MUSINGS

THINGS THAT WORK FOR US There are many things that are opposed to the believer—Satan, the world, and the flesh being among them—but it is strengthening to think of what is for us, working in our favour. Above all, God is for us (Romans 8: 31). Then Paul in Romans 3: 3–5 lists certain things that work for us. The first—we might think it surprising—is tribulation. Paul says, “we also boast in tribulations”. What tribulations that beloved man knew! We find some of them in 2 Corinthians chapters 6 and 11. He did not just sustain them, he boasted in them, because they were working out for him a whole chain of blessings. First, “tribulation works endurance”. A fine feature! We see it supremely in the One who endured the cross. It relates to the shittim wood, that resistant, enduring material, able to stand the rigours of the wilderness. Then endurance works experience. We experience the faithfulness of God, His mercy, care and comfort. We learn too His wisdom and grace. What a wealth of experience all this represents!

Then experience works hope. You cannot become wealthy in experience with God without growing in assurance as to the blessed ends and objectives to which He is working. All the lessons of the wilderness, this time scene, have the land, the eternal order of things, in view.

Every bit of experience with God produces what will go over gloriously into eternity. The God of hope sets that prospect before us, and the day of Christ’s public glory and supremacy.

Therefore “hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us”. Whatever may oppose us without, this is what we have within, our hearts being the dwelling place of divine love richly shed abroad there, the love of the God who is over all the passing circumstances and tribulation and is using them for the working out of the blessing and formation according to Christ which is His purpose for those who are the objects of His love.

FCM