“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content; whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” Philippians 4:11-12
Paul knew how to manage in every state–he learned to be content whatever his circumstances. If he was in prosperity, he knew how to be thankful. If he was in adversity, he knew how to be patient. He was neither lifted up with prosperity, nor cast down with adversity.
A Christian should be content in any and every situation. Many are contented in someconditions–but not in every condition. They can be content in a wealthy state. When they have the streams of milk and honey–now they are content; but if the wind turns and is against them–now they are discontented. While they have a silver crutch to lean upon–they are contented; but if God breaks this crutch–now they are discontented.
Many would be content with their affliction–if God would allow them to pick and choose! They could better endure sickness–than poverty; or bear loss of estate–than loss of children. If they might have a cross of their own choosing, they would be content!
But a contented Christian does not desire to choose his cross–but leaves God to choose for him! He is content both for the kind of the afflictions, and the duration of the afflictions, which God gives him. A contented man says, “Let God apply whatever medicine He pleases, and let it lie on as long as He desires. I know when it has done its cure, and eaten the venom of sin out of my heart–that God will take it away!”
A contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God’s disposal, and cheerfully lives in whatever circumstances that God has placed him in. “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) He does not only submit to God’s dealings, but rejoices in them!
O precious saint! Three questions call for your answer: 1. What were you? 2. What are you? 3. What shall you be?
1. What were you? Dead in your transgressions and sins, a rebel to your God, a prodigal to your Father, a slave to your lust, the devil’s captive, on the highway to Hell!
2. What are you? Redeemed by Christ, a royal child of God, the spouse of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the heir of a priceless eternal inheritance!
3. What shall you be? A glorious saint, a companion of angels, a triumphant victor, a crowned king, an attendant on the Lamb, a participant in those soul-ravishing and ineffable excellencies that are in God! You shall behold the King of Glory face to face, and enjoy immediate communion with Jesus Christ!
Nay more, you are made one with Him: clothed with His excellencies, enthroned with His glories, crowned with His eternity, and filled with His felicity!
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined . . . what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9
O stand amazed at His free grace–and render all the glory to God!
If you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side!
(Benjamin Grosvenor, “The Temper of Jesus Christ towards His Enemies, and His Grace to the Chief of Sinners”) LISTEN to Audio!Download Audio
“Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47
It is very affecting that the first offers of grace should be made to those who, of all people in the world–had done Him the most harm!
One would rather have expected the apostles would have received another kind of charge, and that Christ wouldhave said: “Let repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached–but do NOT carry it to Jerusalem, that wicked city, that has been the slaughter-house of my prophets, whom I have often sent. Last of all, I myself, the Son, came–and with wicked hands, they have crucified and murdered Me! They may do the same to you! Do not let the gospel enter those wicked gates, through which they led Me, its Author, to crucifixion!”
But Christ singles out exactly these murderous people of Jerusalem–to make monuments of His mercy, and commands the first offer of eternal life to be made to them!
As if our Lord had said: “Lest the poor house of Israel should think themselves abandoned to eternal despair–as cruel and vile as they have been–go, make the first offer of grace to them! Let those who spilled My blood–be welcome to its healing virtue. Tell them that there is repentance and forgiveness, even for them!
“Nay, if you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side, tell him that there is another way, a better way of coming to My heart–even My heart’s love! Tell him, that if he will repent, and look upon Me whom he has pierced, and will mourn–then I will cherish him in that very bosom which he has wounded! Tell him that he shall find the blood which he has shed–to be an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it! And tell him from Me, that he will put Me to more pain and displeasure by refusing this offer of My blood–than when he first drew it forth!”
“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!” Matthew 9:13
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“Leaving you an example so that you should follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
“He who says he abides in Him, should walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
We see, in our Divine Leader, the several precepts of God’s Word drawn out in living characters. We behold them reduced to practice, and represented to the life–in the whole of His conduct towards God and man. We see one in our nature, amidst all the assaults of temptation, amidst all the opposition which malignity could invent, and all the allurements of this glittering world–behaving in a manner exactly agreeable to the dictates of the Divine law, and leaving us an example that we should follow His steps.
Surely it must be delightful, not only to contemplate His character–but to the utmost of our power to imitate the most perfect pattern which was ever exhibited. It must be desirable, by constant and strenuous exertions, according to our measure, to endeavor to trace the steps of His lovely feet.
It is impossible to contemplate the character of Jesus, with serious and devout attention–and not be charmed with it. We see in Him, all the human virtues in the highest perfection. His joys were grave, his griefs were just; his gentleness and his severity, his holiness and his humanity–were in perfect harmony with each other. He manifested great tenderness, and genuine affection, and sensibility to human woe–on all occasions.
As He did no sin–so, on the other hand, every shining virtue was exemplified in Him to highest degree. His humility and meekness; His contempt of the world; His heavenly temper; His love to the Father, and zeal for His honor; His activity and diligence in doing good; His submission to the Father’s will; His patience amidst the heaviest and severest sufferings; His constancy in the exercises of retired devotion; and His praying for His enemies who spilt His blood –can never be sufficiently admired.
When you are tempted to any vanity–set the blessed Redeemer before you, consider His example, and ask yourself, “How would Jesus, my Lord and Master, have acted in such a case? Would He have spent His time upon such trifles? Would He have spoken such and such; or done this or the other thing, which I am solicited to do? And shall I give way to that which would be a manifest deviation from His example? God forbid!”
O Christians, fix your eyes intensely on the great exemplar! Thus you will, through Divine grace, daily grow in love with meekness, patience, and lowliness of heart.
The more I contemplate His lovely character while He sojourned on earth–the more I am delighted with it. To have the same mind in me which was in Christ Jesus, and to tread in His steps–should be my constant aim. Those who are received by Him to the possession of everlasting felicity in Heaven–have humbly traced His footsteps upon earth. Of them it is said, “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes!” They are forevermore led by Him, even in the celestial world–to the enjoyment of ever-new delights and pleasures!
The gospel is the master-work of Jehovah, presenting the greatest display of His manifold wisdom, and the most costly exhibition of the riches of His grace. In constructing it, He would seem to have summoned all the resources of His own infinity to His aid . . . His fathomless wisdom, His boundless love, His illimitable grace, His infinite power, His spotless holiness –all contributed their glory, and conspired to present it to the universe as the most consummate piece of Divine workmanship!
The revelations it makes, the facts it records, the doctrines it propounds, the effects is produces– proclaim it to be the “glorious gospel of the blessed God.”
We live encircled by shadows . . . our friends are shadows, our comforts are shadows, our supports are shadows, our pursuits are shadows, and we ourselves are shadows passing away!
But in the precious gospel we have substance, we have reality, we have that which remains with us when all other things disappear, leaving . . . the soul desolate, the heart bleeding, and the spirit bowed in sorrow to the dust.
But the gospel . . . guides our perplexities, mitigates our griefs, sanctifies our sorrows, heals our wounds, dries our tears, because it leads us to . . . the love of Jesus, the tenderness of Jesus, the sympathy of Jesus, the grace of Jesus!
The gospel . . . reveals Jesus, speaks mainly of Jesus, leads simply to Jesus, and this makes it “glad tidings of great joy,” to a miserable, lost, and Hell-bound sinner!
🎶 “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things, his love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise!” 🎶 🎤🎸🥁
I do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14)
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath!” Ephesians 2:1-3
The heart of an unregenerate man is as spiritually dead and senseless as the nether millstone!
The Gospel, with all its alluring promises, may be proclaimed to him–but the unregenerate man does not receive it. The Gospel has no allurements for him. Nor do the denunciations of judgment and Hell excite any alarm in him.
