Luther said that he could never rightly understand some of the Psalms, till he was in affliction. Affliction teaches you what sin is. In the word preached, we hear what a dreadful thing sin is... but we fear it no more than a painted lion; ...A sick bed often teaches more than a sermon... Affliction teaches us to know ourselves. God makes us know affliction, that we may better know ourselves. ...Many say they love God, but how does it appear? They will not forgo the least comfort, or undergo the least cross for His sake. If Jesus Christ should have said to us, I love you well, you are dear to me, but I cannot suffer, I cannot lay down my life for you, we should have questioned His love very much; and may not Christ suspect us, when we pretend to love Him, and yet will endure nothing for Him? - Thomas Watson (1620-1686), English Puritan pastor in: All Things For Good
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 03:54:06 +0000