THE LORD'S PURPOSE IN HIS DEALINGS WITH US
THE LORD’S PURPOSE IN HIS DEALINGS WITH US
Surely the Lord’s discipline must be a subject at this time of peculiar interest to yourself. If I look on the One who administers the discipline, instead of dwelling on the irksomeness of the discipline to me, I cannot fail to derive a satisfaction from the discipline, even when present, which is only faintly represented by the different feelings you have towards your doctor, and the rigorous treatment which he sees it necessary to subject you to. You never allow any of the irksomeness of the treatment you are going through to suggest in your mind the slightest idea of unkindness with regard to him. You never confound the doctor, personally, with the pain or disagreeableness of the process which he prescribes, and insists on, as necessary to re-establish your health; and yet any benefit you derive from the treatment, you at once ascribe to him, and eagerly and thankfully award to him the credit of it. You feel according as you have confidence in him that he has prescribed a certain course for you, because he desires to restore you to health; and you submit to this course without losing a particle of your confidence in or regard for him, however painful and irksome it may be; and when you derive any benefit from it, you connect it with his purpose in placing you under the treatment; and you are full of commendation of him, even for the mode which he adopted, though one of much pain and suffering.
Thus ought we to view divine discipline. We know not what is the matter with us. God does; and we may rest assured that He is subjecting us to the treatment which will confirm us in health; and therefore we ought to submit, seeking to reach the improvement desired by Him, and never confounding the suffering of the process with the purpose in His mind, but entering into His purpose, and being in fellowship with Him [p. 66] about it, whatever the process may be. The process is surely necessary; and, however painful it may be, our minds should not be engaged with it, but with Him and His purpose in subjecting us to it. Hence, any and every gain from it to us causes us to revert more distinctly to His purpose, and demands of us to submit the more truly and implicitly to His discipline with us. I connect none of the painfulness with Him, but eagerly and happily I connect all the gain with Him, and the purpose of His love towards me. Divine health is fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, for that is the natural vigour of eternal life. If I am gaining by discipline, I am more in divine health, and so I do not murmur at the discipline or at Him who imposes it; I am occupied with the gain, and I praise Him for it.
May the Lord bless you, and perfect in you His own gracious purpose; and strengthen your heart to devote yourself without reserve to His service. May He cheer, help, and speedily restore you, for His own service in this evil day.