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Comfort in Affliction
chestnutmare
9 hours ago
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12: 6,11.)
Had the Bible presented no other than this negative view of affliction, it would still have cleared the character of God from the unworthy suspicion, that he takes a cruel or capricious delight in the infliction of suffering, and would have served so far to compose our minds under trial, by giving us the assurance, that no suffering would be inflicted without some reason which was satisfactory to infinite benevolence and wisdom. But the Bible is far from confining its consoling discoveries to this negative view of the subject: it not only denies that affliction is the result of caprice or cruelty, but affirms that, under the scheme of grace, it is the result of pure and comprehensive benevolence, and the means of positive good. ‘Comfort in Affliction’
~ James Buchanan.
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"We live unto the Lord."
Pilgrim
9 hours ago
06/10/AM
"We live unto the Lord."
—Romans 14:8 (KJV) "8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."
If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? Why is the army of the living God still on the battle-field when one charge might give them the victory? Why are His children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from His lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? The answer is--they are here that they may "live unto the Lord," and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the "salt of the earth," to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for Him, and as "workers together with Him." Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to "the praise of the glory of His grace." Meanwhile we long to be with Him, and daily sing--
"My heart is with Him on His throne, And ill can brook delay; Each moment listening for the voice, 'Rise up, and come away.'
- Charles H. Spurgeon
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"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."
Pilgrim
Yesterday at 10:29 AM
06/09/AM
"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."
—Psalms 126:1-3 (KJV) "1 <<A Song of degrees.>> When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; [whereof] we are glad."
Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet with scarcely any allusion to the mercy and help which God has vouchsafed them. But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state, will come forward joyously, and say, "I will speak, not about myself, but to the honour of my God. He hath brought me up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings: and He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad." Such an abstract of experience as this is the very best that any child of God can present. It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know this, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who overcomes these corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has brought us "out into a wealthy place." The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, "He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."
- Charles H. Spurgeon
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The Glorious Security of the Children of God
NetChaplain
Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:52 PM
The true children of God are, according to Scripture, eternally safe because:
1. They are born not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed (1Pe 1:23). 2. His sheep shall never perish (Jn 10:28). 3. Their lives are hid with Christ in God (Col 2:3). 4. They are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). 5. They are already “seated” in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph 1:3; 2:6). 6. They are sealed by the Spirit “until the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). 7. The Lord knoweth them that are His (2Tim 2:19). 8. Having begun a work in you, He will complete it (Phl 1:6). 9. They are already living-stones in the spiritual building of God of which Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone (1Pet 2:5; Eph 2:20-22). 10. They are members of the Body and Church of Christ, each with a peculiar function. Without the least member, the Body would not be complete (1Cor 12:12-27 – the time will come when the final and last Gentile is saved, then Israel restored to fellowship, but not in the sonship capacity like Christians being children of God; they will continue as a “people of God”—NC Rom 11:25, 26). 11. They “are kept by the power of God” (1Pe 1:5). 12. An inheritance is reserved for them (God knows every name in the Book of Life—NC - 1Pet 1:4). 13. God’s people are a gift to His Beloved Son (Jn 17:6, 7 – the Father covenanted with the Son that if He would die for those who would believe in Him, the Father would raise Him from the dead – “Covenant of Redemption”—NC). 14. “He is able to save them to the uttermost” (Heb 7:25). 15. They are already accepted in the Beloved Son (Eph 1:6). 16. Nothing can separate them from the love of Christ (Rom 8:38, 39). 17. He loves them “to the end” (Jn 13:1). 18. By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are “sanctified” (Heb 10:10-14 – sanctification is a single, one time work that separates the heart from the “old man” (Ro 8:9); it’s not what some might think, that it’s a continued work of separating the heart from the sin nature. This answers to why the word “sanctified” is always given in a text that expresses a complete one-time work—NC). 19. They are nevermore reckoned in the first man Adam, but have passed through in the Last Adam (1Co 15:45, 47). 20. They cannot be unborn (John 3:6-8). 21. Christ dwells in them (permanently 2Jn 1:2). 22. He gives His sheep eternal life (Jn 10:28). 23. Whom He foreknew, He also predestined, called, justified and glorified (Ro 8:28-30). 24. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (irrevocable – Ro 11:29).
-MJS
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"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."
Pilgrim
Mon Jun 08, 2026 11:47 AM
06/08/AM
"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."
—1 Chronicles 5:18-22 (KJV) "18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, [were] four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that [were] with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. 21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. 22 For there fell down many slain, because the war [was] of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity."
Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure. The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites, they slew "men, an hundred thousand," "for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him." The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people. The great reason of their extraordinary success lay in the fact that "the war was of God." Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places, with devils and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and unless He himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver His enemies into our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale.
Stand up! stand up for Jesus! To him that overcometh, The strife will not be long; A crown of life shall be; This day the noise of battle, He with the King of glory The next the victor's song: Shall reign eternally.
-Charles H. Spurgeon
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