That best and brightest moment when we first saw the Lord, lost our burden, received the promise of salvation, rejoiced in full deliverance, and went on our way in peace should never be forgotten. It was like springtime in the soul; the winter had passed. Then, flowers bloomed in our hearts: hope, love,

peace, and patience sprang up, and we resolved, "Lord, I am Yours, wholly Yours; all I am and all I have, I dedicate to You. You bought me with Your blood; let me spend myself and be spent in Your service. In life and in death, let me be consecrated to You." How have we kept that resolve?

You’ll best know Christ by following in His footsteps. Poverty will reveal Him who became poor for our sakes; sickness will show you Him whose appearance was marred more than any man’s; shame will teach you His shame, and suffering will reveal to you

His suffering. Yes, even death itself, which will uncover the foundations of your faith, will give you conformity to His death so that you may share in His resurrection.