GraceGems sends out a daily email with a quotation from someone dead. This is from today. Read slowly.
“Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord” (Psalm 94:12)
We are all familiar with suffering. We are either now enduring, or shall at some future time endure severe afflictions. There are few of us therefore to whom the inquiry may not be interesting–how is affliction a blessing? The question may be thus answered.
The chastisements which God inflicts upon His children are profitable to them–as they tend under the Divine blessing to promote piety in the heart. Chastisement forms a necessary part of that paternal discipline, by which our heavenly Father fits His children for their eternal rest in glory.
1. Chastisement is useful, because it tends to convince the believer of his misery, and shows him that without Christ he cannot be happy. One great end of your affliction is answered, when you are led to commence and persevere in a faithful and earnest application to Christ, as the great Physician.
2. Chastisement is useful, as it leads the believer to see and feel his exceeding sinfulness.
3. Chastisement is useful, as a trial of faith. Adversity is compared to the fire, the furnace, the refining-pot or crucible, because it not only purifies–but tries; it not only consumes the dross–but ascertains the gold.
4. Chastisement is useful, as it strengthens faith, by leading the believer to the promises–and especially to the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Chastisement is useful, because it leads the believer to exercise entire submission to the Divine will.
6. Chastisement is useful, because it leads the believer to look for complete happiness in heaven alone. Let the worst, most lingering, and most aggravated instance of suffering be presented–and the hope of heaven is still sufficient to mitigate its ills! It is well to learn to look beyond all secondary, earthly, imperfect comforts–to God, the source of good, and to that world where all tears are wiped away!
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted!” Ps. 119:71
(Source: James W. Alexander, “Consolation” 1852, via GraceGems)
Good stuff Todd. Merry Christmas.
Some have criticized Christianity as masochism. They say the sermon on the mount—where Christ declares happy those how suffer and our poor—proves that Jesus was unstable, not well-balanced. When we talk about suffering we ought always to keep this criticism in mind. Christianity is not masochism. Suffering is always bad. God no more desires it than we do. Christ didn’t want to drink the cup, but he knew that for God’s best he must, and he did. Good post Todd. Merry Christmas.
“Let the worst, most lingering, and most aggravated instance of suffering be presented–and the hope of heaven is still sufficient to mitigate its ills!” I can’t say I have endured this…yet I praise God for the hope of heaven in the midst of wilderness. Thanks for the encouraging post!