Be of Good Cheer
"As
sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing."
-II
CORINTHIANS
6:10 [KJV]
Though
the Christian in himself is sorrowful, and has reason to be so all
the day long, yet so far as he has any views by faith of the Lord
Jesus Christ, any good hope through grace, or any manifestation of
His Person, work, blood, and love, he may be always rejoicing. Nay,
his very sorrow opens up a way for joy. There is no room in a worldly
heart for spiritual joy, for the Lord gives joy in sorrow. When the
heart is sunk in gloom and fear, and doubt and distress take
possession of the mind, when family afflictions, or painful
bereavements, or trying circumstances fill the heart with grief and
dismay, that is the very time for the Lord to pour joy into the soul.
As
afflictions abound, so do consolations. Sorrow and joy are linked
together as night and day, as sun and moon, as heaven and earth.
Without sorrow there can be no joy, for joy is its counterpoise. If
you had everything your heart could desire, what room would there be
for spiritual joy? But when all sources of earthly joy dry up, and
there is nothing but sorrow and trouble before you in this world, as
long as life remains; when you are afflicted in body, poor in
circumstances, tried in your family, distressed in your mind, and
there is nothing but grief and misery,—then you have room made in
your heart to receive the sweet consolations of God's grace.
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
February
24th, EARS FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES
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