Through the Refining Fires of Affliction to the New Life of Spiritual Spring:
REST, VESSEL. ~ “Requies, Vas.” ~ A VESSEL RESTS.
Has God Our Sovereign Savior allowed unfathomable pain in your life beyond human utterance? If so, take refuge in His paradoxical, great divine work of love and grace. When fiery afflictions come, He is our only hiding place.
God Our Sovereign Savior, In Proverbs 4:20-23 You instruct, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
STANZA 5
•Completely surrendered, I teach and serve,
Living Sacrifices to God 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
God’s people are to respond to His grace with the thanksgiving and offering required of those who have knowledge of His gospel. Our behavior toward and relationships with others are to be completely surrendered, reflecting the sacrificial life of Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)
•Watching and praying that I might discern
Submit to God, Resist the Devil35 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5:5-11
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25
Just as the believers’ alertness to the schemes of our adversary is essential, so is knowing: “God bestows help and strength sufficient for every occasion and need.” (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: I Peter 5:8, 10) Watching, praying, and caring for others with God’s encouraging words combats isolation and despair. (I Peter 5:5-11; Proverbs 12:25)
•God’s consolation of rest for each soul,
Triumph in Christ14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
The good news of Christ’s victory proclaimed for the glory of God through our lives as true believers is a pleasant fragrance, providing soul rest and Godly consolation to those who spiritually perceive it. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
•My suff’ring to steward to soothe somes’ woes.
Comfort in Suffering3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1:3-4
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1:26
“All consolation and encouragement in the world has its origin in God Himself…God has a sovereign purpose both in our troubles and in the comfort that He gives us in them. If we have experienced God’s comfort in suffering, we may be able to support others whose sufferings are like ours.” We can soothe the suffering of others with pure, sacrificial love as we remember that “the importance of well-chosen words, a common wisdom theme, is highlighted by their comparison with objects of fine craftsmanship.” (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: I Corinthians 1:3-4; Proverbs 25:11) ( I Corinthians 1:3-4; Proverbs 25:11; 2 Samuel 1:26)