But when God gives him a new heart, and puts a new spirit within him, and takes away his heart of stone–then all of his views, desires, and pursuits, become changed! Being alive to God–he will be alive to all holy exercises, and find his happiness in the enjoyment of his God!
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved!” Ephesians 2:4-5
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:25-27
“How I love Your teaching! It is my meditation all day long.” Psalm 119:97
Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden–every truth is a fragrant flower which we should wear, not on our bosom, but in our heart!
David counted the Word “sweeter than honey and the honeycomb”. There is that in Scripture which may breed delight. It shows us the way . . . to riches, Deuteronomy 28:8, Proverbs 3:30; to long life, Psalm 34:42; to a Kingdom, Hebrews 12:28.
Well then may we count those the sweetest hours, which are spent in reading the holy Scriptures. Well may we say with the prophet, “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart!”
Conform to Scripture. Let us lead Scripture lives. Oh that the Bible might be seen printed in our lives! Do what the Word commands.
Obedience is an excellent way of commenting upon the Bible. “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walkin Your truth.” Let the Word be the sun-dial by which you set your life.
What are we the better for having the Scripture, if we do not direct all our speech and actions according to it?
What are we the better for the rule of the Word, if we do not make use of it, and regulate our lives by it?
What a dishonor is it to religion, for men to live in contradiction to Scripture!
The Word is called a “light to our feet”. It is not only a light to our eyes to mend our sight–but to our feet to mend our walk.Oh let us lead Bible lives!
Be thankful to God for the Scriptures. What a mercy is it that God has not only acquainted us what His will is, but that He has made it known by writing!
The Scripture is our pole-star to direct us to Heaven–it shows us every step we are to take. When we go wrong–it instructs us; when we go right–it comforts us.
Adore God’s distinguishing grace, if you have felt the power and authority of the Word upon your conscience–if you can say as David, “Your Word has quickened me.” Christian, bless God that He has not only given you His Wordto be a rule of holiness–but His graceto be a principle of holiness. Bless God that He has not only written His Word, but sealed it upon your heart, and made it effectual. Can you say it is of divine inspiration, because you have felt it to be of lively operation?
Oh free grace! That God should send out His Word, and heal you. That He should heal you, and not others! That the same Scripture which to them is a dead letter, should be to you a savor of life!
“The blood of Jesus cleansesus from all our sin!” 1 John 1:7
Christ’s blood is a CLEANSING blood.
As the merit of Christ’s blood pacifies God, so the virtue of it purifies us. Christ’s blood is heaven’s bath. It is a laver to wash in. It washes a crimsonsinner, milk-white!
The Word of God is a looking-glass to show us our spots, and the blood of Christ is a fountain to wash them away!
“On that day a fountain will be opened, to cleanse them from all their sins and defilement!” Zechariah 13:1
But this blood will not wash, if it is mingled with anything. If we mingle our good works with Christ’s blood, it will not wash. Let Christ’s blood be pure and unmixed, and there is no spot which it cannot wash away! It purged out Noah’s drunkenness, and Lot’s incest!
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow! Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool! Isaiah 1:18
“They are without faultbefore the throne of God!” Revelation 14:5
In this petition we pray to be delivered fromthe evil of our heart, that it may not entice us to sin.
The heart is the poisoned fountain, from whence all actual sins flow. “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.” Mark 7:21-22
The cause of all evil lies in a man’s own bosom–all sin begins at the heart! Lust is first conceived in the heart, and then it is midwifed into the world. Whence comes rash anger? The heart sets the tongue on fire. The heart is the shop where all sin is contrived and hammered out!
The heart is the greatest seducer, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” James 1:14. The devil could not hurt us, if our own hearts did not give consent. All that he can do is to lay the bait, but it is our fault to swallow it! How needful, therefore, is this prayer, “Deliver us from the evil of our hearts!” It was Augustine’s prayer, “Lord, deliver me from that evil man–myself!”
Beware of the bosom traitor, the flesh. The heart of a man is the Trojan horse, out of which comes a whole army of lusts! O let us pray to be delivered from the lusts and deceits of our own heart!
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked! Who really knows how bad it is?” Jeremiah 17:9
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life!” Proverbs 4:23
“Blessed are thepure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
External morality is not heart-purity. A person may be clothed with great moral virtues, such as justice, charity, prudence, and temperance–and yet go to Hell.
We must not rest in mere outward morality. A swine may be washed–yet be a swine still. Morality does but wash a man, grace changes him. Morality may shine in the eyes of the world–but it differs as much from purity, as a pebble differs from a diamond!
Morality is but strewing flowers on a dead corpse!
A man who is but highly moral, is but a tame devil!
How many have made ‘morality’ their savior! Morality will damn, as well as vice! A boat may be sunk with gold, as well as with dung!
The moral person, though he will not commit gross sins–yet he is not sensible of heart sins. He is not troubled for unbelief, hardness of heart, vanity of thoughts. He abhors gross-sins, not gospel-sins.
The snake has a fine appearance, but has a deadly sting! Just so, the moral man is fair to look on, but has a secret antipathy against the holy ways of God.
Morality is not to be rested in. The heart must be pure. God would have Aaron wash the inner parts of the sacrifice. Leviticus 9:14 Morality does but wash the outside–the inside must be washed.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
In books I converse with men; in the Bible I converse with God. The more I read, the more I long to read. The Scripture is always new, always instructing, always delightful.
The value of the Bible is inestimable. It is not only a perfect map of the spiritual world; but the believer surveying its riches and beauties and pleasures, has a good warrant to say, “All these are mine, for God Himself is mine!”
God has spared me to read through His Word once more. Oh, what a treasure–what unsearchable riches there are in this golden mine! I have never dug deeper, nor found more precious jewels than upon this last perusal. Indeed, upon every reading of the Bible it grows more precious to me, as it has become the conveyance of the unsearchable riches of Christ to me.
This I chiefly seek for, that I may get a growing experience of the wisdom of God and of the power of God in His Word–and may thereby enjoy the blessings of His love promised in it.
It is our duty to read and meditate on the Word, but we should always do it with the fixed dependence of our hearts upon His divine teaching; without which the Word itself will profit us nothing. May the Spirit keep us in the use of means, but entirely dependent upon Him in the use of them. The Word of God can be made useful to us, only by the enlightening of the Spirit of God.
It is by continual dependence on the teaching of the Spirit, in and by the Word, and by mixing faith with it–that we come to find its value and to taste its pleasures. For it then opens a new world to us, a spiritual and eternal world.
Thanks be to Him . . . who revealed His Word to me, who opened my eyes to see wondrous things out of His law, who often made me look up and say, “Oh, how sweet are Your words to my taste; yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
God has made His Word very precious to me. My love for it has grown much in taste and value: in taste, it is sweeter than honey; in value, it is more precious than gold, yes, than much fine gold! As I dig deeper, themine becomes richer, and the treasures of grace are greatly enhanced by their being the pledges of glory.
The great end and design of the Scripture, is to conform us to itself. When the Word is understood and believed and lived upon–He then makes it the means of conforming the whole man to it. The believer is cast into the mold of it; he takes the impression–every feature. It is so assimilating that every tint is to be seen upon him. He lives the Word–it is to be read in his looks, visible in his walk, manifest in his tempers. See him, study him–he is the living picture of a Bible-Christian!
(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your hearts on things above! Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things!” Colossians 3:1-2
Paul reminds us that those who believe on Christ, should live a risen life.
We live on the earth at present. We walk on earth’s streets. We live in material houses, built of stones, bricks, or wood. We eat earth’s fruits, gathering our food from earth’s fields, orchards and gardens. We wear clothes woven of earthly fabrics. We adorn our homes with works of art that human hands make. We engage in the business of earth. We find our happiness in the things of this life.
