The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation
The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. 2 Cor. 1:3- 4.
GOD’S family is a sorrowing family, “I have chosen you,” He says, “in the furnace of affliction.” “I will leave in the midst of you a poor and an afflicted people.” The history of the Church finds its fittest emblem in the burning yet unconsumed bush which Moses saw. Man is “born to sorrows;” but the believer is “appointed thereunto.” It would seem to be a condition inseparable from his high calling.
If he is a “chosen vessel,” it is, as we have just seen, “in the furnace of affliction.” If he is an adopted child, “chastening” is the mark. If he is journeying to the heavenly kingdom, his path lies through “much tribulation.” If he is a follower of Jesus, it is to “go unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.” But, if his sufferings abound, much more so do his consolations. To be comforted by God may well reconcile us to any sorrow with which it may please our heavenly Father to invest us.
God comforts His sorrowful ones with the characteristic love of a mother. See the tenderness with which that mother alleviates the suffering and soothes the sorrow of her mourning one. So does God comfort His mourners. Oh, there is a tenderness and a delicacy of feeling in God’s comforts which distances all expression. There is no harsh reproof—no unkind upbraiding—no unveiling of the circumstances of our calamity to the curious and unfeeling eye—no artless exposure of our case to an ungodly and censorious world; but with all the tender feeling of a mother, God, even our Father, comforts the sorrowful ones of His people. He comforts in all the varied and solitary griefs of their hearts.
God meets our case in every sorrow. To Him, in prayer, we may uncover our entire hearts; to His confidence we may entrust our profoundest secrets; upon His love repose our most delicate sorrows; to His ear confess our deepest departures; before His eye spread out our greatest sins. Go, then, and breathe your sorrows into God’s heart, and He will comfort you. Blessed sorrow! if in the time of your bereavement, your grief, and your solitude, you are led to Jesus, making Him your Savior, your Friend, your Counselor, and your Shield.
Blessed loss! if it be compensated by a knowledge of God, if you find in Him a Father now, to whom you will transfer your ardent affections—upon whom you will repose your bleeding heart. But let your heart be true with Him. Love Him, obey Him, confide in Him, serve Him, live for Him; and in all the unknown, untrodden, unveiled future of your history, a voice shall gently whisper in your ear—”As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.”
Otavius Winslow
How diametrically opposed are these words of Octavius Winslow in comparison to the lie that is preached by the Television ‘Evangelists’, those of the ‘Word-Faith movement, the Assemblies of God etc.
Who would desire a message on the ‘Furnace of affliction’ in OUR day? The message that is in demand is – “God wants you to be healthy, wealthy and prosperous”! Oh what a lie from the pit of Hell!
Brother Winslow is only reiterating what His Master taught 2000 years ago –
“Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your
consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger!
Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep!
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets! [Luke 6:24-26]
“Have you heard of brother Paul Yonggi Cho”?, someone asks me, “He has got the largest Church in the world”! I answer: “First of all, if you think Yonggi Cho is a ‘brother’ then there is a marvelous blindness upon you, secondly if you think the crowd following him is a ‘Church’ then you need to be born-again”!
The same can be said of Kenneth Copeland, the Osteen’s, Benny Hinn, and hordes of other popular wolves in sheep’s clothing!
“THEY are of the WORLD: therefore speak they of the world, and the WORLD heareth them. WE are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” [1John 4:5,6]
But praise God for Octavius Winslow, J.C. Philpot, A.W. Pink and many other unknowns, who have told us the truth as it is in Jesus Christ!
You know Mike, the older I get, the more I appreciate the encouragment these writers bring.
Winslow’s writing is just beautiful. This is so encouraging.
Thanks for sending it to me this morning Diane.
Reblogged this on Music from Broken Chords and commented:
Wonderful post from Dawn Marie at “Take a look”. The God of all Comfort, who Comforts us in all our tribulation by Octavius Winslow.
Reblogged this on Diapsalmata and commented:
“To be comforted by God may well reconcile us to any sorrow with which it may please our heavenly Father to invest us [God's investment = sure and certain reward; He WILL begin the work He started!]… There is no harsh reproof—no unkind upbraiding—no unveiling of the circumstances of our calamity to the curious and unfeeling eye—no artless exposure of our case to an ungodly and censorious world; but with all the tender feeling of a mother, God, even our Father, comforts the sorrowful ones of His people. He comforts in all the varied and solitary griefs of their hearts.
God meets our case in every sorrow. To Him, in prayer, we may uncover our entire hearts; to His confidence we may entrust our profoundest secrets; upon His love repose our most delicate sorrows; to His ear confess our deepest departures; before His eye spread out our greatest sins. Go, then, and breathe your sorrows into God’s heart, and He will comfort you. Blessed sorrow! if in the time of your bereavement, your grief, and your solitude, you are led to Jesus, making Him your Savior, your Friend, your Counselor, and your Shield.
Blessed loss! if it be compensated by a knowledge of God, if you find in Him a Father now, to whom you will transfer your ardent affections—upon whom you will repose your bleeding heart. But let your heart be true with Him. Love Him, obey Him, confide in Him, serve Him, live for Him; and in all the unknown, untrodden, unveiled future of your history, a voice shall gently whisper in your ear—”As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.”
I just love post… so beautiful, so timely.
Found this gem via ‘onegivengrace’ and am very thankful! Blessings!
Good afternoon Petra. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. Have a great rest of the week!