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Trials
& Discipline of God
Discipline
A
man came up to two boys fighting in the park. He took one aside and began to
spank him for his inappropriate behavior. An observing bystander came up to the
man and asked indignantly why he didn’t do anything to the other boy. The man
responded that this one was his own son and the other was not. ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
A
young child accidentally took sleeping pills from the family’s medicine
cabinet. The doctor instructed the parents to keep the child awake by any means
necessary for the next four hours—including the pain of slapping if necessary.
That pain was necessary for the child’s survival. So
too
in the Christian’s
journey: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time
but painful. Later on
however
it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have
been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11 NIV). ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
A
boy’s toy boat went out of reach on a pond one day and started floating away. A
man on the side started throwing rocks at the boat and the boy became horrified
at what might happen. But then he realized that the rocks were going over the
boat and making ripples that finally pushed the boat back to shore and into the
boy’s hands.
Many time
when we stray
away from God
it appears that he is throwing rocks at us. But he is really
using the ripples to bring us back home. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
A
woman visiting in Switzerland came to a sheepfold on one of her daily walks.
Venturing in
she saw the shepherd seated on the ground with his flock around
him. Nearby
on a pile of straw lay a single sheep
which seemed to be
suffering. Looking closely
the woman saw that its leg was broken.
Her sympathy went out to
the suffering sheep
and she looked up inquiringly to the shepherd as she asked
how it happened. “I broke it myself
” said the shepherd sadly and then
explained. “Of all the sheep in my flock
this was the most wayward. It would
not obey my voice and would not follow when I was leading the flock. On more
than one occasion
it wandered to the edge of a perilous cliff. And not only
was it disobedient itself
but it was leading other sheep astray.
“Based on my experience
with this kind of sheep
I knew I had no choice
so I broke its leg. The next
day I took food and it tried to bite me. After letting it lie alone for a
couple of days
I went back and it not only eagerly took the food
but licked
my hand and showed every sign of submission and affection.
“And now
let me say this.
When this sheep is well
it will be the model sheep of my entire flock. No
sheep will hear my voice so quickly nor follow so closely. Instead of leading
the others away
it will be an example of devotion and obedience. In short
a
complete change will come into the life of this wayward sheep. It will have
learned obedience through its sufferings.”
Many times it is the same
in human experience. Through our suffering
God may be seeking to teach us
obedience and reliance on his care. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
The
two-year-old normally a quite obedient little boy
was having an attack of
stubbornness—a disease endemic to the species. Still
it was surprising to see
such a severe case in one of such tender years. His mother had asked the lad to
do something
but he was much too absorbed in his own activities to take time
out for that. The father watched as the mother went over to impress on the
little boy the importance of minding his parents promptly—to which he responded
with a right hook to the jaw of his surprised mother! The father
realizing
that his son’s behavior was completely unacceptable and would become dangerous
not only to the mother but to the child as well if it were allowed to continue
intervened at this point by giving the would-be boxer the worst spanking of his
young life
after which he was sent to his room.
Ten minutes later
the
child was back
tears still streaming down his cherub face
and crawled sobbing
into the father’s lap as he put his chubby little arms around his neck. What
followed is one of the warmest and tenderest memories in this father’s heart.
What the child said was not “I’m sorry
Dad
” of “I won’t do it again
”
but—with a wisdom and perception far beyond his years—“I love you
Dad!” ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
Discipline
is not God’s way of saying
“I’m through with you
” or a mark of abandonment by
him. Rather
it is the loving act of God to bring you back. C.S. Lewis said
“God whispers to us in our pleasures; he speaks to us in our work; he shouts at
us in our pain.”
Every one of us knows that
there have been times when we would not listen to God or pay any attention to
what his Word was saying
until finally he used a severe discipline to get our
attention so that we would listen. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Purpose
of Discipline
Loose
wires give out no musical notes
but when their ends are fastened
the piano
the harp
or the violin is born. Free steam drives no machine
but harnessed
and confined with piston and turbine
it makes possible the great world of
machinery. An unhampered river drives no dynamos
but dam it up and you can
generate sufficient power to light a great city. So our lives must be
disciplined if we are to be of any real service in the world. ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Testing
But If Not
God
is able to deliver
From
my weariness and pain
And
he will deliver swiftly
If
it be for lasting gain;
But
if not-my heart shall sing
Trusting
wholly in my King.
