Whatever imperfections were in Abraham, whatever his haltings and stumblings, he never settled down, as to purpose, into half-hearted obedience; so if any child of God, howsoever he may fail, have a steady, fixed purpose to please God, he will surely become strong in faith at the last. All the children of God receive Christ as Redeemer from curse and wrath; but they do not all take Him for their portion and inheritance: if we do this, we cannot fail to be witnesses for Him, and lights in this dark world. Cares Have you one anxious thought you do not bring to Jesus? Have you one care you deem too light, too small, to lay before Him? It is then too small to give you one moment's concern. Either cast your care (great or small) upon Him that careth for you, or cast it away from you altogether: if it be unfit for His sympathy, it is unworthy of you. (1 Peter 5:7.) If we examine the troubles of God's children, we shall find that too many of them arise from unbelieving fears concerning the future; let me but remember that Christ, at the right hand of God, counts all _my_ troubles _His own_; and then away with all my fears concerning the morrow! It is only at the Mercy-seat we may lawfully think of the morrow. Chastisement To quarrel with the instruments God used for our correction is to quarrel with God Himself. It is, in fact, to say to Him, "I do not approve of Thy government, and I could order matters better if they were left to me." What is this but to aim at casting down God from His throne, and setting ourselves thereon? Though the Lord often spares reproof, He never spares commendation. He is slow to anger; He makes haste to be gracious. (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 40:13.) Jacob underwent discipline and chastisement for upwards of fifty years, for the withering in him the evil root of the spirit of unbelieving contrivance. God blesses His child, and in His very love withholds not the rod of correction. The pain that God's discipline gives us shows its wisdom: it is the diseased part that _feels_ under the surgeon's hand. God never puts us to shame before the world, or even before the church, unless we compel Him. The Lord always deals with us according to the state of our souls. How small the knowledge of God that Job would have attained to, but for the deep and marvellous discipline whereby he was sifted and taught! When we deal with God in prayer about the difficulties of our path, we must not set Him a time for clearing away those difficulties, but wait upon Him, who accepts the sacrifice of our willing hearts. The Lord's jewels need grinding, and cutting, and polishing. Why forget? It is not of necessity that a child of God beginning well goes on well; but if he take good heed to his ways—according to Psalm 119., 2 Peter 1:5-7, and like Scriptures—he will surely run well to the end of his race.