Affliction, or tribulation, accompanying the reception of the Word is an indication of

the election of God: "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God, for our gospel

came not unto you in word only . . . . . having received the Word in much affliction, with

joy of the Holy Ghost" (I Thess. 1: 4-6).

Tribulation because of the Word is a test: "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth

for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, immediately

he is offended" (Matt. 13: 21).

Tribulation will never be allowed to separate the believer from his Lord: "Who shall

separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation . . . . .? Nay, in all these things we

are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom. 8: 35-37).

Tribulation, if endured in a true Christian spirit, appears light, for it has a real relation

with the glory yet to be: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for

us a far more exceeding, age-abiding, weight of glory, while we look not at the things

which are seen' (II Cor. 4: 17, 18).

Tribulation, being a part of the appointed process of Christian development, should

not move us: "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know

that we are appointed thereto" (I Thess. 3: 3).

Rom. 12: 12 says: "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation." Just as Heb. 12:

declares that chastening and discipline are the necessary accompaniment of true sonship,

and that though, for the time being, discipline seemeth "not joyous, but grievous,

nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which

are exercised thereby", so Rom. 5: shows that, though tribulation may come as a test to

the believer who is justified by faith, yet it will work patience and give proof that shall

establish him in this blessed position of grace and acceptance. Just as II Cor. 4: 17 tells

us that affliction works out for us a weight of glory, so Rom. 5: 3 tells us that tribulation

works out patience.

Patience is closely connected with hope. The well-known prayer in I Thess. 1: 3

comes to mind immediately: "Your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of

hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." Just as "faith without works is dead, being alone", so

hope without patience becomes barren and fruitless. The man who has the blessed hope

in his heart will not be so concerned with the ups and downs of life. Gains or losses,

success or failure, that would have meant so much while unsaved, now become,

relatively, of small consequence.

By comparing Rom. 5: 3 with James 1: 3 we get light upon both tribulation and