God
is able to supply me
With
abundance from his store
And
he will supply my table
Though
the wolf be at the door;
But
if not-my heart shall rest
In
the thought “He knoweth best.”
God
is able to defend my
From
my foes who throng around
And
he will defend me surely
When
their rage and hate abound;
But
if not-I’ll bless his name
And
confess him just the same.
God
is able to save dear ones
From
the world and self and sin
And
he will both save and keep them
In
his fold safe gathered in;
But
if not-he’ll hold my hand
Teaching
me to understand.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Limits of Testing
The large tractor-trailer
trucks that travel the highways of the nation are subjected to a load limit.
This means that there is a limit as to how much weight each truck is allowed to
carry. There is a good reason for establishing such limits. If the trucks were
allowed to exceed their weight limit
the roads would eventually fall apart
because a given road is designed to support vehicles only up to a certain
weight.
Likewise
God knows how much we can bear when he allows us to be tested. He has assigned
a definite “load limit” to each of us and never exceeds it (1 Cor. 10:13). ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Purpose of Testing
He sat by a furnace of
sevenfold heat
As
he watched by the precious ore;
And
closer he bent
with a searching gaze
As
he heated it more and more.
He
knew he had ore that could stand the test;
And
he wanted the finest of gold—
To
mold as a crown for the King to wear;
Set
with gems of a price untold.
So
he laid our gold in the burning fire
Though
we fain would have said him nay;
And
he watched the dross that we had not seen
As
it melted and passed away.
And
the gold grew brighter
and yet more bright;
But
our eyes were so dim with tears
We
saw but the fire-not the Master’s hand—
And
questioned with anxious fears.
Yet
our gold shone out with a richer glow
As
it mirrored a form above
That
bent o’er the fire-though unseen by us—
With
looks of ineffable love.
Can
we think it pleases his loving heart
To
cause us a moment’s pain?
Ah!
No
but he saw through the present loss
The
bliss of eternal gain.
So
he waited there with a watchful eye
With
a love that is strong and sure;
And
his gold did not suffer a whit more heat
Than
was needed to make it pure.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Purpose of testing
When American Airlines
trains their pilots they first seek to prove them by use of a simulator. The
simulator is designed to present the pilot with a variety of potential problems
so that he will be able to handle any emergency in the future. First the pilot
is tested with simple challenges
which eventually build up to catastrophic
situations. The pilots are given more difficult problems only after they have
mastered the previous ones. The result is that when the pilots have completed
their courses
they are prepared to handle any problem that comes their way.
This
is similar to God’s method of working with us. God teaches us how to handle the
problems of life
but never gives us more than we can handle. He teaches us
through each situation
so that we can be fully prepared and mature people
ready to handle any challenge in life that might come our way. ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Trials
There is a story about how
birds got their wings. The story goes that birds were first made without wings.
Then God made wings
put them in front of the wingless birds
and said to them
“Come
take up these burdens and bear them.” The birds hesitated at first
but
soon obeyed and picked up the wings in their beaks. Because the wings were
heavy
the birds laid them on their shoulders. Then
to their amazement
the
wings began to grow and soon had attached themselves to their bodies. The birds
quickly discovered how to use these new appendages and were soon soaring
through the air. What had once been a heavy burden now became an instrument
that enabled the birds to soar and go where they could never go before.
The
story is a parable. We are the wingless birds. The duties and tasks that seem
like a burden and a trial often become the very means that God uses to lift us
up and build godliness in us. God’s plan is for our tasks to be our helpers and
motivators. To refuse to bend our shoulders to receive a load is to decline a
new opportunity for growth. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Trials
There once was an ant who
felt imposed upon
overburdened
and overworked. You see
he was instructed to
carry a piece of straw across an expanse of concrete. The straw was so long and
heavy that he staggered beneath its weight and felt he would not survive.
