I WENT long in my previous musing – an introduction to another selected reading from None But The Hungry Heart, 3-22 – Deepened Channels. This will be yet another look at our adversities in the “the fellowship of His sufferings.” I’ll try hard today to be brief.
THERE is however, one recurring thought that frequently comes to mind whenever I consider that pertaining to Christian suffering and adversity, a wisdom derived from the pages of David Brook’s book, The Road to Character:
“When most people think about the future, they dream up ways they might live happier lives. But notice this phenomenon. When people remember the crucial events that formed them, they don’t usually talk about happiness. It is usually the ordeals that seem most significant. Most people shoot for happiness, but feel formed through suffering.”
AS my days prolong, I’ve come to realize more and more how the Bible is counter-intuitive to our human reasoning; truly His thoughts are not ours thoughts, nor our way of seeing things His (Isa 55:8 & James 1:2). In today’s NBTHH reading, we will see how true peace and joy aren’t found apart from suffering, but through it. As we walk with Christ, even our grace acquired blessings and prosperity can deepen our understanding of His sufferings on our behalf, preparing us to be likewise, channels of His comfort to a hurting, lost, and unsettled world.
“It has always been God’s purpose to fill the earth with His glory through his people.” – Ray Warwick
SO, with that, here’s today’s Lesson from the Garden contribution from Mile Stanford’s, None But The Hungry Heart, 3-22 – “Deepened Channels.”
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
**************
3-22. Deepened Channels
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9).
We want fellowship with the Lord Jesus in His peace and joy, and naturally fear and seek to avoid suffering. However, it is in the fellowship of His sufferings that we partake of His peace and joy.
“The Lord has a wonderful way of bringing us into the fellowship of His sufferings, even when everything outside looks prosperous. Sometimes the most apparently prosperous lives have the deepest sufferings at the back of them. The Lord must one way or another teach us fellowship with suffering, or we cannot be of much use. We dwell much upon the side of being filled with joy, but let us not forget there are broken hearts all round us, and if we are to be channels of divine comfort to them, we must learn something of the fellowship of His sufferings in our own experience.”
“We shall err if we think that life in the Sanctuary, hidden with Christ in God, means freedom from suffering, sorrow, and trial. Rather will the soul be strengthened inwardly to be trusted more and more with the ‘fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death’ (Phil. 3:10).”
“Our Father can advance His children into conformity to the image of His Son, more by suffering in one day, than in many years of ease from trial.”
“See how we call those who thus endured happy! You have heard how patiently Job endured and have seen how the Lord finally blessed him, because the Lord is tenderhearted and merciful” (James 5:11 Wms.).
