All the afflictions of GOD'S people
(John Fawcett, "CHRIST Precious")
You will find it helpful to listen to the audio
above, as you READ the text below.
"We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know
that affliction produces endurance, endurance
produces proven character, and proven character
produces hope." Romans 5:3-4
The chastisements of CHRIST are precious to those
who believe. The believer's love to JESUS CHRIST,
not only continues under the rod of correction--
but is quickened and increased by it!
Thus it is distinguished from that pretended love,
which exists only in times of prosperity. The afflicted
Christian is enabled to consider that whom the LORD
loves, HE chastens, and scourges every son whom
HE receives; and that HE only afflicts us for our profit--
to make us partakers of HIS holiness.
The LORD can so manifest HIMSELF to HIS afflicted
people, that the season of affliction shall be to them
a season of great consolation. HE is to them--
a fountain of life, of strength, of grace and comfort
in the afflictive hour; and of HIS fullness they receive,
as their necessities require.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST is a sun to enlighten
and cheer HIS afflicted followers, and a shield
to defend them. HE is a hiding-place from
the storm, a covert from the tempest, and as
the shadow of a great rock in a dry and weary land.
All the afflictions of GOD'S people are designed,
under HIS gracious management--
to test, to make manifest, and to exercise, those
graces and virtues which HE has implanted in them.
Though afflictions in themselves are not joyous but
grievous, nevertheless they yield the peaceable fruits
of righteousness in those who are exercised thereby.
Afflictions serve to quicken the spirit of devotion in us;
and to rouse us from that formality and indifference
which frequently attend a long course of ease and
prosperity. We are constrained to seek GOD with
sincerity and fervor, when HIS chastening
hand is upon us--
since we then feel our absolute need of that help
and deliverance, which HE alone can give us.
When the loss of any temporal enjoyment casts
us into excessive despondency and dejection--
it is evident that what we have lost, was
the object of our inordinate love. The most
innocent attachments cease to be innocent,
when they press too strongly upon us!
To cleave to any created object, and
to look for happiness from it--i
s to make an idol of it, and to set it up
in GOD'S place. Should this object be
a friend, a brother, a wife, or a child--
the idolatry is still odious in the eyes of that
GOD to whom we owe our chief affection.
Our warmest passions, our most fervent love,
desires, hopes and confidences--
should always have GOD for their object. It is
HIS desire that our happiness should not center
in any of the good things of this life.
Losses and disappointments--
are the trials of our faith, our patience, and
our obedience.When we are in the midst
of prosperity it is difficult to know whether
we have a love for the Benefactor--
or only for HIS benefits. It is in the midst
of adversity, that our piety is put to the trial.
Afflictions serve most effectually . . .
to convince us of the vanity of all that
this world can afford
to remind us that this is not our rest, and
to stir up desires and hopes for our
everlasting home.
They produce in us a spirit of sympathy towards
our companions in tribulation. They give occasion
for the exercise of patience, meekness, submission,
and resignation. Were it not for the wholesome
and necessary discipline of affliction--
these excellent virtues would lie dormant.
Afflictions serve to convince us more deeply
of our own weakness and insufficiency--
and to endear the person, the grace,
the promises, and the salvation of our REDEEMER,
more and more to our hearts. Thus we are taught
to esteem HIS very chastisements as precious--
on account of the benefits we derive from them.
Afflictions are not to punish--
but to purify the believing soul. They are not in wrath--
but in mercy. Amidst the distresses and miseries of life--
it is a felicity to belong to CHRIST, without whose
permission and appointment, no evil can befall us!
HE always sends afflictions for our good; and knows
by experience, what it is to suffer them. HIS kind hand
will speedily put an end to all the pains we feel--
when we have derived from them all the good which
HE intends to do for us, by them.
How many, how suitable, how sovereign are
the supports our heavenly FATHER affords
to HIS afflicted children! They make the affliction,
which in itself would seem heavy and tedious--
appear to be light, and but for a moment.
It is happier to be in the furnace of affliction
with these supports, than to be in the highest
prosperity without them! Blessed with the hopes
and comforts of CHRIST, the true Christian would
prefer the lot of Lazarus, with all the poverty
and distress which he endured--
to the lot of the rich man, who, amidst all
the splendor and affluence which this world
could afford, lived a life of alienation from GOD,
and destitute of the sovereign supports which can
only be enjoyed by those who love and fear HIM.
~ ~ ~ ~
Arthur Pink, "The Attributes of God"
Chapter 19. The CONTEMPLATION of God
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