the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Let not your heart be troubled. John 14:1. I will turn their mourning Into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Revelation 3:19.
He who believes that Jesus loves him, has no reason to mourn because of any disaster or suffering with the exception of sin; sin is the greatest disaster and suffering and truly deserves mourning. Yet even the ’mourning" because of sin should not lead to despair, but to faith; for the sinner, as soon as he mourns because of his sins, may rest assured that Jesus, the Friend of sinners, loves him, seeks him, will receive and accept him, pardon and save him. Should not that cause joy? Besides, nothing of a discouraging nature befalls us since sorrow is sent us in love and wisdom by Him who strikes only that He may heal, and slays only that He may give life. These are chastenings of pure love, which should drive us nearer to Him, and unite us closer with Him. We are bad children. We do not follow God and His Word; therefore He must bring us home with the rod. If we come at once and realize His love, the chastisement ceases at once. Your mourning should therefore not darken to you the love of Jesus, for in that case it becomes a black cloud of hell. If you are mourning, then think: Jesus loves me and seeks me; for that reason He chastises me. I am not close enough to Him, therefore will He draw me closer to Himself. He will love me more than I have hitherto permitted Him to do.
I cannot call affliction sweet;
And yet ’twas good to bear:
Affliction brought me to Thy feet.
And I found comfort there.
Then, O my soul, to Jesus flee;
To Him thy woes reveal!
His eye alone thy wounds can see.
His hand alone can heal.
