Post by Shepherd on Nov 25, 2008 13:17:59 GMT -6
77 AFFLICTION’S RESOURCE
JAMES 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted let him pray, Is any merry let him sing psalms.”
The apostle here suggests the grand resource for affliction–it is God. We would render the word pray not in the words of more petitioning, but in its more enlarged construction, of converse, of fellowship, with God.
If we pray and keep our mind on God and other things then we don’t sit and feel sorry for our selves. Think of someone that is in worse shape than we are and pray for them or give them a call and tell them how much God loves them.
Some people want to blame God, but blame the devil and Adam and Eve. It all started when they disobeyed God and listened to the devil. God will go with us through and trial or afflication.
If the poor child of adversity would be persuaded to lift himself from that scene of his sore travail to the fountain of supreme blessedness, to soar from that shipwreck of his creature joys to the uncreated center of joy, then would he solve the grand moral of affliction.
There is nothing but mockery in those spurious expedients of relief to which the world resorts.
But there is ineffable beatitude in God. What a transition. From BROKEN CISTERNS, WHICH CAN HOLD NO WATER,” to “THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS.” from deceptive, misleading and treacherous joys go the fountain of enduring joy; from the very wreck and demolishing of earthly hopes to Him who is the sun and consummation of all hope. Even believers are slow to make God their prime solace or console.
They are prone to transfer themselves to some new idol when one has been taken away; to doat on visions of the past; to feed on the dust and ashes of their own profuse lamentations– the morose (having a sullen and gloomy disposition) waking of excessive grief. To all such the watchword prescribes itself–betaken you to God.
II. GOD, THE CENTRE OF THE SOUL’S FELLOWSHIP.
It is very marked, in the history of affliction, what a charm communion of mind with mind exerts.
If there be any unison of sentiment at all, the reciprocity which occurs is most congenial; in point of fact it is one of the expedients to which affliction betakes itself to arrest the converse of kindred minds. There is probably no more potent creature resource.
And we have only to estimate what a transcendent charm must lie in fellowship with God, in communion with Him who is consummate wisdom and excellence, and truth and benignity.
III. GOD, THE FOUNTAIN OF EXHAUSTLESS SYMPATHIES.
There is nothing which exerts such a charm in the hour of adversity as tender, sensitive fellow-feeling. And hence the downcast and sorrowful seek some sympathetic bosom into which they may pour their griefs.
But for a sympathy surpassing all other sympathies, we point you to Christ. Repair to that bosom, all fraught with fellow-felling, throw thyself into the embrace of the yearning tenderness.
IV. GOD, A PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
There are two aspects in which this holds good. On the one hand, God is specially ready to lend His ear in the day of His people’s affliction; and next, the succor which He supplies in specially adapted to their emergency.
JAMES 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted let him pray, Is any merry let him sing psalms.”
The apostle here suggests the grand resource for affliction–it is God. We would render the word pray not in the words of more petitioning, but in its more enlarged construction, of converse, of fellowship, with God.
If we pray and keep our mind on God and other things then we don’t sit and feel sorry for our selves. Think of someone that is in worse shape than we are and pray for them or give them a call and tell them how much God loves them.
Some people want to blame God, but blame the devil and Adam and Eve. It all started when they disobeyed God and listened to the devil. God will go with us through and trial or afflication.
If the poor child of adversity would be persuaded to lift himself from that scene of his sore travail to the fountain of supreme blessedness, to soar from that shipwreck of his creature joys to the uncreated center of joy, then would he solve the grand moral of affliction.
There is nothing but mockery in those spurious expedients of relief to which the world resorts.
But there is ineffable beatitude in God. What a transition. From BROKEN CISTERNS, WHICH CAN HOLD NO WATER,” to “THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS.” from deceptive, misleading and treacherous joys go the fountain of enduring joy; from the very wreck and demolishing of earthly hopes to Him who is the sun and consummation of all hope. Even believers are slow to make God their prime solace or console.
They are prone to transfer themselves to some new idol when one has been taken away; to doat on visions of the past; to feed on the dust and ashes of their own profuse lamentations– the morose (having a sullen and gloomy disposition) waking of excessive grief. To all such the watchword prescribes itself–betaken you to God.
II. GOD, THE CENTRE OF THE SOUL’S FELLOWSHIP.
It is very marked, in the history of affliction, what a charm communion of mind with mind exerts.
If there be any unison of sentiment at all, the reciprocity which occurs is most congenial; in point of fact it is one of the expedients to which affliction betakes itself to arrest the converse of kindred minds. There is probably no more potent creature resource.
And we have only to estimate what a transcendent charm must lie in fellowship with God, in communion with Him who is consummate wisdom and excellence, and truth and benignity.
III. GOD, THE FOUNTAIN OF EXHAUSTLESS SYMPATHIES.
There is nothing which exerts such a charm in the hour of adversity as tender, sensitive fellow-feeling. And hence the downcast and sorrowful seek some sympathetic bosom into which they may pour their griefs.
But for a sympathy surpassing all other sympathies, we point you to Christ. Repair to that bosom, all fraught with fellow-felling, throw thyself into the embrace of the yearning tenderness.
IV. GOD, A PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
There are two aspects in which this holds good. On the one hand, God is specially ready to lend His ear in the day of His people’s affliction; and next, the succor which He supplies in specially adapted to their emergency.
