On Affliction
We seem to think that the work of God is primarily external, or so our prayers seem to indicate. We cry upon God to fix this crisis, bless that endeavor, change our circumstance, or provide this need! But such is not the case. Scripture plainly indicates that our Father's primary work is internal, for everything proceeds out of the heart. The first work of the New Covenant is a new heart.(Ezek 36:26-27) God shines in our hearts by His Glory Spirit(2 Cor 4:6)--to first of all scatter the roaches of our lust and defilement, and then to set a purer light on a hill which cannot be hid.
But the process requires us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, bound to His altar by chords of His love, that He may bring us to that internal liberty of the sons of God. So very often, the calamity or malignancy that we pray so passionately to be removed is the very yoke that is binding us to the altar required to learn Christ!(Matt 11:28-29) We want to be free so that we may DO. The Father binds us close to His bosom that me might BE. If we are not lights radiating God's Glory in our inner man, our deeds are wood, hay, and stubble, defiling the landscape of God's will and purpose. Our Father is working by His Spirit to conform us to the delighted obedience of our Savior as He evidenced in "Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Do not fear the cross and the altar, for they are the instruments of resurrection, instruments for the radiating of God's glory from out of our innermost being. As our Lord was raised from the cup of death that He drank, so shall we be raised from the cup of trial and suffering that we drink, by the glory of the Father. He will supply all our needs according to the riches of His glory by Christ Jesus.
We seem to think that the work of God is primarily external, or so our prayers seem to indicate. We cry upon God to fix this crisis, bless that endeavor, change our circumstance, or provide this need! But such is not the case. Scripture plainly indicates that our Father's primary work is internal, for everything proceeds out of the heart. The first work of the New Covenant is a new heart.(Ezek 36:26-27) God shines in our hearts by His Glory Spirit(2 Cor 4:6)--to first of all scatter the roaches of our lust and defilement, and then to set a purer light on a hill which cannot be hid.
But the process requires us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, bound to His altar by chords of His love, that He may bring us to that internal liberty of the sons of God. So very often, the calamity or malignancy that we pray so passionately to be removed is the very yoke that is binding us to the altar required to learn Christ!(Matt 11:28-29) We want to be free so that we may DO. The Father binds us close to His bosom that me might BE. If we are not lights radiating God's Glory in our inner man, our deeds are wood, hay, and stubble, defiling the landscape of God's will and purpose. Our Father is working by His Spirit to conform us to the delighted obedience of our Savior as He evidenced in "Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Do not fear the cross and the altar, for they are the instruments of resurrection, instruments for the radiating of God's glory from out of our innermost being. As our Lord was raised from the cup of death that He drank, so shall we be raised from the cup of trial and suffering that we drink, by the glory of the Father. He will supply all our needs according to the riches of His glory by Christ Jesus.