Finally
as the stress of his burden began to overwhelm him and he began to
wonder if life itself was worth it
the ant was brought to a halt by a large
crack in his path. There was no way of getting across that deep divide
and it
was evident that to go around it would be his final undoing. He stood there
discouraged. Then suddenly a thought struck him. Carefully laying the straw
across the crack in the concrete
he walked over it and safely reached the
other side. His heavy load had become a helpful bridge. The burden was also a
blessing.
Trials
A man was shopping in a
grocery story. His young son followed closely behind
carrying a large basket.
The father loaded the basket with one thing after another until another
customer began to feel sorry for the boy. She said
“That’s a pretty heavy load
for a young fellow like you
isn’t it?” The boy turned to the woman and said
“Oh
don’t worry. My dad knows how much I can carry.” In the same way
God
knows our limitations and gives to us no burden beyond what we can carry. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Trials
In a man’s dream
he had a
vision of walking through life on a sandy beach with Jesus by his side. As he
looked back at the footprints in the sand
he noticed that at the troublesome
spots of his life only one set of footprints marked the sand. The man asked
Jesus where the Lord had been during those troublesome times. Jesus replied:
“That single set of footprints is mine. Then I was carrying you and your
burden.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Trials
Have you ever stopped to
examine weeds? They serve as a reminder of judgment
a result of the curse on
the ground after the fall of Adam. But if you look closely
you can see signs
of mercy in that judgment. Some weeds have gorgeous flowers: tiny blue bells
ruffled purple blooms
and even magnificent displays of gold. In the same
way-even in trials or discipline-if we look closely
we can see beautiful signs
of God’s mercy. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Trials
A customer once asked a
shopkeeper
“What makes this set of china so much more expensive than that one
over there? They look almost the same.” The reply was simple
“The costlier set
has had more done to it. You see
it had to be put through the kiln twice
because the flowers are on a yellow background. On the less expensive set
they
are on a white background. The costly china had to be put through the fire once
for the yellow background
and then a second time for the design on it.”
So
it is in the life of a believer who desires God’s best. There will be many
times we must go through the kiln with all of its fire and heat until we fully
display God’s intended design in our life. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Trials
There is a story about a
traveler in a logging area who watched with curiosity as a lumberjack
occasionally jabbed his sharp hook into a log to separate it from the others
floating down a mountain stream. When asked why he did this
the logger
replied
“These may all look alike to you
but I can recognize that a few of
them are quite different. The ones I let pass are from trees that grew in a
valley where they were always protected from the storms. Their grain is rather
coarse. The ones I have hooked and kept apart came from high on the mountains.
From the time they were small they were beaten by strong winds. This toughens
the trees and gives them a fine grain. We save them for choice work. They are
too good to be used for ordinary lumber.”
Has
the grain of your character been finely arranged by the toughening action of
life’s trials and adversity? ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Trials
I've always been amazed at how our
sovereign God can turn tragedy into triumph. Take the case of John and Reve
Walsh
In July of 1981
their
little boy Adam
6 years old
was abducted from a nearby Sears store. Two weeks later
Adam's mutilated body
was found 150 miles away. Well
one
thing led to another and John became the host of "
"
Trials
Someone has said
“A brook
would lose its song if God removed the rocks.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Trials
No one enjoys a visit to
the dentist
although all enjoy the long-range benefits of the visit. In a
similar way
no one enjoys the difficulties of a trial
but all who endure them
enjoy the side effects of perseverance
proven character
and hope.
Trials
The richest chords require
some black keys. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Long ago
in the days of
sailing ships
a terrible storm arose and a ship was lost in a deserted area.
Only one crewman survived
washed up on a small uninhabited island. In his
desperation
the castaway daily prayed to God for help and deliverance from his
lonely existence. Each day he looked for a passing ship and saw nothing.
Eventually he managed to build a crude hut
in which he stored the few things
he had recovered from the wreck and those things he had made to help him.
One
day
as the sailor was returning from his daily search for food
he saw a
column of smoke. As he ran to it he saw his hut in flames. All was lost. Now
not only was he alone
but he had nothing to help him in his struggle for
survival. Stunned and nearly overcome with grief and despair
he fell into a
deep depression and spent a nearly sleepless night wondering what was to become
of him and questioning whether life itself was even worth the effort.
