Acceptance of God's Dispensations
Accepting God's dispensations allows us to rejoice in all circumstances and trust in His love.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of rejoicing in Christ always, even in the midst of trials and challenges, finding joy and peace in His presence. She emphasizes the need to accept the circumstances appointed by God, trusting in His love and wisdom, and finding strength in patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Tileston highlights that mental discomfort arises when our minds are not aligned with God's will, and encourages accepting all events with the knowledge that God is love, even when they seem contradictory to our understanding.
Text
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
--COLOSSIANS 1:11
REJOICE in Christ always!
When earth looks heavenly bright,
When joy makes glad the livelong day,
And peace shuts in the night.
Rejoice, when care and woe
The fainting soul oppress,
When tears at wakeful midnight flow,
And morn brings heaviness.
--JOHN MOULTRIE
A GREAT point is gained when we have learned not to struggle against the circumstances God has appointed for us.
--H. L. SIDNEY LEAR
All mental discomfort comes from our minds being in divergence from God's; when the two are agreed no warfare occurs, for they work together, and man's mind accepts God's rule, but reason tells us that disagreement must bring conflicts. He will have His way, and would have us accept all events with the knowledge that He is love, whatever and however contradictory those events may be to our comprehension of Him.
--CHARLES GEORGE GORDON
Something is wrong, when the Christian cannot rejoice in all the dear dispensations of his Father's providence.
--ISABELLA CAMPBELL, 1825
Sermon Outline
- Accepting God's Dispensations
- Understanding the source of mental discomfort
- The importance of accepting God's rule
- The role of faith in rejoicing in all circumstances
Key Quotes
“A GREAT point is gained when we have learned not to struggle against the circumstances God has appointed for us.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Something is wrong, when the Christian cannot rejoice in all the dear dispensations of his Father's providence.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“All mental discomfort comes from our minds being in divergence from God's; when the two are agreed no warfare occurs, for they work together, and man's mind accepts God's rule,” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should strive to accept and trust in God's plan, even when it's difficult to understand.
- Faith allows us to rejoice in all circumstances, even when they're difficult or unexpected.
- Mental discomfort comes from our minds being in divergence from God's will.