But there will be a life after this! We call it Heaven. We cannot see it; there is never a rift in the sky, through which we can get even a glimpse of it. We have in the Scriptures hints of its beauty, its happiness, its blessedness. We know it is a world without sorrow, without sin, without death. Paul’s teaching is that the Christian, while living on the earth, ought to begin to live this heavenly life.
One day a friend sent me a splendid butterfly, artistically mounted, known as the Lima Moth. This little creature is said to be the most beautiful of North American insects. Its color is light green with variegated spots. In its caterpillar state, it was only a worm. It died and entered its other or higher state, as we would say–and then the worm became a splendid butterfly!
This illustrates the two stages of a Christian’s life. Here we are in our earthly state; after this will come the heavenly condition. “The things that are above” belong to this higher, spiritual life. But the Christian is exhorted to seek these higher things, while living in this lower world. We belong to Heaven, although we are not yet living in Heaven.
Paul presents the same truth in another form, when he says, “Our citizenship is in Heaven.” Though we are in this earthly world, we do not belonghere. We are only strangers and pilgrims.
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13
“Dear friends, I urge you, as strangers and pilgrims in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28
All things? Yes! Everything that happens to the Christian is directed and overruled by God’s special Providence for his good! The experience may be very bitter, it may lay him very low and try him to the core; it may keep him in the dust for a long time. But it will do him good, not only in the end, but while it lasts.
Believer, your present trial is for your good. Nothing could be better for you! You may not see it now; you may even feel as if you never could think so, but the time is coming when you will bless God for it.
You love God–and God loves you with an infinite and eternal love! You came to the cross as a poor sinner, and you looked to the Lord Jesus to be your perfect Savior. This proves that you have been called according to God’s purpose. You are one of God’s beloved ones, and as such, you may have the assurance that all things . . . light and darkness, health and sickness, hatred and love, prosperity and adversity, life and death, will work together for your good!
Dark clouds bring rich blessings, and sharp winters introduce fruitful springs. Even so, sore troubles often precede the sweetestconsolations. Your present affliction, whether it is . . . sickness of body, trouble of mind, bereavements, losses, crosses, or whatever else –is working for your good. It will work for good in the future, and it is working for good now. While your heart is bleeding, and you are tempted to think that all is against you–all is working together for your good!
Dear Lord, I do not see how my affliction can be good for me. But help me, Lord, to accept it as such by faith, so that I may receive what You have for me through it.
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope!” Romans 5:3-4
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you!” Isaiah 43:5
The presence of a friend in trouble is cheering and consoling. But it is too often the case that our friends, like the friends of Job, prove to be miserable comforters. They do not enter into our troubles–or they can not help us. The advice they give at times–only aggravates our woe, and adds to our distress.
But, believer, your God says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you!” What a thought is this! God, the great, the glorious, the omnipotent Jehovah–is with me! With me to help me, with me to comfort me, with me to sanctify me, with me to save me, with me as a kind benignant Father, with me in every place, in every trouble, in every conflict, with me through all my journey and for evermore, with me on the bed of sickness, with me to hold communion with me, with me to listen to my sighs, with me to number my tears, and with me to secure me from all injury!
Appearances may be very dark; the night may seem very long; and your pains, weakness, and fears may be many and great. Still, if the Lord is with you, you may sing, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty–yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!” Isaiah 43:1-3
(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)
Most of us arebad-tempered in various degrees. The dictionary has been well-near exhausted of adjectives, in giving the different shades of bad-temper: aggressive, angry, bickering, bitter, capricious, choleric, contentious, crotchety, despotic, domineering, easily offended, gloomy, grumpy, hasty, huffy, irritable, morose, obstinate, reproachful, peevish, sulky, surly, vindictive–these are some of the qualifying words!
We do not like to believe that the case is quite so serious, that many of us are unamiable in some offensive degree. It is easier to confess our neighbor’s faults and infirmities, than our own! So, therefore, quietly taking refuge for ourselves among the few good-tempered people–we are willing to admit that a great many of the people we know, have at times rather ungentle tempers. They are easily provoked; they fly into a passion on very slight occasion; they are haughty, domineering, peevish, fretful or vindictive!
What is even worse, most of them appear to make no effort to grow out of their infirmities of disposition! The sour fruit does not come to mellow ripeness in the passing years; the roughness is not polished off the diamond to reveal its lustrous hidden beauty. The same petulance, pride, vanity, selfishness and other disagreeable qualities are found in the life, year after year!
Where there is a struggle to overcome one’s faults and grow out of them, and where the progress toward better and more beautiful spiritual character is perceptible, though ever so slow–we should have sympathy. But where one appears unconscious of one’s blemishes, and manifests no desire to conquer one’s faults–there is little ground for encouragement!
Man-like it is–to fall into sin. Fiend-like it is–to dwell therein. Saint-like it is–for sin to grieve. God-like it is–for sin to leave.
Bad temper is such a disfigurement of character, and, besides, works such harm to one’s self and to one’s neighbors, that no one should spare any pains or cost to have it cured!
The ideal Christian life, is one of unbroken kindliness. It is dominated by love, the love whose portrait is drawn for us in the immortal thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” That is the picture of the ideal Christian life!
We have but to turn to the gospel pages, to find the story of a life in which all this was realized. Jesusnever lost his temper. He lived among people who tried Him at every point–some by their dullness, others by their bitter enmity and persecution–but He never failed in sweetness of disposition, in patience, in self-denying love. Like the flowers which give out their perfume only when crushed; like the odoriferous wood which bathes the axe which hews it with fragrance; the life of Christ yielded only the tenderer, sweeter love–to the rough impact of men’s harshness and wrong. That is the pattern on which we should strive to fashion our life and our character! Every outbreak of violent temper, every shade of ugliness in disposition–mars the radiant loveliness of the ‘picture’ we are seeking to have fashioned in our souls!
Bad-tempered people are continually hurting others, ofttimes their best and truest friends.
Some people are sulky, and one person’s sulkiness casts a chilling shadow over a whole household!
Others are so sensitive, ever watching for slights and offended by the merest trifles–that even their nearest friends have no freedom of fellowship with them!
Others are despotic, and will brook no kindly suggestion, nor listen to any expression of opinion!
Others are so quarrelsomethat even the meekest and gentlest person cannot live peaceably with them!
It would be easy to extend this portrayal of the evils of bad temper, but it will be more profitable to inquire HOW a bad-tempered person may become good-tempered. There is no doubt that this happy change is possible in any case. There is no temper so obdurately bad, that it cannot be trained into sweetness. The grace of God can take the most unlovely life, and transform it into the image of Christ!
“The love of Christ which surpasses knowledge!” Ephesians 3:19
No love stoops like Christ’s love. It abandoned place and prospects and power–to save me! It traveled from the heights of Heaven, to the depths of sinful earth. God, pure and holy, chose voluntarily to make His home with me a sinner!
The sole qualification I need to commend myself to Him is not my conviction of worth, but my conviction of worthlessness–my knowledge that I am devoid of goodness and holiness! Then, when I confess myself penniless, He will invest me with His treasures. He banishes no self-destroyed and forlorn and penitent man outside the pale of His grace.
His love stoops!
No love suffers like Christ’s love. The test of affection is its willingness to suffer sacrifice and pain for another. Never has any affection stood the test like the love of Jesus.
“It is certain,” one writes, “that not for one hour on earth, was our Lord without the anguish of His passion.” And at last He made the supreme offering of His life, for me. Such bitterness, such dereliction, such unspeakable sorrow–there were in my Savior’s death. For me He bore the hiding of His Father’s face on Calvary. It is an unfathomable pre-eminence of grief. It is a horror of great darkness which I may not pierce.
His love suffers!
