Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." Ephesians 4:31
". . . all things wok together for good. . . . " Romans 8:28
It was my privilege for several years to work with Rev. Wendell P. Loveless when we were both at the Moody Bible Institute station, WMBI, Chicago. I recall how he used to tell about the delicious cake which Mrs. Loveless often baked for him. He said, "My wife can make the best chocolate cake of anyone I know. I thought one day that I would go into the kitchen to see what wonderful ingredients she put into the batter. First she sifted out some flour - this did not appeal to me at all, for it was dry and unappetizing. Then she put in some sour milk - I certainly would not have wanted to partake of that by itself, for it would have turned my stomach. Then to make matters worse, she threw into the whole untasty mess of ingredients a raw egg! By this time I was not too sure whether I liked chocolate cake or not. I left just as she was popping it into to the oven. To my surprise - that evening her 'masterpiece' was as delicious as any I had ever had before! I saw in the whole thing a parable. In this life we often experience many dry stretches (like the flour) which are tasteless and uninviting; we also have sour experiences (like the milk); and even a few raw deals (like the egg), but after we have gone through the furnace of affliction (the oven), praise God - reverently speaking - it will all be chocolate cake over there!"
I have never forgotten that illustration, for it was certainly Scriptural. Each thing as it comes may seem undesirable and uninviting, but when it is mixed together with the love and providence of God it works for our eternal good. In that assurance may we continue courageously onward with our eyes fixed on Jesus, and with our wills resigned to His precious leading. As Christians we may rest assured that the words of old are comfortingly true: "God in love averts all evil, or otherwise it turns it to our profit!"
"Bread For Each Day"
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