The
next morning
he rose early and went down to the sea. There
to his amazement
he saw a ship lying offshore and a small boat rowing toward him. When the
once-marooned man met the ship’s captain
he asked him how he had known to send
help. The captain replied
“Why
we saw your smoke signal yesterday
but by the
time we drew close the tide was against us. So we had to wait until now to come
and get you.”
Do
not despair when calamity strikes
for God is always able to bring a blessing
out of what seems to be a curse. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
A vine clings to an oak
tree and in so doing finds the protection in times of trial that preserves it.
If a violent storm should arise and the vine is on the side of the tree away
from the wind
the tree serves to protect the vine from the wind
which would
otherwise tear it away and rip it into shreds. If the vine is on the exposed
side of the tree
the wind serves only to press the vine closer to the tree it
already clings to.
In
the storms of our life
God will at times set himself between us and the fury
of the storm and so protect us from it. At other times
he will expose us to
the storm so that its ravages may serve to press us closer to him. ── Michael
P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Some flowers
such as the
rose
must be crushed if their full fragrance is to be released. Some fruits
such as the sycamore
must be bruised if they are to attain ripeness and
sweetness. Some metals
such as gold
must be heated in the furnace if they are
to become pure.
The
attaining of godliness-the process of becoming a mature Christian-requires
similar special handling. It is often through pain
suffering
trouble
adversity
trials
and even temptation that we develop spiritual discipline and become
refined and enriched. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
When a wood sculptor wants
to create a work of art
he starts with a log and begins to fashion it with a
sharp chisel. He meticulously cuts and shapes that log until finally he has his
finished product. The log
which might otherwise have been burned in a
fireplace
has become a beautiful masterpiece that can be displayed on the
mantle over the fireplace.
God’s
working in our lives may sometimes be painful
yet his ultimate purpose for us
is to produce a masterpiece. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
The story is told of two
artists who were putting the finishing touches on a painting high on a scaffold
in a church. The younger artist stepped back to admire the work and became
enraptured with the beauty of what he and his mentor had created. His master
saw his pleasure and realized that in the emotion of the moment the young man
was continuing to step back
inching toward the edge of the scaffold. In
another moment he would plunge to his death. Fearing he would frighten his
student by a warning cry
the master artist deliberately splashed paint across
the painting. The young man lunged forward in shock and cried out
“What have
you done? Why did you do that?” Upon hearing the reason
his anger and
confusion melted into tears of joy and thankfulness.
God
sometimes uses trials to protect us from ourselves
especially from the naïve
enthusiasm that could lead us to disaster. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
When the time comes
an
eagle stirs up the nest and turns her young ones out into mid-air
compelling
them to use their wings. In a similar manner
God allows many a human heart to
be disturbed by troubles to bring about an urgent sense of need for the Savior.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
When God wants to drill a
man
And
thrill a man
And
skill a man;
When
God wants to mold a man
To
play the noblest part
When
he yearns with all his heart
To
create so great and bold a man
That
all the world shall be amazed
Watch
his methods
watch his ways—
Whom
he royally elects.
How
he hammers him and hurts him
And
with mighty blows
converts him
Into
trial shapes of clay
Which
only God understands
While
his tortured heart is crying
And
he lifts beseeching hands.
How
he bends but never breaks
When
his good he undertakes.
How
he uses whom he chooses
And
with every purpose
fuses him
By
every act
induces him
To
try his splendor out.
