Disciplines and Refines. - 08/20/01 03:39 PM
From God's Amazing Grace
Disciplines and Refines
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore
despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5: 17.
Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods of
discipline and His appointed conditions of success. . . . He
sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly
directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His
providence He brings these persons into different positions and
varied circumstances that they may discover in their character
the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge.
He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit
themselves for His service. . . .
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that
the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to
develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His
name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast
worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He
refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire
that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows
His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to
prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned
for His work.
It may seem that we are to study our own hearts, and square
our own actions by some standard of our own; but this is not the
case. This would but work deform instead of reform. The work
must begin in the heart, and then the spirit, the words, the
expression of the countenance, and the actions of the life, will
make manifest that a change has taken place. In knowing Christ
through the grace that He has shed forth abundantly, we become
changed. . . . In humility we shall correct every fault and
defect of character; because Christ is abiding in the heart, we
shall be fitted up for the heavenly family above.
The Christian is not to retain his sinful habits and cherish
his defects of character. . . . Whatever may be the nature of
your defects, the Spirit of the Lord will enable you to discern
them, and grace will be given you whereby they may be overcome.
Sometimes we wonder why.
Why does God allow this to happen?
Why me?
Now, we may have a better idea of why.
Go with God.
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Examine me, O LORD, and prove me: try my reins and my heart. Ps.26:2
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in men.Ps.118:8