There is divine wisdom in every trial, and divine love in every cross!

(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

Jesus is infinitely wise and immutably holy, therefore His love is a wise and holy love. He wisely manifests His love, so as to . . .
  discountenance sin,
  encourage holiness, and
  further His people in their heavenly way and work. He . . .
visits in trials,
reproves for folly,
smites for sin, and
withholds the light of His countenance, to testify His disapprobation of our ways—and yet, all this is in love!

He will not caress the believer, when he is indulging in pride, worldliness and backsliding from Him. Those whom He loves, He wisely corrects! He never spares the rod, to the spoiling of the child—but says, "I will correct you in measure, but will not leave you wholly unpunished."

His wisdom and holiness shine in every part of His works, but in none more than in His dealings with His people. Was He less wise, we might have more comfort—but it would injure us. Was He less holy, we might have fewer trials—but we would assuredly be losers. Divine love, wisdom, and holiness combined, drew the plan of the Christian's lot; and the same divine love, wisdom, and holiness, executes that plan.

All the wisdom of Deity, under the guidance of Almighty love, shines in our path, our portion and our circumstances; and when we enjoy the clear light of eternity, we shall see that this was the case. O if we really believed this now, how different would be our feelings and our practices often! How quietly would we submit to every painful dispensation of divine providence; how cheerfully would we acquiesce in every intimation of our Father's will; and how readily would we take the cup which He has prepared for us, and drink it saying, "The cup which my heavenly Father gives me, shall I not drink it?"

There is divine wisdom in every trial, and divine love in every cross! Holiness and wisdom in Jesus, demand that our way should at times be hedged up with thorns. The infinite love of Jesus, shines in every painful discipline. He is no indulgent parent, no foolish friend, no unholy companion; He will not tempt us to evil, nor with evil; neither will He indulge us to our injury. He would rather close His ears to our cries, than His heart to our best interests. And the day is coming when we shall see that all our trials were needful, and not a trial could have been omitted, consistently with the wisdom and holiness of His love. May His love shed abroad in my heart, lead me to love, seek, and pant for holiness!