Difference between revisions of "God shoots many kinds of arrows,."

Latest revision as of 23:11, 2 January 2013

Back to Christ's Comfort for Weary Pilgrims!

(Thomas Watson, "http://www.gracegems.org/Watson/lords_prayer.htm" The Lord's Prayer")

"May Your will be done." Matthew 6:10

We pray here, that we may have grace to submit 
to God's will patiently — in whatever He inflicts. 

Patient submission to God's will, is a gracious frame 
of soul, whereby a Christian is content to be at God's 
disposal, and acquiesces in His wisdom. "It is the Lord's 
will — let Him do what He thinks best." 1 Samuel 3:18

Patient submission to the will of God, lies in seeing His
hand in the affliction. "Affliction does not spring from 
the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth." 
Job 5:6. Affliction does not come by chance! Job eyed 
God in all that befell him. "The Lord gave me everything 
I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name 
of the Lord!" Job 1:21. Job looks beyond second causes
— he sees God in the affliction! "The Lord has taken it 
away." There can be no submission to God's will — until 
there is an acknowledging of God's hand in the affliction.

Patient submission to God's will, lies in justifying God. 
God is holy and just, not only when He punishes the 
wicked — but when He afflicts the righteous. "Now we 
are being punished because of our wickedness and our 
great guilt. But we have actually been punished far 
less than we deserve." Ezra 9:13

While we live here in this valley of tears, patient 
submission to God's will is much needed. The Lord 
sometimes lays heavy afflictions upon us. "Your 
arrows have struck deep, and Your blows are 
crushing me!" Psalm 38:2. God sometimes lays 
many afflictions upon us. "He multiplies my 
wounds." Job 9:17. God shoots many kinds 
of arrows.

God sometimes afflicts with POVERTY — which is a 
great affliction. To have an estate reduced almost to 
nothing, is hard to flesh and blood. "The Almighty has 
made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the 
Lord has brought me home empty." Ruth 1:20, 21

God sometimes afflicts with REPROACH. Dirt may be 
cast upon a pearl; and those names may be blotted,
which are written in the book of life. Piety shields 
from hell — but not from slander.

God sometimes afflicts with the DEATH of loved ones. 
"Son of man, I am going to take away your dearest 
treasure. Suddenly she will die!" Ezekiel 24:16

God sometimes afflicts with INFIRMITY of body. 
Sickness takes away the comfort of life. Sometimes 
God lets the infirmity continue long. Some diseases 
are chronic, and linger and hang about the body 
for many years. The Lord is pleased to exercise 
many of His precious ones with chronic affliction. 

God tries His people with various afflictions — so that 
they have need of patient submission to His will.

Murmuring is not consistent with submission to 
God's will. Murmuring is the height of impatience, 
it is a kind of mutiny in the soul against God. "They 
began to murmur against God." Numbers 21:5 

When water is hot — then the scum boils up; when 
the heart is heated with anger against God — then 
murmuring boils up!

Murmuring springs from pride! Men think they 
have deserved better at God's hand; and, when 
they begin to swell with pride — they spit poison!