No love gives like Christ’s love. Love is always giving. But when was there human love with such wealth to bestow, and such willingness to communicate it–as the love of Christ? In simple fact, He imparts nothing less than Himself to me! The most unholy, the most tempted, the most despairing–cannot desire anything more sufficient.
His love gives!
And no love lasts like Christ’s love. The truest and tenderest earthly love says farewell to its beloved in death. And too often, even on this side of the grave, doubts insinuate themselves, and suspicions arise, and covenants are snapped and broken. It is not so with the love of Christ. Neither things present nor things to come, the demands of today and the contingencies of tomorrow–chill that great heart of love! Christ’s love is like Himself–eternal and unchangeable.
His love lasts!
Does not His wondrous love deserve my whole soul and body–all that I have, and all that I am? Nothing is stranger, and nothing more sad, than that, bathed in Christ’s love–I should be so indifferent, so forgetful, so cold!
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich!” 2 Corinthians 8:9
(You will find it most helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power!” Colossians 2:9-10
One of the great tenets of Scripture, is the claim thatJesus Christ is completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness! 2 Peter 1:3-4
He is sufficient for: Creation (Colossians 1:16-17) Salvation (Hebrews 10:10-12) Sanctification (Ephesians 5:26-27) and Glorification (Romans 8:30).
So pure is He, that there is no blemish, stain, spot of sin, defilement, deception, corruption, error, or imperfection in Him! (1 Peter 1:18-20)
So complete is He, that . . . there is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5) He is the only begotten Son (John 1:14, John 1:18) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Colossians 2:3) the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Colossians 2:9) He is heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2) He created all things–and all things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16) He upholds all things by the word of His power (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3) He is the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15) He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3).
He has no beginning and no end (Revelation 1:17-18) He is the spotless Lamb of God (John 1:29) He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14) He is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1) He is our life (Colossians 3:4) He is the living and true Way (John 14:6) He is the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11) He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2) He is Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10) He is the Elect One (Isaiah 42:1) He is the Apostle and High-Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1) He is the Righteous Servant (Isaiah 53:11) He is the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:17) He is the Redeemer (Isaiah 41:14) He is the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 54:5) He is the God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5) He is the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) He is the Light of the world (John 9:5) He is the Son of Man (Matthew 20:28) He is the true Vine (John 15:5) He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48) He is the Door to Heaven (John 10:7) He is the Sovereign Lord (Philippians 2:10-13) He is Prophet, Priest and King (Hebrews 1:1-3) He is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9) He is our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6) He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) He is the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) He is the Rock of Salvation (Psalm 62:2) He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) He is the Counselor and Comforter (John 14:26) He is the Messiah (John 4:25-26) and He is the great I AM! (John 8:58)
Sin is the seed, the source, the essence of unhappiness. “There is no peace to the wicked”–nor is there any happiness for the sinner in his sins. The carnal mind may find something like pleasure in carnal things–but real, solid, lasting joy, cannot be found, never has been found by the sinner, until converted to God. Carnal pleasure is empty, fleeting, and unsatisfactory in its very nature!
The true Christian has enough to make him genuinely happy: All of his sins are forgiven and forgotten. He is adopted into God’s family. His person is justified before God. He is clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus. He is a child of God. He is regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He has the Spirit of adoption in his heart. He is at peace with God, and God is at peace with him.
All the promises of God are his, which represent Jehovah as pledged to support, sustain, comfort, supply, and bless him in time and eternity!
His God is with him. His God is for him. His God will never fail him in any trial, nor leave him under any circumstances for one moment.
Such is the Christian’s blessed state, and such are his blessed privileges–though he may appear poor, afflicted, and despised among men.
In proportion . . . as sin is subdued, as sanctification is deepened, as the Savior is prized, as our talents are laid out for the Lord’s glory –are we happy. But if sin is allowed to conquer, if personal sanctification is neglected, if the intimations of the Holy Spirit are slighted–then the believer is not, and cannot be happy.
Let the Christian therefore . . . cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart, cultivate close fellowship with God, walk softly, uprightly, and daily with God. So will his peace be like a river, and his path be like the shining light which shines more and more unto the perfect day.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You!” Isaiah 26:3
(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)
“These things you have done, and I kept silent. You thought that I was altogether like you!But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face!” Psalm 50:21
The God of contemporary Christianity is only slightly superior to the pagan gods of ancient Greece and Rome, if indeed He is not actually inferior to them–in that He is weak and helpless, while they at least had some imagined power. Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry; for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is, in itself a monstrous sin; and substitutes for the true God, one made after its own likeness. Always this god will conform to the image of the one who created it–and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.
The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow, they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God, and acts as if they were true.
If we insist upon trying to imagine Him–we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts. And an idol of the mind, is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand!
Before a Christian Church goes into a decline, there must first be a corrupting of her Scriptural thoughts of God. She simply gives a wrong answer to the question, “What is God like?” and goes downhill from there. Though she may continue to cling to a sound nominal creed, her practical working creed has become false. The masses of her adherents come to believe that God is different from what He actually is, and that is heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind!
The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God, until it is once more worthy of Him, and of her!
I am weary of myself, ashamed of myself–and often turn with disgust from myself! And yet I find a great deal of self-love, self-esteem, and self-pity working within me! I sometimes get into such a state of confusion, into such misery and wretchedness, that I cry out, “Oh, what a wretched man I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death!” Romans 7:24
I feel that I am too carnal, too much like the generality of professors. I do not follow the Lord fully. I am not wholly set apart for God. But I am ashamed of complaining, I have done so, so often, and it has ended there. I need more life, more savor, more love in my religion; and to be more energetic and self-denying in my ministry. I need, alas, what do I not need? I am only a mere skeleton of a Christian. I can keep up the outward form pretty well, but the power–the power is what I need! I want to be like Jesus. O for a Christ-like spirit, temper, and course of conduct!
I am obliged to renounce self entirely–all that I do, all that I feel, and all that I say, and build on Jesus Christ, and on Him alone. This is very mortifying to poor, proud human nature, but so it must be. The creature must be nothing, that the Savior may be all in all!
How swift-footed is time! Soon, very soon, it will land me on the shores of eternity! Well, to die will be gain. I shall then be with Christ–with Christ forever! Then all my trials will be ended, all my sorrows will cease, and I shall sin no more! If I could but live without sin, I would not care how long I lived. Nothing grieves me like sin–and yet I sin daily. I grieve the loving heart of Jesus, and wound the tender bosom on which I lean. What a pleasant thing perfect holiness will be!
“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword!” Matthew 10:34
Not peace, but a sword! Lord Jesus, this is a hard saying! Teach me to believe it, and to submit to the ordeal–sharp and piercing and painful though it may be.
Between me and my world, Christ’s sword may pierce with its remorseless edge. He separates me . . . from old sinful habits, from old sinful employments, from old sinful pleasures, from old sinful friendships.
He divides me from the society in which I was accustomed to move. “Your home is no longer there!”He says. And I go out from the familiar surroundings, into an untrodden region and realm.
Between me and my nearest and dearest, Christ’s sword may pierce pitilessly. Perhaps the loved ones of my own house will have nothing to do with my Redeemer and Lord. Perhaps they see no beauty in Him, that they should desire Him. Then, in the deepest and noblest things, they and I will stand apart–a sundering tide rolling between us. And how immeasurably sad that will be!
Between me and myself, Christ’s sword is sure to pierce with a blade that does not spare! The I, the self, which used to be so vain, so confident, so proud–must be slain outright! Its days of pride, pleasure and selfishness must end–until I can say, “It is no more I who live, but He–my Prophet, my Priest, my King–who lives in me!” What a change that is! What a martyrdom!
It is painful, this stroke of Christ’s sword. But the old confessor was right: “The nearer the sword–the nearer Heaven!” If I am victim–I am victor too. Smitten down by Jesus–I am not destroyed, but crowned!
