Ministries
Resources
Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for
today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)
Bible Verse
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12–13).
Devotional
Great is the glory brought to our incarnate God by the sanctified afflictions of his saints. How deep these often are, many can testify. And yet, the deeper the affliction, the deeper the glory. Behold the glory brought to God by Daniel in the den of lions. See God magnified by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. See the Lord exalted by Paul and Silas in the prison. And what is their history but a type of all the afflicted members of God's family? The Lord will be glorified in his people—therefore he afflicts, and tries, and chastens them.
"The LORD tests the righteous" (Ps. 11:5). He has his den, his prison, his furnace. He has his own mode—his appointed way—of proving his work in their hearts. Accordingly, whether by the lions' den, or the prison, or the furnace, he is glorified in them.
To see how Christ can shut the mouths of lions, and can soothe the devouring flame, and can unlock prison doors—how glorious his power thus appears! To notice the resigned will, the subdued spirit, the uncomplaining submission, the cheerful compliance in the deepest affliction—how glorious thus appears his grace! To behold the daily strength imparted, the precious promises applied, the soothing comfort experienced—how glorious thus appears his love! To see the chaff scattered, and the dross consumed, and the mind brought into perfect harmony with God's will; to say with David, "I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me" (Ps. 131:2)—how glorious thus appears his wisdom!
Oh, if these are the blessings which blossom upon the rod, then welcome the rod! If this is the glory brought to the name of Jesus by a process of sanctified affliction, then welcome the affliction! Only, make sure that he is truly glorified in you by it. See that he is glorified, while you are in the furnace, by your passive graces. See that he is glorified, when you come out of the furnace, by your active graces. "When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold" (Job 23:10).
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
you who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
"E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."
("K" in Rippon's Selection, 1787)
Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.
Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.
© 2025 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
