Ye are in heaviness…
1 Peter 1:6 KJV
There is a near relationship between the darkness of mind in the wilderness state and heaviness of soul, which is more common among believers. The resemblance is so great that they are frequently confounded together. But they are not equivalent terms; far, far from it. The difference is so wide and essential, as all the children of God need to understand, to prevent them sliding out of heaviness into darkness.
The manner of persons to whom the apostle Peter wrote the above words were believers at that time. He expressly says (v. 5) you are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Again (v. 7), he mentions the trial of their faith; and yet again (v. 9) he speaks of their receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. So, though they were in heaviness, they were possessed of living faith. Their heaviness did not destroy their faith. Neither did it destroy their peace, which is inseparable from true, living faith. The apostle prays (v. 2) not that grace and peace may be given them, but that it may be multiplied.
They were also full of a living hope. For he speaks (v. 3) of their living hope of their inheritance that fadeth not away. In spite of all their heaviness, they still retained a hope full of immortality. And they still rejoiced (v. 
with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Their heaviness, then, was also consistent both with living hope and inexpressible joy!
- How to Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer; Barbour Publishing, 2007.
May those whom we have encountered this week be a witness to us of how to bear the heaviness of life and yet live with hope and joy.
Grace and peace be with you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment