Two awesome devotions today challenging believers with a Godly view of trials. As Kim and I reminded ourselves of today, it is not enough to not despair in trials but we are commanded and equipped to REJOICE in them! Not easy but wow!, what benefits when proper focus and thinking is in place and joy is the result. Here they are. Spurgeon's is first followed by MacArthur's:
“Thou hast made summer and winter.”
— Psalm 74:17
My soul begin this wintry month with thy God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind thee that he keeps his covenant with day and night, and tend to assure thee that he will also keep that glorious covenant which he has made with thee in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to his Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world, will not prove unfaithful in his dealings with his own well-beloved Son.
Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon thee just now it will be very painful to thee: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy: he casteth forth his ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, he is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore thou canst not murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord’s sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases; they break up the clods, and sweeten the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!
How we prize the fire just now! how pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw nigh to him, and in him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of his promises, and go forth to labours which befit the season, for it were ill to be as the sluggard who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall beg in summer and have nothing.
Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (December 1 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Measure of Spiritual Maturity
In this I rejoice, yes; and will rejoice. Philippians 1:18
A believer’s spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal his joy. Joy is a fruit of a Spirit–controlled life (Gal. 5:22). We are to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16). In all circumstances the Holy Spirit produces joy, so there ought not to be any time when we are not rejoicing in some way.
Change, confusion, trials, attacks, unmet desires, conflict, and strained relationships can throw us off balance and rob us of our joy if we’re not careful. It’s then we should cry out like the psalmist, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Ps. 51:12).
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), and the apostle James said, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). God has His own profound purpose in our afflictions, but He never takes away our joy. To maintain our joy we must adopt God’s perspective regarding our trials. When we yield to the working of His Spirit in our lives, our difficulties will not overwhelm us.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (362). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
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Rob and Kim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the challenging devotions from Spurgeon and MacArthur. It shames me that I seem to lose my joy over such trivial daily matters. I pray for you each day and in the manner you have requested. We trust that this 'setback' is just part of God's purpose for your lives at this time; that in the end we will all understand and know even as we are known.
Grace and Peace to you in His Holy Name
Chris C.