God
knows what he’s about.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
A young boy carried the
cocoon of a moth into his house to watch the fascinating events that would take
place when the moth emerged. When the moth finally started to break out of his
cocoon
the boy noticed how very hard the moth had to struggle. The process was
very slow. In an effort to help
he reached down and widened the opening of the
cocoon. Soon the moth was out of its prison. But as the boy watched
the wings
remained shriveled. Something was wrong. What the boy had not realized was that
the struggle to get out of the cocoon was essential for the moth’s muscle
system to develop. In a misguided effort to relieve a struggle
the boy had
crippled the future of this creature. Trials are necessary for growth. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
The trials of our faith are
like God’s ironing. When the heat of trials are applied to our lives the
wrinkles of spiritual immaturity begin to be smoothed out. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Bees undergo an interesting
process to ensure the healthy development of their young. The queen lays each
egg in a six-sided cell
which is filled with enough pollen and honey to feed
on until the egg reaches a certain stage of maturity. The top is then sealed
with a capsule of wax. When the occupant has exhausted its supply of
nourishment
the time has come for the tiny creature to be released from its
confinement. But what a wrestling
tussling
and straining it endures to get
through the wax seal! The opening is so narrow that in the agony of its exit
the bee rubs off the membrane that encases its wings-so that when it does
emerge
it is able to fly.
If
an insect were to get into the hive and devour the wax capsules
the young bees
could crawl out without any effort or trouble but would be unable to fly. Soon
their mature relatives would instinctively proceed to sting them to death.
Christians
also need the times of wrestling and straining with trials so that they may be
prepared to do God’s will for their life. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
It is always good to attend
church or Bible study and sit and soak up the truth of God’s Word like a
sponge. But we must realize that sponges work best when they are squeezed. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Paul’s statement in Romans
8:28 that “all things work together for good” sounds like the ingredients for a
cake after they have been mixed together. Some of the ingredients used to make
a cake taste good by themselves. Other ingredients
such as alum
baking
powder
or flour are not very palatable. Nevertheless
they are essential and
must be mixed with the good-tasting ingredients to produce a delicious final
product.
God
can be trusted to take even the bitter experiences of life and blend them
together and make them work together for good. God knows which ingredients are
needed
and he knows how to mix them to produce the desired result. ── Michael
P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Wilson Johnson
the founder
of Holiday Inn motels
once said
“When I was forty years old I worked in a
sawmill. One morning the boss told me I was fired. Depressed and discouraged
I
felt like the world had caved in. When I told my wife what had happened
she
asked me what I was going to do. I replied
‘I’m going to mortgage our little
home and go into the building business.’ My first venture was the construction
of two small buildings. Within five years I was a multimillionaire! At the time
it happened
I didn’t understand why I was fired. Later
I saw that it was
God’s unerring and wondrous plan to get me into the way of his choosing.” ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
In his Bible
an elderly
minister carried a bookmark that was made of silk threads woven into a motto.
The back of the bookmark was a tangled web of crossed threads that seemed to be
without reason or purpose. When the minister visited a home or hospital room
where there was great trouble
sorrow
or death
he would frequently show the
bookmark
first presenting the reverse side with all its unintelligible tangle.
When the distressed one had examined it intently without finding any meaning to
the seeming disorder
the minister would ask him to turn the fabric over.
Immediately
against a white silk background
there appeared a phrase in
colored threads: “God Is Love.” That side made sense; it had order and meaning.
So
it is in life. We often experience events that seem to be without explanation
or meaning
like a maze of tangled threads. But when we are face to face with
Christ and can view our life from eternity
we will see that every detail-good
and bad
pleasant and unpleasant-was woven together to show us that indeed “God
Is Love.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Hudson Taylor
founder of
the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship)
was talking
to a young missionary who was about to start work in China. “Look at this
”
Taylor said and then proceeded to pound his fist on the table. The tea cups
jumped
and the tea was spilled. While the startled young man was wondering
what was going on
Taylor said
“When you begin your work
you will be buffeted
in numerous ways. The trials will be like blows. Remember
these blows will
bring out only what is in you.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
At a cross-country
steeplechase exhibition
one horse suddenly shied away from a hurdle and ran
into a barbed-wire fence. The results were disaster
as the rider was taken by ambulance
to a hospital and the bleeding horse remained ensnarled in the wire until the
slow process of cutting it away was completed.
The
underlying tragedy was seen in the fact that the jump was a low one
which the
horse could have easily cleared. Yet the horse apparently took the fence to be
an opening in the course and thus an escape from the obstacle.
How
we as believers are often like that foolish horse! When faced with
difficulties
do we look for the way out rather than trusting in God’s provision?
