The mark of a new creature in Christ is not having a better heart, for that remains the same as ever, but looking at everything as having God for the center, and not judging things as though man were the center.
It is seeing where God is, looking down deeper to the springs of love in God, flowing to us through Christ the fountain and all one spirit with the Lord.
How different are God’s thoughts from man’s as to walk! God looks at the One He raised up and says, “I have not a word against those who believe in Him; their guilt has been all rolled away; they are one spirit with Him whom I love up here; He is the head; those poor things down there are as His hands and feet: I love them and have given them one spirit with My Son.”
Are these God’s thoughts about us? Yes, and if we would only make them our thoughts too, we should have bright faces and happy hearts passing through this wilderness.
What then were all my adverse circumstances? What all that tries me? If God be for me, what is all that is against me? The primitive Christians, when spoiled of their goods, took it joyfully; they lost everything, gave up everything and had power to go forth with happy hearts, rejoicing in the Lord. Every necessity in us is only something for God to find grace in Christ to meet for our blessing.
G. V. Wigram