Trials and Pain

The devil, things and people being what they are, it is necessary for God to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in His holy work of preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

The Root of the Righteous, 157.
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Trials and Pain: The Necessity of Wounds

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word…. It
is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your
statutes.
–Psalm 119:67,71

It is amazing to me! There are people within the ranks of
Christianity who have been taught and who believe that Christ will
shield His followers from wounds of every kind.

If the truth were known, the saints of God in every age were only
effective after they had been wounded. They experienced the humbling
wounds that brought contrition, compassion and a yearning for the
knowledge of God. I could only wish that more among the followers of
Christ knew what some of the early saints meant when they spoke of
being wounded by the Holy Spirit….

In every generation, the people who have found God have been those
who have come to the end of themselves. Recognizing their
hopelessness, they have been ready to throw themselves on the mercy
and grace of a forgiving God.
Men Who Met God, pp. 59,62

“Lord, don’t let me waste the humbling wounds. Do Your great work
within me, and help me to respond properly and learn all You want me
to learn through Your working. Amen.”

On this day...

• 1 Samuel 5 - 2023
• 1 Samuel 4 - 2023
• Our open heart - 2011
• Perseverance of the saints - 2011
• Christ cures them that are dead - 2011
• Deal with sin as sin - 2011
• Neglect of the Bible - 2011
• Grace must find expression in life - 2011
• Invaluable Blood of Jesus - 2011
• Sin breaks the rules - 2011