II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
March 31st
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten...." Revelation 3:19
ADVERSITY is God's schoolmaster to bring you to awakening, and thus back to Himself! SICKNESS forces a pause and induces THINKING. WITH IT comes also the realization of error and of man's frailty: ALL engendering a greater respect for that marvelous human tabernacle built for the indwelling of His Spirit. While SORROW AND TRIBULATION are but God's high speed emery wheels to grind down your tough shell, that the GLORY OF HIS LIGHT MAY BLAZE FORTH! And the numerous knocks and falls which scrape and jar are but THAT by which He CONDITIONS you for that special office He has in reserve, awaiting your fitness and arrival. Then UNAVOIDABLE is the conclusion of this logic-in-truth, that when you have perpetually ceased from your "iniquity" (running away from God), there remains no further need of a sea monster to swallow you! And IF through your own will and determination you arouse from your stupor and pull the "candle" from under the "bed," there remains no need to shake you out. While, when with a fully honest heart you seek out the LAWS OF HIS KINGDOM, and, through prayer and fasting, if need be, you purge off your own dross, THEN there remains no occasion for God to "condition you"!
Why Christian Suffering?