July 11, 2019
Dear friends,
Last night I phoned our radio ministry agent in Winnipeg and he told me that the city received close to 100 millimetres of rain earlier this week. Well, today was our turn in southern Quebec. A morning downpour gave way to afternoon clearing, followed by a storm that featured lightning flashes and loud thunder. Just before the evening rain, I saw groups of birds flapping their wings furiously, heading for shelter. Birds and animals recognize when changes are about to take place in their environment, but humans often don’t see what God is doing in the world.
A friend sent me the following devotional by Charles Spurgeon a few days ago:
‘No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’ Hebrews 12:11
How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. There is no calm more deep than that which follows a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious banquets are for well-exercised soldiers … Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them ‘afterwards.’ It is peace, sweet, deep peace—which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls.
See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are ‘afterwards’ good things—harsh ploughings—yielding joyful harvests. Even now . . . he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, and he becomes full by being emptied.
If, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life—what shall be the full vintage of joy ‘afterwards’ in Heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world’s days—what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun—what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon—how sweetly will he sing in Heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires—how will he extol Him before the eternal throne! If evil is good to him now—what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then?
Oh, blessed ‘afterwards!’ Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross—for the crown which comes afterwards?
Reading the last part of Spurgeon’s observations brought back memories of receiving pins for faithful attendance in Sunday School when I was young. The pins had a cross and crown on them, pointing to the work of our Lord to redeem mankind. I am thankful for the adults who taught me God’s Word as a child and grateful for pastors who preached the truths of God’s Word when I was a new believer in my late teens.
This week a team of teens from Pennsylvania is enthusiastically serving the Lord in a Vacation Bible School at Grace church in Verdun. Please pray with us that each of the ninety children in attendance will trust in Christ and live for Him all their life.
Scripture for the weekend: “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)
Thought for the weekend: “Forgiveness isn’t always a onetime thing. There are layers of it that need to be recognized … Sometimes we think we have forgiven, but we don’t realize how many layers there are. And if we don’t deal with each layer, hardness of heart can set in.” – Stormie Omartian (quoted in “He Holds My Hand: Experiencing God’s Presence and Protection” by Carol Kent)
By His grace,
Steve