Trials by Fire ~ The LORD JESUS Delivers His People

"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say it is My people; and they shall say, the LORD is my God." —Zechariah 13:9 [KJV]

O, Give me comforts or I die, saith the soul! for surely was I a child of God, I should not be thus tried, afflicted, and distressed. Nay, saith the Saviour, "ye know not what ye ask." Dost thou forget the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children? "My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him."—Hebrews 12:5. 

Did I bid Thee believe on me? Believe also My words: "it is through much tribulation thou must enter My kingdom."—Acts 14:22. This profitable lesson, though grievous to the flesh, must be learned. Like Peter, we pray to be excused being washed by our Lord. But we consider not His love, nor our own advantage. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me," saith Jesus. "If ye are without chastisement, then are ye bastards and not sons." "I WILL bring thee through the fire; I WILL refine thee; I WILL try thee." 

Why? Because thou art not reprobate silver, nor counterfeit metal; therefore I WILL take pains with thee. "I WILL purge away thy dross and thy sin, and purify thee in the furnace." Verily, thy graces shall shine brighter, thy faith grow stronger, thy love burn more fervent, and thy obedience be more cheerful. Therefore "I chasten whom I love," saith the Lord. Nothing can reconcile souls to afflictive allotments, but looking on them as covenant-dispensations. The loving Father's promise is the beloved children's portion. "I will never turn away from them to do them good."—Jerermiah 32:40. 

Such is the covenant-love of our covenant God. Here faith fixes its hold, and waits the promised blessing. Though saints desire to be passive, yet they cannot be silent; "for they shall call on My name," even the name above all other names, Jesus the precious Saviour. Saith the Lord, "I will not only hear, but answer." "It is I," saith Jesus to the terrified disciples, "be not afraid." "It is My dear people that call," saith the Lord. As the affectionate mother knows the voice of her own dear child, she listens, she runs to its relief. So the Lord speaks with affection and love, "MY PEOPLE." So souls reply in faith, with Thomas, MY LORD, MY GOD. O, happy to live, not so much on comforts as on "the God of all comfort."—II  Corinthians 1:3.

Blest is the man 

Thy hands chastise, 

And to His duty draw; 

Thy scourges make 

Thy children wise, 

When they forget Thy law. 

But God will ne'er forsake His saints, 

Nor His own promise break; 

He pardons His inheritance 

For their Redeemer's sake.

 

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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