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| "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." |
"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen
thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower,
assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against
which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God has chosen me.
Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already,
and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam
ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know
that He has "chosen" me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort,
remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that
silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not
seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He
makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art
in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a
frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may
visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou
mayst feel the pressure of His hands. Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in
the valley of the shadow of death He says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not
dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear
not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is
with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety.
He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am
with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the "furnace of
affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say--
"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where He goes."
Thanks for your interest in BFC and may God bless you as you live and ride
for Him!
Chaplain Greg
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen
thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower,
assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against
which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God has chosen me.
Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already,
and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam
ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know
that He has "chosen" me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort,
remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that
silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not
seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He
makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art
in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a
frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may
visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou
mayst feel the pressure of His hands. Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in
the valley of the shadow of death He says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not
dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear
not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is
with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety.
He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am
with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the "furnace of
affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say--
"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where He goes."
Thanks for your interest in BFC and may God bless you as you live and ride
for Him!
Chaplain Greg
