December 5

"Whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives." Hebrews 12:6

Does not James say, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation?" And again, "Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations?" Why? Is there any joy in trials, any pleasure in sorrow? No, none. But in the deliverance from the Lord; in the power of God put forth to bring the soul out; there is joy there. And, therefore, we have to walk in a dark path to make the light dear to our eyes; we have to pass through trials to taste the sweetness of the promises when applied with power; we have to endure temptations, that we may enjoy the sweetness of deliverance. And this is the way, be sure of it, that God deals with his people.

Is your conscience made honest? Does that monitor in your bosom speak the truth? Tell me what it says. Does it not say, "Few trials, few consolations; few sorrows, few joys; few difficulties, few testimonies from God; few sufferings, few discoveries of love and blood?" Does not the Apostle say, "As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ?" (2 Cor. 1:5.) And does he not say, "Our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation?"

And does he not tell us to be mindful not to forget what the Lord says when he speaks to his people, that the lot of a child is to endure chastisement? He says, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement," (O solemn word! O how applicable to thousands!) "whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons."

December 5