Do we break for the open at the first opportunity
only to find that we have
become ensnared and that our present difficulty is far worse than the one we
sought to avoid? ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
A Malayan boy
after having
become a Christian
found himself in the midst of a truly demonic attack in the
early weeks of his new Christian walk. Allah had been put behind him and the
occult practices that had been woven together with this former Moslem faith had
been turned from
but his Christian faith was like a tiny child’s first steps.
This
boy went through demon activity
which he had experienced before in his life
and his call went forth to God
“Oh
God
help me.” However
since there was no
immediate
visible change
the boy fell into the trap Satan had set for him.
“It isn’t working!” was the cry of his heart
and his old reaction pattern came
forth: “I’ll try this
and this…” And so next
he called
“Allah be praised!”
and then used some Arabic words in a “magic” formula handed down for
generations.
The
young Christian did not yet know that superstitious “crossing your fingers” is
not a sign of faith. He was later to learn the joy and freedom of trusting the
power of God alone. Faith asks not in unbelief
but in belief without doubting.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Have you ever seen someone
break a mustang? When a three-year-old horse who has never had a saddle on his
back first feels a saddle
it must be a frightening experience. Some horses
will react with anger
rearing back and trying to get away-even striking out
with their forefeet at their trainer. Their nostrils flare
their eyeballs
roll
and they panic! Others will just stand there
trembling
shaking like a
leaf. They won’t move; they’re so afraid. They don’t know what’s happening to
them.
Immature
Christians respond to trials like wild horses. Some panic and cry out to the
Lord
“What’s gone wrong?” Others just freeze and do nothing. Mature Christians
are like horses who have learned to trust their trainer. They sense what is
happening and respond to it by submitting to the hand of their master
knowing
that he will do them no wrong. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
Trials are not to our
detriment but add to our growth. For example
consider the kite flyer. He must
take in hand the string of his kite and run until the kite lifts up into the
heavens. But he will not reach his goal of a flying kite if there is no wind.
Every kite flyer knows that wind is necessary for flying kites. But note that
kites do not rise with the wind but rise against it. So it is with trials. The
Christian will not ascend to patience and maturity unless he ascends against
trials. Do trials make you soar above
or just plain sore? ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
A carpenter hired to help
restore an old farmhouse had just finished up a rough first day on the job. A
flat tire had made him lose an hour of work
his electric saw quit
and now his
ancient pickup refused to start.
As
he rode home with a friend
he sat in stony silence. On arriving
as he walked
toward the front door
he paused briefly at a small tree
touching the tips of
the branches with both hands. Then
opening the door
he underwent an amazing
transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two
small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Why
the transformation? The tree in his yard was his “trouble tree.” He knew he
couldn’t avoid having troubles on the job
but one thing was for sure-troubles
didn’t belong in the house with his wife and children. So he just hung his
troubles on the tree every night when he came home and
in the morning
picked
them up again. The funny thing was that when he came out in the morning to
collect his troubles
there weren’t nearly as many as he remembered hanging up
the night before. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
A lot of Christians have an
ejection-seat mentality. As soon as they get into difficulty
they want to pull
the ejection cord and zip off into glory
hoping to get away from it all. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
No pharmacist ever weighed
out medicine with half as much care and exactness as God weighs out every trial
he dispenses. Not one gram too much does he ever permit to be put on us. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
In 1895
Andrew Murray was
in England suffering from a terribly painful back
the result of an injury he
had incurred years before. One morning while he was eating breakfast in his
room
his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble and
wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper
he had been writing on and said
“Give her this advice I’m writing down for
myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
“In
time of trouble
say
‘First
he brought me here. It is by his will I am in
this strait place; in that I will rest.’ Next
‘He will keep me here in his
love
and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.’ Then say
‘He
will make the trial a blessing
teaching me lessons he intends me to learn
and
working in me the grace he means to bestow.’ And last
say
‘In his good time
he can bring me out again. How and when
he knows.’ Therefore
say ‘I am here
(1) by God’s appointment
(2) in his keeping
(3) under his training
(4) for
his time.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Testing──But If Not
God
is able to deliver
From
my weariness and pain
And
he will deliver swiftly
If
it be for lasting gain;
But
if not-my heart shall sing
Trusting
wholly in my King.