“Their throat is an open sepulcher! They flatter with their tongue.” Psalm 5:9 “Their throat is an open sepulcher!”That is, a sepulcher full of loathsomeness, of pollution, of pestilence, and death! But, worse than that, it is an open sepulcher, with all its evil gases issuing forth, to spread death and destruction all around. It is just so with the throat of the wicked!
It would be a great mercy if the mouth of the wicked could always be closed. If we could seal it in continual silence–it would be like a closed sepulcher, and would not produce much mischief. But, “their throat is an open sepulcher,” consequently all the wickedness of their heart exhales and comes forth!
How dangerous is an open sepulcher! Men in their journeys might easily stumble therein, and find themselves among the dead!
Ah! take heed of the wicked man, for there is nothing that he will not say to ruin you. He will long to destroy your character, and bury you in the hideous sepulcher of his own wicked throat!
“This figure graphically portrays the filthy conversation of the wicked. Nothing can be more abominable than an open sepulcher, when a dead putrefying body steams forth its tainted exhalations. Just so, what proceeds out of the mouth of the wicked, is infected and putrid! And, as the exhalation from a sepulcher proves the corruption within–so it is with the corrupt conversation of sinners.” Robert Haldane
“The speech of unregenerate men is unsavory, rotten, and hurtful to others; for, as a sepulcher sends out detestable savors and filthy smells–so evil men utter rotten and filthy words!” Thomas Wilson
“They flatter with their tongue.”Or, as we might read it, “They have an oily tongue, a smooth tongue.” A smooth tongue is a great evil; many have been bewitched by it. There are many human ant-eaters, who with their long tongues covered with oily words, entice and entrap the unwary and make their gain thereby.
When the wolf licks the lamb, he is preparing to wet his teeth in its blood!
No words can ever express the gratitude we owe to Him who loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins.
The love of Jesus is unutterably precious, and worthy of daily praise.
No songs can ever fitly celebrate the triumphs of that salvation which He wrought single-handed on our behalf.
The work of Jesus is glorious beyond all comparison, and all the harps of angels fall short of its worthy honor.
We prize His bounty to us, but we worship HIM.
His gifts are valued, but He Himself is adored.
While we contemplate with mingled feelings of awe, admiration, and thankfulness–His atonement, His resurrection, His glory in Heaven, and His second coming–still it is Christ Himself, stupendous in His dignity as the Son of God, and superbly beautiful as the Son of man, who sheds an incomparable charm on all those wonderful achievements, wherein His might and His merit, His goodness and His grace appear so conspicuous.
For HIM let our choicest spices be reserved; and to HIM let our sweetest anthems be raised.
Our choicest ointment must be poured upon His head; and for His own self alone our most costly alabaster boxes must be broken.
“He is altogether lovely.”
Not only is . . . His teaching attractive, His doctrine persuasive, His life irreproachable, His character enchanting, and His work a self-denying labor for the common good of all His people, but He Himself is altogether lovely!
Do not look for anything lovely outside of Jesus, for He has all the loveliness.
All perfections are in Him making up one consummate perfection. And all the loveliness which is to be seen elsewhere, is but a reflection of His own unrivalled charms.
Jesus is the monopolizer of all loveliness!
He is the engrosser of all that is admirable in the entire universe!
“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16
“You are to have honest balances, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure; I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36
Weights, and scales, and measures–were to be all according to the standard of justice.
Surely no Christian will need to be reminded of this in his business–for if justice were banished from all the world beside, it should find a shelter in true Christian hearts!
There are, however, other scales and balances which weigh moral and spiritual things–and these often need examining. We will call in the Judge right now.
Those scales in which we weigh our own and other men’s characters; are they quite accurate? Do we not turn our own ounces of goodness, into pounds; and other people’s pounds of excellence, into ounces? See to just weights and measures here, Christian!
Those scales in which we measure our trials and troubles; are they according to standard? Paul, who had far more to suffer than we have, called his afflictions light. Yet we often consider our afflictions to be heavy! Surely something must be amiss with the scales! We must see to this matter, lest we get reported to the court above for unjust dealing!
Those scales with which we measure our beliefs; are they quite fair? The precepts and doctrines should have the same weight with us as the promises–no more and no less! With many, one scale or the other is unfairly weighted. It is a grand matter to give just measure in God’s truths. Christian, be careful here!
Those scales in which we estimate our obligations and responsibilities look rather small. When a rich man gives no more to the cause of God, than the poor contribute–is that an honest weight, an honest measure, a just balance?
Reader, we might lengthen the list–but we prefer to leave it as your day’s work to find out and destroy all unjust scales, balances, weights, and measures!
“The hope which is laid up for you in Heaven” Colossians 1:5
Many Christians have but little in hand, but they have much in hope. They have little on earth, but they have unsearchable wealth in Heaven! The present is the worst state they will ever be in. All beyond death is bright, blissful and glorious!
The Christian’s hope consists in both freedom and possession.
The Christian’s hope consists in freedom from . . . all the pains which we now experience, both in mind and body; all the hindrances which are so thickly strewed in our way in this evil world; all the fears which now beset, agitate, and harass us day by day; all the forebodings which often make our lives bitter and gloomy; all the sins which are now our plague, disease, and torment; all our needs, and all possibility of needing–for God will fully supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Oh, what a mercy it will be to enjoy such freedom, and to possess the inward consciousness that it will be enjoyed forever!
The Christian will not only be free from all that is painful and distressing, but he will also possess . . . perfect, settled, and everlasting peace; sinless faculties and immortal powers with which to serve and enjoy God forever; permanent, perpetual, and uninterrupted joy; the presence and enjoyment of Jesus, we shall see Him, be with Him, and be like Him; ALL that we can consistently wish or desire!
Our hope is laid up for us in Heaven. This betokens . . . its excellency–being kept in so excellent a place; its certainty and security–no thieves can break through to steal; its nature–it is spiritual, holy, Heavenly.
O glorious hope! O blessed prospect! It leaves us nothing to long for, nothing to desire!
What a mercy it is . . . when comforts run short, when trials press sorely, when a dreary winter of affliction sets in, to remember that we have a priceless inheritance–an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!
How this blessed hope should . . . quicken our zeal, animate our spirits, and raise us above fear and despondency.
It is not what we have now–but what we shall have in Heaven which should affect us.
Our glorious inheritance is vast beyond calculation, it is safe beyond the possibility of failure!
The wilderness will soon be passed, the storms of life will soon subside–and eternal calm and unclouded sunshine, will soon be our happy, endless portion!
“My heart is burdened with a sense of my short-comings! Every duty I perform is so imperfect. Every purpose I form is so soon frustrated. Every hope of seeing better days is so soon beclouded. My heart is so fearfully depraved. My life is so unlike the life of Jesus. My temper is so unholy. My prayers are so brief and heartless. My praises are so feeble and fitful. I do so little good. I live to so little purpose. My evidences are so dim. My prospects are so overcast. I am harassed sometimes with the fear of death. I cannot realize the glories of Heaven. I am dissatisfied with the world, and yet glued to it! I hate sin, and yet fall into it! I am a riddle, a mystery, a mass of inconsistency! Is it, then, any wonder that I am cast down?”
No, if you look at yourself, and pore over the things you have named–then it is no wonder that you are cast down! They are enough to cast anyone down! But if you carry them to the throne of grace, if you there confess them before God, if you look to Jesus to save you from them–then, in spite of them, you will not long be cast down.
I know it is difficult to do this. There is a natural proneness to pore over such things. One feels at times a secret liking to indulge in gloomy thoughts.
