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grace displayed

And Will He Feed His Birds-And Starve His Children?

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a great thought  from John MacDuff about God’s provision for His children, courtesy of Grace Gems:

God Providing for Birds

(John MacDuff, “Looking unto Jesus!” 1856)

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

From the general care of God for these lower creatures–with what confidence may we infer God’s special care for His people, who are His by so many close and tender ties!

Are the birds of the air fed? Do they find their food provided by a hand which they cannot recognize? Does He who gave them being, and who has assigned to them their appointed place in the ranks of creation, supply their daily needs, so that none of their species perish for lack of sustenance, but continue, from age to age–a standing monument of His providential goodness?

And will He feed His birds–and starve His children? Will He care for the one–and neglect the other? It cannot possibly be! The Savior refers to their comparative value, and asks, “Are you not of more value than they?” You are rational creatures, spiritual creatures, immortal creatures, yes, redeemed creatures–and therefore unspeakably more important than the birds are. If He then cares for them–oh! will He not care for you?

In connection with the above consideration, we may refer to the relationship which exists between God and His people. He is their Father–and they are His sons and daughters. Now a kind earthly father has it in him, as a natural instinct, to care for his children. His heart is set upon helping, supporting, directing, comforting, and blessing them. Such a concern has he for their well-being, that scarcely any sacrifice is deemed too costly by which that concern shall appear in practical manifestation. And if his concern for them should be repaid by nothing but ingratitude, as, alas! is often the case–yet even this cannot destroy his affections and feelings.

And if earthly fathers care for their children–will not our heavenly Father care for His? If they are full of concern for their offspring–then is it to be supposed that He, who implanted those kindly principles in their hearts, can be unconcerned about His offspring?

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

photo credit: Freedigitalphotos.net

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Bible, christian soteriology, christian theology, divine grace, God, God's Provision, grace displayed, holy spirit, Jesus, love, purification, purifying, religion, suffering, theology, trust in God

The Furnace of Suffering: God’s Purification Through Affliction – Devotion

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a great thought  from James Smith about God purifying us in the furnace of suffering, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(James Smith, “The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior’s Grace Displayed!”)

The Furnace of Suffering

“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering!” Isaiah 48:10

The love of Jesus will not preserve His people from trials–but rather, assures them of trials! All whom He loves–He chastens! He has a furnace to purge our dross, and refine our souls. His Word and the Spirit reveal to us our defilement and impurity–and His grace and providence co-operate to remove them. “I am the Lord God, who sanctifies you.”

It is divine love which . . .
prepares the furnace,
kindles the flame,
brings the Christian into it,
superintends the whole process, and
brings him out as gold, seven times purified!

“From all your filthiness and from all your idols, I will cleanse you!” He cleanses them in the laver of the Word by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. But He also cleanses them by a variety of afflictive dispensations, through which He causes them to pass.

Our sin calls for trials–His love sends them!

Our nature repines at trials–but grace submits to them!

Our corruption is enraged at trials–but the Spirit sanctifies them to our good, and our Savior’s glory.

He makes His people choice ones–in the “furnace of affliction!” He says, “I will put you into the fire–and will purely purge away your dross.”

Believer, never repine at your trials, nor be over-anxious for their removal. They are appointed by Jesus as your Purifier–and are choice blessings in disguise!

Seek their sanctification,
wrestle with God that you may see His love in every stroke, and
look to Jesus that you may enjoy His presence when passing through the flame!

Nothing can hurt you–while Jesus is near you; and He is never nearer to you–than when you are in the furnace! For He sits right there as the Refiner . . .
watching the process,
regulating the heat, and
waiting to effect a gracious deliverance–when the ends of His love are answered.

He is only preparing you for fresh manifestations of His glory–and fitting you for larger communications of His love.

In the furnace, you will lose nothing that is worth keeping–but you will obtain what is truly valuable!

The flesh and the soul need constant cleansings–for corruption is so deeply rooted in our nature, that it takes a long and painful process to purge it out! But in reference to the furnace, your Lord says, “The Lord did this to purge Israel’s wickedness, to take away all her sin!”

photo by shehal

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: affliction, christian soteriology, christian theology, divine grace, furnace, furnaces, God, grace displayed, holy spirit, james smith, Jesus, love, purification, purifying, religion, suffering, theology

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