Our Circumstances are what we make them. If they be not by faith
kept under our feet, they will by unbelief become our masters.
Our song of praise can never be checked unless we rejoice in
Circumstances, and in things around us, more than in God Himself.
It is to our shame that we are easily wrought upon by shifting
Circumstances. How good for us that we have an unchangeable God
to rest in!
The natural man is the slave of Circumstances.
Never let me be compelled to say, I have driven my stakes so
deep into the earth that I cannot pull them up; but rather let
me so pitch my tent that in a moment I may strike it at the bidding
of the Lord. (Num. 9:15-23.)
All things are working together for good to them that love God;
albeit sometimes in the way of chastening and judgment.
If we honour God in the little matters of our daily life, He
will prepare greater occasions for our faith, and so put honour
on the obedience that was little known to any but Himself. Abraham
had so dealt with God about all the daily little matters of tent
and household, that when the great occasion comes (Gen. 22) the
man of faith shines forth.
God orders our steps in our natural state (the guilt of our sins
our own) to further us in His service after regeneration. (Gal.
1:15.)
It matters little what our Circumstances, if in the spirit of
our mind we be before God offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to Him by Jesus Christ. To faith all Circumstances are opportunities
of pleasing God and serving Christ.
That station of life is most desirable which has least in it
to cumber the spirit, and to entice away the heart from Christ.
Shall we not then rather desire to stoop with our Lord, than
to rise with the men of the world? Every state in life has temptations;
but these thicken upon us, and grow in seducing power, according
to rise in earthly honour.
Howsoever we may deplore the sin of one that has injured us,
we ought to be thankful for the occasion of showing the mind
of Christ towards the wrong-doer.
If our hearts be set upon enjoying the light of our Father's
countenance, we shall find that all Circumstances, bitter as
well as sweet, will afford us opportunity of bearing something,
or doing something, for His sake.
My happiness in Christ will grow through every new Circumstance,
if I have no will but God's. God, by all Circumstances, delights
to make glad His obedient children. (2 Thess. 3:16.)
If we judge not God's character by His providences, but His providences
by His character, we shall be able to rejoice when the flesh
would repine.
When Elijah in unbelief fled from Jezebel he had the meet rebuke
from the Lord; but the fault of the hour of temptation did not
hide from God's gracious eye the faithfulness of His servant.
(1 Kings 19) In like manner dealt the Lord Jesus with that other
Elijah—John the Baptist—when he seemed like a reed shaken
with the wind. (Matt. 11:2-15.) We are to be imitators of God
as dear, as pleasant, children; and if we are not to suffer sin
upon our brethren, whatever their grace, neither should the fault
in them be a cover to our eyes of their grace and service to
Christ.