Words of Encouragement Scripture: Isaiah 1:24-26 24. Therefore the Lord God of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares, Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries and avenge Myself on My foes. 25. I will also turn My hand against you, and will smelt away your dross as with lye and will remove all your alloy. 26. Then I will restore your judges as at first, and your counsellors as at the beginning; after that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city. Look closely at verse 25. From Our Daily Homily by F.B. Meyer The silver has become dross. Jerusalem, the chosen city, was filled with infidelity, formalism, impurity, and deeds of violence. She had been full of judgment, righteousness had lodged in her; but now, murderers. And this was the reason for the blows that had fallen upon her with such unsparing force. The whole land was now desolate; the cities had burned with fire; only a small remnant of people was left. The prophet, his patriot heart wrung with grief, compares her to a sick man in the last stage of disease, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; from the sole of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in it. Would it not be well for us to search our hearts, and ask whether there may not be some counterpart to this in our declension from our God, and the consequent suffering to which we have been brought? he loves us too well to allow the process of deterioration go unchecked. But here the Almighty Lover of His people resolves to bring His hand to the work of entire purging and clean He will no longer simply punish. He will take away the men who had been His enemies and adversaries from the midst of His people, thoroughly purging away the dross and taking away all the tin. There is an immeasurable difference between punishing and refining. It is a great matter for the soul, when God ceases from the one and commences the other; when we no longer suffer from the results of past sins, but are restored as at the first, and converted as at the beginning. So, be encouraged, my friend! P.S. Here is a mix of hymns about the Church: Its nature and foundation: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken. Enjoy! https://youtube/watch?v=nqyy5zie_g4&list=RDnqyy5zie_g4&index=1
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:51:47 +0000
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