A friend said to Job, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty: for he makes sore, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:17-18
In the Old Testament God is seen as meeting the temporal needs of his people, such as delivering Israel from the tyranny of Egypt, which point to the infinitely greater and eternal need in man’s soul.
It just seems natural to think that we are in the best relationship with the Almighty when things are going well. “How are you doing today sister? I am heavenly blest!” By that she means all is well in the here and now, God watches over the affairs of those He loves, and does not permit anything to go wrong or so the world thinks. The Bible, however, has something different to say,
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” Hebrews 12:6-8
The greatest need that man has is to learn how to feed on God Himself. God always brings hard times to the people who are His children in order for them to trust in Him, and to depend upon Him and not themselves.
If you want to feed on Christ, trust Him when every inclination you have says not to.
Comments