Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
This time of trial has caused some to be frightened while others may be bored, angry or depressed. But since it has been permitted by God, it is for our good. Trials build our faith and give us opportunity to be used as a testimony of God's grace. Keep praying and looking up! Our redemption draws near!
I shared this with the men at our Bible study last year. I think it is appropriate for us today.
"This sickness is not unto death." John 11:4
"From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of his people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat.
1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head.
2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard-the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child"; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulations."
-Charles Spurgeon
Five Reasons We Worry
1. We don’t trust God Isaiah 26:3, 1Peter 5:7
2. We look at our circumstances & lose sight of the Lord Matthew 14:30,
3. We forget He is always with us Hebrews 13:5
4. We try to figure things out in our own wisdom Matthew 6:31-33, Philippians 4:6
5. We look to human help Jeremiah 17:5, Hebrews 13:6
Look to others and be depressed
Look to self and be distressed
Look to Jesus and be blessed
"Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me"
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea:
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee--
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
—Edward Hooper
This time of trial has caused some to be frightened while others may be bored, angry or depressed. But since it has been permitted by God, it is for our good. Trials build our faith and give us opportunity to be used as a testimony of God's grace. Keep praying and looking up! Our redemption draws near!
I shared this with the men at our Bible study last year. I think it is appropriate for us today.
"This sickness is not unto death." John 11:4
"From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of his people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat.
1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head.
2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard-the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child"; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulations."
-Charles Spurgeon
Five Reasons We Worry
1. We don’t trust God Isaiah 26:3, 1Peter 5:7
2. We look at our circumstances & lose sight of the Lord Matthew 14:30,
3. We forget He is always with us Hebrews 13:5
4. We try to figure things out in our own wisdom Matthew 6:31-33, Philippians 4:6
5. We look to human help Jeremiah 17:5, Hebrews 13:6
Look to others and be depressed
Look to self and be distressed
Look to Jesus and be blessed
"Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me"
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea:
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee--
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
—Edward Hooper
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