Perhaps He will smite you!,.
Back to Christ's Comfort for Weary Pilgrims!
(Charles Spurgeon, "The Pilgrim's Grateful Recollections")
"So you should realize that just as a parent
disciplines a child, the Lord your God
disciplines you to help you." Deut. 8:5
I can truly say of everything I have ever tasted
in this world of God's mercy, (and my path has
been remarkably strewn with divine lovingkindness),
I feel more grateful to God for the bodily pain I have
suffered, and for all the trials of diverse sorts I have
endured, than I do for anything else.
I am sure I have derived more real benefit, and
permanent strength, and growth in grace, and every
precious thing, from the furnace of affliction, than
I have ever derived from prosperity.
I know not how to quite express my meaning,
but even depression of spirit and deep sadness
have a peculiar charm within them, which laughter
in vain may emulate.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted!
Ponder and consider the much gratitude you owe
to God for His chastening rod. Dwell much in your
heart upon what God evidently regards as one of
His distinguishing blessings. Do not lightly pass
over what God would have you consider. Count
the cross and the rod to be doubly worthy of your
deepest thought.
"Hear the rod and Him who has appointed it."
Remember that whenever you are chastened, you are
not chastened as a slave master smites his victim,
nor as a judge orders the criminal to be lashed; but
as a man chastens his son, so are you chastened.
Your chastisement is a sign of sonship, it is
a token of love! It is intended for your good.
Accept it, therefore, in the spirit of sonship, and
"Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, neither
faint when you are corrected by Him."
It is the Lord your God who chastens you!
If He were not your God He might let you alone!
If He had not chosen you to be His own,
He would not take such care of you!
If He had not given Himself to be your treasure,
He might not be so diligent in weaning you from
all other treasures!
But because you are His, He will withdraw
your love away from this poor world.
Perhaps He will take one child after another
from you, that all the love that was lavished
on the children might flow towards Himself.
Perhaps He will leave you a widow, that the
love that ran in the channel of a husband may
run altogether to Himself.
Perhaps he will take away your riches, that
the consolation you derived from them may
be all derived from Him.
Perhaps He will smite you, and then lay you
on His own bosom, faint and helpless, that you
may derive a strength and a joy from close and
near fellowship with Himself, which you would
never have had, if it had not been that these
other joys were removed.
Bless God for your chastenings!
Let the sweetest note of your music be to Him who,
as a loving father, chastens His children for their good.
"So you should realize that just as a parent
disciplines a child, the Lord your God
disciplines you to help you." Deut. 8:5
Back to Christ's Comfort for Weary Pilgrims!