May 19We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves — Rom. 15:1
Principles may never be abandoned for any consideration; but liberties and personal rights may be ignored in the interest of others frequently and to Divine pleasing. The Apostle Paul was ready to go to any length in defense of principle (Gal. 2:5, 11), but in the sacrifice of his earthly rights and privileges and liberties for the sake of Christ and the Church, the Apostle evidently came next to our Lord Jesus and is a noble example to all the Church—Z '97, 75 (R 2118). Those who are weak put more or less of the weight of their burdens upon others, and those who are strong may very fittingly relieve the weak of a part of their too great weights, even if it be not to the pleasing of their human nature. This is the Law of Christ for us, that as He did not indulge Himself but bore the weakness of others, so should we bear the weaknesses of our brethren—P '32, 48. Parallel passages: Rom. 14; 15:2-7; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; 9:4-27; Gal. 2:20; 6:1; Matt. 16:24-26; 1 Thes. 5:10; 1 Pet. 4:2; 2 Cor. 5:15. Hymns: 191, 44, 134, 192, 198, 277, 279. Poems of Dawn, 289: God's Anvil. Tower Reading: Z '14, 309 (R 5555). Questions: Did I this week help the weak? How? Why? With what results? |
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GOD'S ANVIL
PAIN'S furnace-heat within me quivers,
God's breath upon the flame doth blow,
And all my heart in anguish shivers,
And trembles at the fiery glow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And in His hottest fire hold still.
He comes and lays my heart all heated,
On the hard anvil, minded so
Into His own fair shape to beat it,
With the great hammer, blow on blow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And at His heaviest blows hold still.
He takes my softened heart and beats it,
The sparks fly off at every blow;
He turns it o're and o're and heats it,
And lets it cool, and makes it glow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And in His mighty hands hold still.
Why should I murmur? For the sorrow
Thus only longer-lived would be;
It's end will come, and will, tomorrow,
When God has done His work in me;
So I say, trusting, As God will!
And trusting to the end, hold still.
He kindles, for my profit purely,
Affliction's glowing fiery brand,
And all His heaviest blows are surely
Inflicted by a master hand;
So I say, praying, As God will!
And hope in Him and suffer still.
PAIN'S furnace-heat within me quivers,
God's breath upon the flame doth blow,
And all my heart in anguish shivers,
And trembles at the fiery glow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And in His hottest fire hold still.
He comes and lays my heart all heated,
On the hard anvil, minded so
Into His own fair shape to beat it,
With the great hammer, blow on blow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And at His heaviest blows hold still.
He takes my softened heart and beats it,
The sparks fly off at every blow;
He turns it o're and o're and heats it,
And lets it cool, and makes it glow;
And yet I whisper, As God will!
And in His mighty hands hold still.
Why should I murmur? For the sorrow
Thus only longer-lived would be;
It's end will come, and will, tomorrow,
When God has done His work in me;
So I say, trusting, As God will!
And trusting to the end, hold still.
He kindles, for my profit purely,
Affliction's glowing fiery brand,
And all His heaviest blows are surely
Inflicted by a master hand;
So I say, praying, As God will!
And hope in Him and suffer still.