In the day of adversity, consider!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~


(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"In the day of adversity, consider!" Ecclesiastes 7:14

In your adversity, consider:
  That you deserve it all!
  That, had you nothing but adversity, it only were your due!
  That every moment free from trouble, is a mercy!
  That had the full curse been poured on you--your life would be nothing but sorrow and vexation!

Consider that God afflicts you for your profit--to bring your sins to mind, and lead you to the Cross. Believer, God chastens you in love, to make you a partaker of His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10.) How often have you forgotten Him! But He never forgets you--and thus He chastens you.

Consider, how much you live for the world--how little you live for the Lord!
Consider how earthly, sensual, and devilish is your nature!
Consider your thoughts--how vain!
Consider your service--how unprofitable!
Consider, then, God's love in chastening you.

Are you in sickness--then consider your many days of former health--all undeserved by you! Consider your many helps in trouble, God's presence, and His grace--all undeserved by you!

In sleepless nights, consider how many nights you have slept soundly and sweetly--all undeserved by you! Consider Him, who gives you songs in the night--all undeserved by you!

In poverty, consider how all your former needs have been supplied--food, clothing, lodging, and so many comforts--all undeserved by you!

Have you incurred the loss of sight or hearing; loss of limbs, or power of using them? Consider, then, your former powers; how much enjoyment you have had in seeing, hearing, moving, handling--all undeserved by you!

O tried believer, consider, then, that your afflictions are light--and they are but for a moment. They are all ordered in divine wisdom, tenderness, and love! Consider Jesus! what sufferings He endured--all for unworthy you! Then faint not, nor be weary, but consider your "eternal weight of glory"--glory "that far outweighs" all your woes--glory, all undeserved by you!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all! So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~