July 12
WHOM, WHEN, HOW TO DELIVER
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and
to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." II
Peter 2:9
The godly are tempted and tried. That is not true faith which is
never put to the test. But the godly are delivered out of their
trials, and that not by chance, nor by secondary agencies, but by the
Lord himself. He personally undertakes the office of delivering those
who trust Him. God loves the godly or godlike, and He makes a point of
knowing where they are, and how they fare.
Sometimes their way seems to be a labyrinth, and they cannot
imagine how they are to escape from threatening danger. What they do
not know their Lord knows. He knows whom to deliver, and when to
deliver, and how to deliver. He delivers in the way which is most
beneficial to the godly, most crushing to the tempter, and most
glorifying to Himself. We may leave the "how" with the Lord, and be
content to rejoice in the fact that He will, in some way or other,
bring His own people through all the dangers, trials, and temptations
of this mortal life, to His own right hand in glory.
This day it is not for me to pry into my Lord's secrets, but
patiently to wait his time, knowing this, that though I know nothing,
my heavenly Father knows.