But we must look away from self; for if we do not, we shall become anxious, doubting and gloomy! We must run the race, not looking at our imperfections, short-comings, and failures–but looking unto Jesus. He knows what we are. He knew what we wouldbe, before He called us by His grace; yes, before He shed His blood for us! He loved us, as sinners. He died for us, as sinners. He called us, as sinners. He saves us, as sinners. He will have all the glory of saving us, and He will get great glory by doing so, because we are such great sinners;and do not, cannot, do anything to repay Him for His wondrous love! Salvation is by free grace, from first to last! Believe this, and it will raise up your drooping mind!
The life-boat of free grace has put you on board the vessel of salvation–and that will convey you safely to the port of glory! Do not look at your spiritual destitution, or feebleness, or incapacity, or imperfections–but trust in your Pilot, rely on your Captain, and expect His mercy and merit to land you safe in Heaven at last!
As imperfect as you now are, and as imperfect you will be–your dying prayer will still be, “God be merciful unto me, a sinner!”
Hope in God! His mercy is great unto the heavens, His grace is as free as the air, His love is as changeless as His nature, His promise is as immutable as His love.
Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. He will save you for His own sake, and present you before assembled worlds as a monument of His mercy, and a trophy of His grace!
“For every look at self–take ten looks at Christ!” McCheyne
“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!” Psalm 55:6
The trials of a believer are often severe. Many a storm has he to endure, many a river to ford, and many a fire to pass through–in his way home to the promised land. Little did the Christian think, when he first stepped into the liberty of the gospel, that there were such rough roads, dark nights, and terrible storms before him; but, more or less, every traveler to Mount Zion must experience them. It is generally found to be a rough road, which leads to the Celestial City. Many a Christian has found his courage fail him, and his heart misgive him, on his way home.
The darkness is sometimes so dense, the cross is at times so heavy, the disappointment is at some seasons so great –that the stoutest heart quails, and unites with the timid spirit, in exclaiming, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
These trials are necessary to . . . try our sincerity, exercise our graces, and render the promises sweet and precious.
When all goes smooth, and everything is pleasant . . . we attach but little importance to the promises, have little power in prayer, and are too apt to over-value ourselves. But trying times . . . endear the throne of grace, strip us of pride and self-importance, and strengthen our trust in Jesus.
Never is Christ so precious, as in times of peculiar trial. Never is the Bible so valued, as in the day of trouble and distress.
The wilderness with its barren burning sands, its storms and tempests, its dangers and its difficulties–endears the promised land; and makes the pilgrim occasionally to cry out, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
Rest! O how sweet is the thought of rest to the weary, way-worn, exhausted traveler! Rest! O how sweet is the thought of rest to the afflicted, tried, and tempted Christian! He most generally thinks of Heaven as a place of rest: rest from suffering, rest from sorrow, rest from toil, and rest from conflict.
Rest with Jesus.
Rest in the home of God.
Rest, perfect and perpetual rest.
Peaceful and glorious rest.
We have the foretastes of it occasionally now, which makes us at times long for its fullness and perfection. Like the grapes of Eshcol, which when tasted, stimulates us to hasten across the wilderness that we may take possession of the promised land; so the inward calm, the secret repose, the rest at times enjoyed in the soul, urges us on, and makes us cry out, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
“She grabbed him by his garment and said, ‘Sleep with me!’ But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran from the house.” Genesis 39:12
In contending with certain sins, there remains no mode of victory but by flight.
He who would be safe from acts of evil, must hasten away from occasions of it.
A covenant must be made with our eyes, not even to look upon the cause of temptation; for such sins only need a spark to begin with, and a blaze follows in an instant!
Who would wantonly enter the leper’s hut, and sleep amid its horrible corruption? He alone who desires to be leprous himself, would thus court contagion.
If the mariner knew how to avoid a storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it.
Cautious navigators have no desire to try how near the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak. Their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel.
Today I may be exposed to great peril, let me have wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to me, than the jaws of a lion. I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company–but I had better leave my cloak, than lose my character!
It is not needful that I should be rich, but it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule–must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin.
I am to resist the devil, and he will flee from me. But the lusts of the flesh, I must flee–or they will surely overcome me!
O God of holiness, preserve your Josephs, lest Madam Bubble bewitch them with her vile suggestions.
May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil–never overcome us!
“The Lord Almighty is with us! The God of Jacob is our fortress!” Psalm 46:7
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Who can prevail against us? Who can really injure us? Let us daily think of God’s glorious perfections, and view them as engaged for us at all times.
His power is engaged to support, defend, and strengthen us.
His omniscient eye is constantly upon us, watching over us for good.
His omnipresence is our safeguard from all our foes, for no one can come and find our God absent from us.
His justice and righteousness shine in all His dealings with us, and are like lofty mountains round about us.
His holiness shines in all His purposes and plans, and forbids the thought that He will act unsuitably towards us.
His mercy is ever great towards us, and by it He sympathizes with us in all our sorrows, griefs, and woes.
His goodness will constantly supply us, and is sufficient to fill us with admiration and astonishment.
His truth renders certain, every promise He has given and recorded in His Word.
His immutability bears us up and bears us on, confirming our faith and hope in His Word.
His wisdom frustrates the designs of our foes, and arranges and manages all for our welfare.
His eternity is the date of our happiness, and the duration of our unspeakable blessedness!
Here is enough to . . . engage our thoughts, overflow our minds, and forever fill us with adoration and praise!
What a God is Jehovah! And Jehovah in Jesus, is ours!
How cheering this fact, and what sweet support it yields to the mind–to meditate on God’s perfections and glorious attributes, seeing them all in Jesus–and in Him, engaged for our present and everlasting welfare!
What could shake our minds, if we did but firmly believe that God’s omnipotence is engaged to defend us to the uttermost?
What could tempt us to commit any known sin, if we were realizing that God’s omniscient eye is ever upon us; yes, that God is present with us, and that He is our sin-hating Father?
What could lead us into murmuring and rebellion, if we were fully persuaded that God’s holiness and justice are for us, and will shine resplendent in all His dealings with us?
What could lead us to think that our prayers would not be answered, nor our petitions be regarded–if our minds were influenced by the assurance that God is truth?
How could we believe that He would ever turn against us, if we rightly viewed His immutability?
Or, how could we think that our affairs could be disordered, if we felt satisfied that His wisdom was working for us at all times!
“The Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress!” Psalm 46:7
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”Matthew 11:29
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5
Christians should excel in the manifestation of Christ’s character. The mind which was in Jesus, should be in them. They should consider His character as a model of their own; and be conspicuousfor their . . . poverty of spirit, meekness, gentleness, and love.
It is matter of surprise and regret, that many people seem to think that Christianity has nothing to do with character! And that provided they are free from gross sins, and have lively feelings in devotional exercises, they may be as petulant, irritable, and implacableas they please! This is a dreadful error, and has done great mischief to the cause of God!
A sour, ill-natured Christian is like a lamb with a wolf’s head; or like a dovewith a vulture’s beak!
If there be any one word which above all others should describe a Christian’s character, it is that which represents his divine Father; and as it is said, that ‘God is love’, so should it be also affirmed, that a Christian is love–love embodied, an incarnation of love! His words, his conduct, his very looks–should be so many expressions of love!
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us!” Ephesians 4:32-5:2
“You do not understand now what I am doing, but afterwards you will understand.” John 13:7
We are to walk by faith, not by sight. We are to trust His heart, when we cannot trace His hand!
We are to believe Him, when we cannot understand His mysterious workings!
The Lord is now working in nature, providence, and grace–and He does many things which we do not understand at present. But when His work is complete, and it lies stretched out before us in the light of eternity, we shall then . . . comprehend His design, admire His wisdom, and adore His divine workings!
Beloved, is God cleansing you by fiery trials, or causing you to pass through deep waters? Are you at a loss to know what His design is, or where the present affliction will end?
Be still. Wait His time.
