“In the world ye shall have tribulation.”
John 16:33
Art thou asking the reason of this, believer?
Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like him? Wilt you easily be conformed to his image? Wilt you not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make you perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect?
Next, Christian, turn your eye downward. Do you know what foes you have beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Do you think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he “goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee.
Then look around thee. Where art thou? You are in an enemy’s country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then you are not God’s friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere.
When thou sleepest, think that you are resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge.
Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within.
Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”
Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hath said, “I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee.”
John 16:33
Art thou asking the reason of this, believer?
Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like him? Wilt you easily be conformed to his image? Wilt you not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make you perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect?
Next, Christian, turn your eye downward. Do you know what foes you have beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Do you think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he “goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee.
Then look around thee. Where art thou? You are in an enemy’s country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then you are not God’s friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere.
When thou sleepest, think that you are resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge.
Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within.
Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”
Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hath said, “I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee.”
Control the Mind
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