Morning
Time: 9:18 AM PST
"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." --Isaiah 48:10
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen
thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower,
assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against
which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God has chosen me. Poverty,
thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and He has
chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready--God has
chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has
"chosen" me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember
that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent
chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but
whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He makes all thy bed in
thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in
that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He
loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit thee. Thy friend
sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou mayst feel the pressure
of His hands. Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of
death He says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God."
Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all
his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials,
His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has
chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise
to His chosen ones in the "furnace of affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take
fast hold of Christ, and say--
"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where He goes."