There is a divine working time, which is the present; and there is a divine revealing time, which is to come.
The wisest Christians are often in the dark now, but the simplest Christians will see all things clearly by and by. A little more patience, a little more faith–and all will end well.
“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:2
“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!” Psalm 16:11
HEAVEN! What is it? It is . . . God’s residence, the Savior’s home, our Father’s house, a paradise of pleasure, a temple of worship, and the residence of perfect purity and peace!
There . . . God unveils His glory, the Savior exhibits His charms, the angels perform their service, and the saints are entirely happy with their God.
In Heaven . . . sin is banished, holiness is perfected, life is a continual feast, and mortality is swallowed up in life!
From Heaven . . . all pain is banished, all enemies are excluded, and all causes of sorrow are shut out!
In Heaven . . . all our prayers are answered, all our desires are gratified, and all our needs are supplied. There is no weeping, wailing or wishing there.
In Heaven . . . our knowledge will be perfect, our happiness will be abiding, our pleasures will be ever new.
In Heaven we shall . . . see Jesus, be with Jesus, and be like Jesus, forever!
HEAVEN! Who are there? All tried and tempted followers of Jesus are there. All doubting and fearing disciples of Jesus are there. All poor and despised believers are there. Multitudes, who felt totally unworthy of such glory, and feared they would never reach the place–are there.
All who were chosen by the Father, all who were redeemed by the Son, and all who were sanctified by the Holy Spirit–are there.
HEAVEN! What do they enjoy there? Who can answer this question, but one who has been there; and he would need a new language to state, and new figures to represent the enjoyments of Heaven. They enjoy rest from their pains, and a full supply of all their needs. They enjoy perfect satisfaction, a fullness of joy, and pleasure forevermore. They . . . see all that they believed, realize all that they hoped for, and possess all that they loved.
They have . . . health, without sickness; pleasure, without pain; and holiness, without sin.
Every sense is gratified, every power is pleasurably employed–and they are perfectly and perpetually happy!
O Heaven, in you there is . . . no tempting devil, no ensnaring world, no indwelling corruption, no doubts, fears, or misgivings! And best of all, there is no sin!
O Heaven, in you I shall . . . see my God, possess my Savior, and enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit!
O my God, in Heaven I shall be satisfied–for I shall be with You, serving and enjoying You without weariness or cessation!
HEAVEN! Who will yet get to Heaven? Who? Ah, perhaps many we little think of! We shall miss many whom we expected to find there–and find many whom we never expected would reach that glorious place!
Who will go to Heaven? That poor man who is striving against sin, mourning over corruption, and loathing himself before God. That poor woman, who sighs because she sins, pants for perfect holiness, and clings to the cross of Jesus. Do you see that poor soul on his knees, confessing his transgressions, pleading for pardon, and seeking grace to sanctify his nature–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that lowly Christian who is visiting the sick, pointing sufferers to the cross, and trying to alleviate human woe, out of love to Jesus–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that Sunday School teacher, who, after a hard week’s work, is regularly in his class, speaking loving words in tender tones, to win the little ones for the Savior–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that preacher who exalts Christ in his ministry, honors the gospel in his life, and travails in birth for souls–he will go to Heaven.
Heaven will be peopled by all who believe in Jesus, love the brethren, and worship God in Spirit and in truth. There will be a numberless multitude there, all . . . deeply indebted to free mercy, washed in the Savior’s blood, and sanctified by the Spirit’s grace!
Reader, there is a way–but only one way to Heaven! Only those found in that way will ever reach it! You yourself, may be within an hour or two of either Heaven or Hell! Do you know which? If called away suddenly, to which would you go? You have a Heaven to obtain, or a Hell to endure–to all eternity! Which shall it be? O that you were wise, that you properly realized this, that you would consider your latter end!
Heaven with all its glories, or Hell with all its horrors–must be your eternal portion! If you despise the Savior, make light of the Gospel, and neglect God’s great salvation–then Hell, an eternal Hell, with all its unspeakable horrors, is your portion!
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined–what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9
As we Christians advance in life, and know more of human nature and the power of temptation–the greater interest should we take in the young, and the more urgently should we seek their salvation. It is a lovely sight to see aged Christians endeavoring to bring young people to the Savior. And this we ought constantly to see, for they know the power . . . of youthful lusts, of the world’s attractions, of Satanic influence, of the deceitfulness of the heart, and the value of the immortal soul!
Aged friends, do you feel and act, as you should for the young? Do you do all that you can to snatch them as brands from the burning?
Solomon was an old man when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and in that book he manifests great solicitude for the young. Again and again he addresses them in different ways, but with what touching and subtle irony does he speak to them in one place: “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see. BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!” Ecclesiastes 11:9
The Youth’s Practice. He is happy in his youth, in his physical vigor, personal attractions, and newly acquired liberty. Feeling strong, he puts the day of judgment far from him. Vain of his person, he is proud of his appearance and abilities. Freed from the restraints of home, he removes the reins from the neck of his lusts. His heart cheers him on, and urges him forward in the pursuit of folly! He walks in the way of his heart, which is always evil. He is ignorant of its powers of deception. He is therefore deceived by the corrupt principles that work within it. He hushes his conscience to sleep, or by violence constrains it to be silent.
He then yields to the alluring influence of the world. And while so doing, Satan tempts him to proceed farther and farther, plotting his eternal damnation!
He does what he thinks best in his own eyes, allowing them to mislead him. He walks by sight, not according to God’s Word. He is led away by appearances, and despises the counsel and example of the godly. He refuses to listen to, or be guided by the advice of parents. He despises, or slights, the preacher’s admonition, and will be a law unto himself. He chooses vain people for his companions, and follows the example of the foolish! Let us now listen to:
The Preacher’s Prescription. “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see. BUT know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
Take your own course, if you are determined.
Go on in the way which you prefer, if you think it best.
Persevere in the path that you have chosen.
BUT KNOW that there is an end to your course, and that end is a judgment!
The judgment day is fixed, and it is therefore certain.
The judge stands at the door, it is therefore near.
The dead, small and great, shall stand before God–it is therefore universal.
Every one of us shall give account of himself before God, it is therefore personal.
Before this final judgment, shall be gathered all nations–it will therefore be open and public.
God will judge in justice and uprightness, it will therefore be righteous.
It will be the great day, the last day–and will therefore be final.
“BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
You will not be able to escape!
You will not be overlooked or forgotten!
You will be personally summoned, and there will be no evading!
Death will arrest and cast you into prison. From thence, the angels will bring you out, and Jesus will judge you! For “He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness, by the Man He has appointed!” Acts 17:31
Young man! Young woman! To you is this word of solemn admonition sent! See how many young people are being called away by death! Fatal diseases and accidents–how common. Sudden deaths–how frequent. It is very probable that God may soon call for YOU! How necessary then that you be ready, for death very often gives but a short notice, or no notice!
God warns you by His providence; He directs you in His Word; He invites you by His ministers; and He will judge you by His Son!
Whenever therefore you are tempted to indulge in any unholy amusement or practice, remember these words: “BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
“These all died in faith . . . they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” Hebrews 11:13
The day of life with them is ended. Its duties are ended. Its responsibilities are past. Its hours are fled away.
What a trying day some of them had! How stormy. How sultry. How often overcast. How gloomy. But it is now past, and past forever! The toils of the wilderness are over! They had much to afflict and pain them . . . a difficult and dangerous journey, a long wearisome march, many a heavy cross to carry, many a stubborn foe to face, many a painful doubt, numerous gloomy fears.
But now the wilderness is all behind them! The afflictions of the pilgrimage are terminated. Those sufferings were sharp, and some of them continued long. Many of them were endured in secret without sympathy, and without relief. They were soul sorrows, agony of mind–as well as sharp pains of body. But however multiplied, however severe, however protracted those sorrows–they are past and gone, never, never to return!
