|
March 3
|
|
Comfort thyself,
tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen thee
in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft
shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos
armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God
has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is
in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude,
but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in
this vale of tears, I know that He has "chosen" me. If, believer,
thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son
of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there
sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest;
and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He makes all thy bed in thy affliction,
and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely
house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He
loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit thee. Thy
friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou mayst
feel the pressure of His hands. Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in
the valley of the shadow of death He says, "Fear not, I am with
thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech
of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune."
Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His
presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom
He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee,"
is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the "furnace
of affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ,
and say-- "Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead, I'll follow where He goes." March
|
Home
|
Contact
Us |