Morning, March 3
Go To Evening Reading
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Isaiah 48:10
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of
the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat
hath no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God
is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst
intrude, but I have a balsam ready—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know
that he has “chosen” me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember
that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace . In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One
whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou
knowest it not, he makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths
thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house
of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves
to come into these desolate places, that he may visit thee. Thy friend
sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see him, but thou mayst feel
the pressure of his hands. Dost thou not hear his voice? Even in the
valley of the shadow of death he says, “Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.” Remember that noble speech of Caesar: “Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune.” Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials,
his presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one
whom he has chosen for his own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is his sure word of promise to his chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.” Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say—
“Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where he goes.”