Saturday, May 21, 2011

'Faith' Through the Fire


By Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

                              Wherefore hast Thou afflicted thy servant? Numbers 11:11

C H Spurgeon (Known as England’s“Prince of the Preachers,
Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try your faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gild is afraid of 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 hold by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden.


A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Thought He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself. For He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are his own handiwork.

When “tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honored by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; not enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor feel the warmth of fire if the 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 afflictions tend also to heighten future 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 earth? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation; let us muse upon it all day long.


END NOTE:

C H Spurgeon (Known as England’s “Prince of the Preachers,” delivered his first sermon at the age of 17. he assumed the pastorate of London’s New Park Street Chapel three years later. His spiritual insights often found expression in writing, including this excerpt from his popular devotional Morning and Evening.  Read More about C H Spurgeon click Here

Share





Web Counter
Free Web Counter

No comments:

Post a Comment