While in the discharge of duty to the best of our ability, and
when apparently we have the Lord's blessing and favor upon us
and our affairs in a most marked degree, suddenly trouble may
arise, adversity come, the powers of darkness seem to triumph,
and for a moment we may be apparently culprits in the judgment
of our fellow-men, and apparently forsaken by Divine providence.
Such experiences, doubtless, are needful to us; for though we
may sing:
"I would rather walk in the dark with God, Than go alone
in the light",
yet this might be but an empty boast unless
we were put through the trying experiences which would develop
such faith, trust, as would hold to the Lord's hand, and trust
Divine providence in the darkest hour.
The Christian life is one of contrasted experiences, and amid these contrasted experiences the Christian must keep himself in the love of God and in the hatred of selfishness. No amount of love, honor or praise should sway him from loyalty to God, and no amount of dishonor, disrepute or false accusation should mar his heart and change him to a reprobate. Loyalty to righteousness under all circumstances is his slogan, which must finally triumph.
Acts 20:17-35; 24:16; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 2:1-8; 3:5-15; 4:1-4, 9-16; 9:12-23; 2 Cor. 2:12-17; 3:1-12; 4; 5:11-21; 6:1-12; 1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 13:7.
