“And Laban said, ‘It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn’” (Genesis 29:26)

Laban was wrong to deceive Jacob, but the custom did exist. This may help illustrate a spiritual principle. Jacob wanted Rachel with all his heart, but despised her sister Leah. In spiritual things, if we are to obtain the second blessing, we must secure the first. Many men desire the beautiful Rachel of joy and peace in believing on Christ, but they must first be wedded to the Leah of repentance. Everyone falls in love with happiness, but according to the rule of the Lord’s kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before the Rachel of true happiness can be attained.

The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in His humiliation, or we shall never rest with Him in glory.

Have you thought you could break the heavenly rule? Do you hope for reward without labor, or honor without work? Dismiss this foolishness, because before Heaven must come trials, temptations and suffering. Christ warned. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

Like Jacob, the years you serve Christ on Earth will seem like a few days because of your love for Christ; and when the wedding feast comes, all your suffering will be forgotten.

You are a “joint heir with Christ, if indeed you suffer with Him, that you may also be glorified together .. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-28).

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