Him. If we are being yoked to Christ in the order of headship, we will be properly yoked to each other in our marriage, in our family, and as a household to other households. We will be finding rest for our soul as we show forth the virtues of Him who called us ‘out of darkness and into His marvellous light’. 1Pe 2:9.
Further Study:
Hebrews 12
References:
Heb 12:11
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Psa 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Isa 21:12
The watchman said, ‘The morning comes, and also the night. If you will enquire, enquire; Return! Come back!’
1Pe 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.