THE last couple musings I’ve referenced “check mark” titles noted from my rather worn individual devotional copies of None But the Hungry Heart, by Miles Stanford. Single copies combining all twelve-monthly readings can be readily found on-line, from PDF to printed copies. It can also be accessed at Bible Portal – https://bibleportal.com/devotionals/none-but-the-hungry-heart. We will continue today looking at another “check mark” title, “Circumstantial Evidence” – 6.6.
FOR over thirty years, I’ve attended along with many others from churches throughout Southern California and Arizona, our annual summer Blue Ridge Bible Conference and Family Camp. One of the fascinating things for me has been watching individuals and families grow and mature over time. Lately the Lord seems to be taking me through the study of what I might call “The Theology of Suffering.” There was a time in my younger days when I wondered why people seem to suffer? But now, I’ve come to ask a different question, why some people don’t?
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not” – C.S. Lewis – The Problem of Pain
WELL, I can go on at length about this. But let me explain here why my annual trek to family camp precipitated this line of thought. I will just say this as a hint. One of my favorite modern day writers is Mike Mason. He wrote a very practical and valuable book titled the Mystery of Marriage, which I frequently recommend, and often provide copies to young married couples. He also wrote a lesser-known book titled, The Mystery Children. I’m often reminded of this book as I watched a myriad of little ones running around camp, frequently to the dismay of their parents and those around them. There is a line and point that Mason makes in his book – in fact I think it is his central point he was really wanting to make, and that is, children were not so much given to us for us to change them, as they are to change us. I know this to be true in my own case; and as I observe the life shaping that has gone on in my life, I’ve also seen it in the lives of others being shaped by this humbling process. This is true of every circumstance of the Christian’s life, “to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” will suffer in God’s change process.
A PASTOR once told me that when God wants to knock the sharp edges of us, mold and shape us in the person He desires, the most effective tool He uses is other people, and in this case, even our children. Think about it.
With that, here is today’s consideration from None But the Hungry Heart, with this reminder:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matt 5:6
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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6-6. Circumstantial Evidence
“If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:16).
Often the lapidary will polish the jewel with its own dust. Just so our Father makes use of the weak and beggarly element of our nature to produce the mirror-like luster in which His image is finally reflected for all to see. “They shall be Mine. . . in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).
“Those who know the Lord best are those who have gone the deepest way. Those who go the deep way of trial do so because God puts the premium upon their knowledge of Him. They are the people who are shut up to God. But this knowledge is firstly, constitutional: that is, it is to constitute a certain kind of person and character; and secondly it is vocational: it does not end with the person concerned, but is the essence of service, in time and eternity. God is very practical, and requires that things in His service are never merely theoretical but real and true to life.” -T. A-S.
“Our path ought to be the mold, the opportunity, for the expression and virtue of Christ’s life. Saints seek to use Him rather in order to get through their circumstances, instead of seeing in the circumstances the mold in which they are to be taught the strength and power of the Lord Jesus. May we grow in Him, knowing Him, not only as helping us through circumstances, but using the circumstances which He puts us through as opportunities for enlarging our souls in Himself.”
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13).
