1 Pet 1:6 In which time you exult, though for a little while at present, if it must be, you have been made sorrowful by various trials, (7) So that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire , may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
We should not only believe in God's love but also in His wisdom. He loves us, and He knows everything. His love never changes, and His wisdom never errs. Nothing will come upon us that is not profitable for us. God's power will bring us through everything we need to go through, and this power will enable us to bear the burdens that come upon us. Therefore, we can say before the Lord, "Thank the Lord. Praise Him because His will is never wrong." Praising God for His grace is initial praise; praising Him for His will is mature praise. Initial praise is praising Him for what we have; mature praise is praising Him for what we lose. Brothers and sisters, we can rest, and we can rejoice because in everything we see God's love, His wisdom, and His power. In the book The Streams in the Desert (Oct. 24), there is this passage: "A piece of iron that is worth five dollars will be worth $10 when it is cast into a horseshoe. If it is made into needles, it will be worth $350. If it is made into fine blades, it will be worth $32,000, and if it is made into springs inside watches, it will be worth $250,000." What is the difference between a piece of iron worth $10, $350, $32,000, and $250,000? It is the same material, but after many trials and much beating, it becomes stronger, more pliable, and more valuable. In order to make us more valuable, God brings us through many trials and beatings. In order to become a useful and valuable vessel before the Lord, we must not bemoan the things that God has allowed to come upon us. Instead, we should rejoice and rest. We should say to the Lord, "Father, I thank You, because everything You have allowed to come upon me is good." If we submit to the will of God, our heart will find rest, and we will be filled with joy. Our mouth will be full of praise, and our burden will no longer be a burden.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 211-212. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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