WHERE ARE YOUR AFFECTIONS?

"You become followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

The more steady the glass of understanding is, where the light of truth is beamed upon our affections, the sooner they are set on fire: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" the disciples asked on the Emmaus Road Luke 24:32. No doubt they had already heard Christ preach what He was saying now, but they had never been so completely satisfied as when He opened their understanding and Scriptures together.

The sun sends influence and warmth into the earth even when the light does not shed visible beams upon it. But the Sun of righteousness gives His influence only where His light comes to spread truth into our understanding. And as a Christian abides under these wings, a kind of heart-quickening heat is kindled in his heart. While the Holy Spirit is a comforter, He is also a convincer: He comforts us by teaching us.

The eye directs the foot-- a man cannot walk safely unless he can see where he is going. Nor can he walk when the earth quakes under his feet. The principles we have in our understanding are the ground our behavior moves upon; if they shift, our actions will stagger too. It is as impossible for a shaking hand to write a straight line as it is for a faltering judgment to exhibit acceptable behavior. The apostle links steadfastness and immovableness with "abounding in the work of the Lord" 1 Corinthians 15:58.

The Gospel came to the Thessalonians "in much assurance"-- that is, in evidence of its truth1 Thessalonians 1:5.. And notice how it prevailed in their everyday lives: "Ye become followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" (v. 6). They were assured that this doctrine was from God and that assurance carried them through times of affliction as well as rejoicing.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617