“Stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I. Peter v. 10).
In taking Christ in any new relationship, we must first have sufficient
intellectual light to satisfy our mind that we are entitled to stand in
this relationship. The shadow of a question here will wreck our
confidence. Then, having seen this, we must make the venture, the
committal, the choice, and take the place just as definitely as the tree
is planted in the soil, or the bride gives herself away at the marriage
altar. It must be once for all, without reserve, without recall.
Then there is a season of establishing, settling and testing, during which
we must stay put until the new relationship gets so fixed as to become a
permanent habit. It is just the same as when the surgeon sets the broken
arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from vibration. So God has His
spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them
quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith.
It is not always easy work for us, “but the God of all grace who hath
called you unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered
awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”