true faith has to be tested. if our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. gilt is afraid of the fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord's faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed and the light of the Father's countenance hidden.
a faith which can say in the greatest trouble, 'though He slay me, yet i will trust in Him," is a heaven-born faith. the Lord is greatly glorified in the trials of His servants, for where we have been grieved by various trials, the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:6-7).
we should never know the music of a harp if its strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the wine press; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of the fire if its coals were not utterly consumed. the wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass.
present affliction tend also to heighten joy. there must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of the earth? will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified?
a faith which can say in the greatest trouble, 'though He slay me, yet i will trust in Him," is a heaven-born faith. the Lord is greatly glorified in the trials of His servants, for where we have been grieved by various trials, the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:6-7).
we should never know the music of a harp if its strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the wine press; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of the fire if its coals were not utterly consumed. the wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass.
present affliction tend also to heighten joy. there must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of the earth? will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified?
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. -2 Cor 4:17-18in His love
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