Believer, are you suffering through some type of physical ailment? Know that, as mentioned this morning God shows mercy. Though we all eventually get there, not all illness ends in death. Unfortunately, illness is part and parcel of living in a fallen world, and though we may ask, God does not always take it from us; physical healing is not, as many teach, promised nor guaranteed in this life, and failure to receive healing does not imply a lack of faith.

Timothy, who was like a son to Paul, suffered stomach issues and "frequent ailments." Yet instead of miraculously healing him or telling Timothy to claim His healing, Paul instructed him to stop drinking only water and drink some wine (1 Timothy 5:23).

Paul himself struggled with an "thorn in his side" (some say spiritual, but there is indication in context and elsewhere that he suffered physically), and though He asked God three times to take it from him, God told Paul that His grace was sufficient. Paul recognized this as God allowing his suffering to keep him humble (2 Cor. 12:7-10). He understood that our continued faith, despite our physical weakness, shows forth God's strength and glory.

Illness (and even death) can also be the result of sharing in the Lord's supper in "an unworthy manner," forgetting to sit in judgement over ourselves so that we will not face greater judgement (1 Cor. 11:23-32).

Whatever the case, whatever the illness, whatever the cause, whether healed or not, if we are true to the faith, the end result will be God's glory.

Will you, like Paul, stand firm in your faith and glorify God in your weakness?
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Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, August 17

"This sickness is not unto death." John 11:4

From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of His people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat.

1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of Him who numbers the hairs of our head.

2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard- the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.

3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child"; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that He who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation.

Oh saint, let us ever remember the mercies of God, the mercies without which no one would be saved. He tells us that "He did not save us on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5). While we put behind us what is in the past, and press forward toward the goal, let us never forget His tender mercies by which we sinners were made saints and citizens of His kingdom. Let us think on and thank Him for the mercies he bestows on us daily and ever say with the Psalmist:

"The LORD is gracious and merciful;
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
The LORD is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works."
- Psalm 145:8-9
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Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, August 17

"The mercy of God." Psalm 52:8

Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy. There is nothing little in God; His mercy is like Himself- it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner's part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. It is rich mercy. Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart. It is manifold mercy. As Bunyan says, "All the flowers in God's garden are double." There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies. It is abounding mercy. Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever. It is unfailing mercy. It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.