Jesus said, “Ye shall have tribu lation” (v. 33 KJV)—not difficulties, but tribulation. But “tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3 KJV).

Millstones are used to grind the corn to powder , and they typify the sacredness of the discipline of life.

“No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’ s life to pledge” (Deuteronomy 24:6 KJV).

You have been having a snug time in the granary; then God brings you out and puts you under the mills tones, and the first thing that happens is the grinding separat ion of which our Lord spoke: “Blessed are you when people . . . exclude you and . . . reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). Crushed forever is any resemblance to the other crowd.

Hands off! when God is putting His saints through the experience of the millstones. We are apt to want to interfere in the discipline of another saint.

Do not hinder the production of the bread that is to feed the world!

In the East the women sing as they grind the corn betw een the millstones. “The sound of the millstones is music in the ears of God.” It is not music to the worldling, but the saint understands that His Father has a purpose in it all.

Ill-tempered persons, hard circumstances, poverty , willful misunderstandings, and estrangements are all millstones. Had Jesus any of these things in His life? Had He not! He had a devil in His company for three years! He was continua lly thwarted and misundersto od by the Pharisees. And is the disciple above his Master?

When these experiences come, remember that God has His eye on every detail.

But beware! lest the tiniest elem ent of self-pity keeps God from putting us anywhere near the millstones. O SWALD CHAMBERS