To quarrel with the instruments God used for our correction is
to quarrel with God Himself. It is, in fact, to say to Him, "I
do not approve of Thy government, and I could order matters better
if they were left to me." What is this but to aim at casting
down God from His throne, and setting ourselves thereon?
Though the Lord often spares reproof, He never spares commendation.
He is slow to anger; He makes haste to be gracious. (Neh. 9:17;
Ps. 40:13.)
Jacob underwent discipline and chastisement for upwards of fifty
years, for the withering in him the evil root of the spirit of
unbelieving contrivance. God blesses His child, and in His very
love withholds not the rod of correction.
The pain that God's discipline gives us shows its wisdom: it
is the diseased part that _feels_ under the surgeon's hand.
God never puts us to shame before the world, or even before the
church, unless we compel Him.
The Lord always deals with us according to the state of our souls.
How small the knowledge of God that Job would have attained to,
but for the deep and marvellous discipline whereby he was sifted
and taught!
When we deal with God in prayer about the difficulties of our
path, we must not set Him a time for clearing away those difficulties,
but wait upon Him, who accepts the sacrifice of our willing hearts.
The Lord's jewels need grinding, and cutting, and polishing.
Why forget?
It is not of necessity that a child of God beginning well goes
on well; but if he take good heed to his ways—according to
Psalm 119., 2 Peter 1:5-7, and like Scriptures—he will surely
run well to the end of his race.
The more bitter the cup of discipline, the more reason for our
thankfulness. If we be not thankful, let us give God no rest,
nor ourselves, until He make us so.
Correction despised brings sharper correction.
When God visits us with certain special discipline, it is our
wisdom to accept the cup and drink it cheerfully, however bitter,
for health is in it.
Let us have no reserves of conscience. When God gives us light,
let us follow it whithersoever it may lead; for, while God has
no judgments of curse for His children, He has judgments of displeasure
of love because of disobedience.
Be more desirous of inward help and deliverance, than the removal
of God's hand, when He lays affliction upon you.
Impatience under God's corrections only shows our need of the
discipline He is pleased to visit us with. We can least bear
correction when we most need it.
One of the evil fruits of long-continued spiritual negligence,
is the soul's ignorance of its own state.
How often, under discipline, are the children of God struggling
amidst the thickets and briers of circumstances, instead of judging
the state of their hearts! This lack of pondering their ways,
prevents their seeing the equity of God's dealings with them.