God
is able to supply me
With
abundance from his store
And
he will supply my table
Though
the wolf be at the door;
But
if not-my heart shall rest
In
the thought “He knoweth best.”
God
is able to defend my
From
my foes who throng around
And
he will defend me surely
When
their rage and hate abound;
But
if not-I’ll bless his name
And
confess him just the same.
God
is able to save dear ones
From
the world and self and sin
And
he will both save and keep them
In
his fold safe gathered in;
But
if not-he’ll hold my hand
Teaching
me to understand.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Purpose of Testing
He sat by a furnace of
sevenfold heat
As
he watched by the precious ore;
And
closer he bent
with a searching gaze
As
he heated it more and more.
He
knew he had ore that could stand the test;
And
he wanted the finest of gold—
To
mold as a crown for the King to wear;
Set
with gems of a price untold.
So
he laid our gold in the burning fire
Though
we fain would have said him nay;
And
he watched the dross that we had not seen
As
it melted and passed away.
And
the gold grew brighter
and yet more bright;
But
our eyes were so dim with tears
We
saw but the fire-not the Master’s hand—
And
questioned with anxious fears.
Yet
our gold shone out with a richer glow
As
it mirrored a form above
That
bent o’er the fire-though unseen by us—
With
looks of ineffable love.
Can
we think it pleases his loving heart
To
cause us a moment’s pain?
Ah!
No
but he saw through the present loss
The
bliss of eternal gain.
So
he waited there with a watchful eye
With
a love that is strong and sure;
And
his gold did not suffer a whit more heat
Than
was needed to make it pure.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s Help in Trials
When God wants to drill a
man
And
thrill a man
And
skill a man;
When
God wants to mold a man
To
play the noblest part
When
he yearns with all his heart
To
create so great and bold a man
That
all the world shall be amazed
Watch
his methods
watch his ways—
Whom
he royally elects.
How
he hammers him and hurts him
And
with mighty blows
converts him
Into
trial shapes of clay
Which
only God understands
While
his tortured heart is crying
And
he lifts beseeching hands.
How
he bends but never breaks
When
his good he undertakes.
How
he uses whom he chooses
And
with every purpose
fuses him
By
every act
induces him
To
try his splendor out.
God
knows what he’s about.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
In South Africa
naturist
club owner Beau Brummell was irked by accusations from morals watchdogs that a
shriveling Transvaal drought was brought on the the "sin" of nude
togetherness at his 1000-acre farm. So he asked his 370 visitors to get
dressed. And
for the first time in two months
it poured rain. "It's
enough to make me become a monk!" Brummell said.
Ingrid Norton in Rand
Daily Mail
Johannesburg.
It is not the severity of
punishment that acts as a deterrent. It is its inevitability.
John Endsley.
Distrust all in whom the
impulse to punish is powerful.
Friedrich Nietzsche.
Once there was a man who
was such a golf addict that he was neglecting his job. Frequently he would call
in sick as an excuse to play.
One morning
after making
his usual call to the office
an angel up above spotted him on the way to the
golf course and decided to teach him a lesson. "If you play golf today
you will be punished
" the angel whispered in his ear.
Thinking it was only his
conscience
which he had successfully whipped in the past
the fellow just
smiled. "No
" he said
"I've been doing this for years. No one
will ever know. I won't be punished."
The angel said no more and
the fellow stepped up to the first tee where he promptly whacked the ball 300
yards straight down the middle of the fairway. Since he had never driven the
ball more than 200 yards
he couldn't believe it. Yet
there it was. And his
luck continued. Long drives on every hole
perfect putting. By the ninth hole
he was six under par and was playing near-perfect golf. The fellow was walking
on air. He wound up with an amazing 61
about 30 strokes under his usual game.
Wait until he got back to the office and told them about this! But
suddenly
his face fell. He couldn't tell them. He could never tell anyone. The angel smiled.
Bits & Pieces
August 22
1991.