Romans 8:17 tells us, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” The term “profit and loss” is reversed in the Christian life to “loss and profit.” The principle never varies: our losses are all in the realm of the old, never the new.
Every loss in the life of self brings greater gain and profit in the new—our life in Christ. And, conversely, every gain for the self-life is loss for our growth and His glory.
As we read in Philippians 3:7, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” It is not the design of God to deprive His children of happiness, but only to pour the cup of bitterness into that happiness which the believer has in anything outside of Christ.
Everything that tries us, that is a check upon us, that causes exercise of heart, and makes us sensible of weakness in ourselves, is of the nature of chastisement (that is, child-training).
It may come in the way of difficulties in the path of faith; or in the shape of such trials and sorrows as are common to all men—loss of property, loss of health, or bereavement; or it may be as the governmental consequences of sin; but in one way or other all have it.
It is ‘for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness’ (Hebrews 12:10). That is, it serves to break down that which is not of God in us, that the life of the Lord Jesus might be made manifest.”
As we read in Job 23:10, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”