The sweetest repose is now enjoyed. The poor tabernacle has been taken down, and is laid in a quiet resting-place, until the resurrection morning. The soul is gone to be with Jesus. It has traveled through the rough path of life, and is now in God’s presence, where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore!
As Christians, we are going to the same place. The graves will soon be ready for our bodies, and themansions of glory for our souls. We are going home! Home to our Father’s house! Home where our hearts have long been. Home where all our prayers will be answered, and all our best desires will be gratified. “Home, sweet home! There is no place like home!” Especially our home! A paradise without a tempting serpent! A paradise where all are holy, all are safe, all are happy. Those pure and perpetual joys, which are at God’s right hand, await us! We taste them now, and are delighted with asip–but there we shall soon drink full draughts of eternal glory, eternal joy, and eternal blessedness!
Amidst present toils and trials, dangers and distresses, when wearied, way-worn, and tempted to fret–remember that you will soon be HOME! Think, think, O my soul, of an eternity of enjoyment, when the sufferings of time are ended! “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning!” Psalm 30:5
“Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!” Matthew 6:32
The Lord Jesus, as the great teacher, is instructing His disciples in the doctrine of divine providence, and teaching them to exercise faith in God. He tells them that God feeds the sparrows and clothes the lilies, and therefore He will not neglect, or refuse to feed and clothe His redeemed children!
He would have us act like His children! As children who view the Most High God as their Father! As children who are absolutely dependent upon Him! As children who look to Him for all; and expect Him to supply them with all.
God is our FATHER. He has adoptedus by His grace. We were by nature fatherless, so far as spiritual relationship is concerned. Or, to be more correct, we did have a father, it was the devil! Said Jesus, “You belong to your father, the devil!” John 8:44. We were in an abject and dreadful condition!
But in His infinite mercy, and for the glory of His own free grace, God adopted us and placed us among His children!
We still have a heavenly Father who caresfor us! And as the heaven is high above the earth, so far does God’s relationship exceed all human relationships. To have God for our Father, is the height of blessedness; it is the crowning privilege!
Nothing can exceed this, for His love is infinite, and embraces all His children. His love cannot change, for that would imply a change in His nature. But He says, “I am Jehovah, I do not change!” Everything outside of the Divine nature will change. But Jehovah Himself loves His people, and as His nature cannot change, neither can His love!
His resources are boundless, and He supplies all of His children. They are never sent to any other quarter for supply, but always bidden to come to their Father for all that they need.
His pity is exquisite, and He sympathizes with all of His children. “Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities all who fear Him. He knows our frame, He remembers that we are but dust.”
His knowledge is perfect, therefore He is fully acquainted with them all. “All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” He knows exactly where each one is, and each of their wants, woes, and wishes! For “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on the behalf of all those who hearts are sincere towards Him.”
His strength is omnipotent, and protects them all. He says, “No one is able to pluck you out of my hand! I will strengthen you! I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.”
His nature is unchangeable, and His covenant is sure; therefore He will be to us, and do for us, all that He has promised to us!
Scripture history unfolds God’s love to, and the method of his dealing with His children. He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever!”
What a mercy, to have a Father–and such a Father!
What anastounding blessing, to have God for our Father–in a world like this, and in times like these!
What a comfort, to look up to the High and Lofty one who inhabits eternity, and rejoice that He has a father’s heart, and that His heart beats with unutterable love to me!
What an encouragement, to be able in the midst of trials, troubles, temptations, losses, crosses, disappointments, and vexations–to look up to my heavenly Father and say, “I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performs all things for me!”
“Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!”
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10
What kind of a citywas it? Corinth was one of the most worldly and immoral cities of the east. Here was the temple of Venus, with its degrading and disgraceful services. What kind of peoplewere they? “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders northieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. This is the apostle’s own reply to the question.
Observe:
1. The Lord’s people are often found in the most unlikely places! Who would have expected to find God’s chosen people, a multitude of them–in a place so foul, so polluted, so degraded, as Corinth? God’s jewels are often found buried in the worst filth!
2. The Lord chooses the most unlikely people! Who would ever have thought that the Lord would have chosen the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers–to be saved? But He did! God’s people are picked off the foulest dunghills! O the wonders of sovereign grace!
“And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9
This is Paul’s criterion. No matter what a man has, if he does not have the Spirit of Christ–“he does not belong to Christ!”
This divine agent, as the Spirit of Christ, always convinces the soul of its need of Christ. He always leads to the cross of Christ! He will not allow the soul to stop at, or rest in, sacraments, ceremonies, or any duties it may perform. He points to the cross. He leads to the cross. He fixes the sinner’s eye upon the cross. He brings peace to the soul through the cross. He dedicates and devotes the sinner to God’s service at the cross. Every one who has the Spirit of Christ, knows something of the worth, virtue, and efficacy of the cross of Christ.
The Spirit of Christ always conforms to the image of Christ. Christ is the model after which the Spirit works; and by the Word and ordinances, by providence and His own inward operations–He stamps the likeness of Christ upon the soul. He fixes the eye on Jesus, who, as a mirror, represents and sets forth the glory of God; and by looking at Jesus, a divine transformation takes place, and we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Unless, therefore, we have been taught our need of Christ as a Savior; unless we have been led to the cross of Christ to seek salvation there; unless we are in some degree conformed to Christ, and are daily seeking more conformity–we have not the Spirit of Christ. “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
The Spirit of Christ is the greatproof that we are Christ’s. There may be much feeling, a moral reformation, and a profession of religion, without this. But if we have the Spirit of Christ, our thoughts will be engaged with Him, our hearts will be going out to Him, and we shall at times long to depart that we may be with Him, and see Him as He is!
The Spirit of Christ always renders Christ precious, and produces the highest possible esteem of Him.
The Spirit of Christ always makes its possessor like Christ. Not perfectly, here on earth–yet He kindles and keeps alive a desire for perfect likeness. This is the great, the grand, the habitual aim of the soul, always and everywhere–to be like Christ!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!” Romans 8:18
Paul compares present sufferings, with future glory.
Believers are exposed to all kinds of suffering–and instead of obtaining an exemption from afflictions, they are assured that it is through much tribulation that they must enter into the kingdom of God.
Some endure inwardsuffering, with which no one is fully acquainted but God Himself. They have such darkness, gloom, distress, agitation, trouble, and sorrow–as would not be easy to describe.
Some suffer much in body, from the stressed and disordered state of the nervous system, from chronic diseases, or deformities in the physical frame. They seldom move without suffering, and for years together have but little freedom from weakness and pain. They live a life of suffering, a kind of dying life, and think much of Heaven as of a place where there is no more pain.
Some suffer much financially. Scarcely anything seems to prosper with them, losses, crosses, and opposition meet them at every turn. And though they live honestly, and conduct their business honorably–they are thwarted, hindered, and filled with perplexity. No one can tell what they suffer from financial trials and difficulties.
Others suffer from reproach, misrepresentation, strife, and persecution in the world, or in the Church, or both! No one seems to understand them, or is prepared to sympathize with them; they are like “a sparrow alone upon the house-top.” False friends and open enemies unite to trouble and distress them, so that they often sigh, and say, “O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest!”
Others in the domestic circle, or from some of the relationshipsof life, are called to suffer long and seriously.
But whether from trouble of mind, sickness of body, trials in business, family difficulties, or persecution for Christ’s sake, all suffer, and most believers suffer much!
But compare their present sufferings, with their future glory: Glory which will exclude all pain and suffering; all sin and sorrow! Glory beyond the reach of all foes and the cause of all trouble! Glory which includes happiness; perfect, perpetual, never-ending happiness! Glory which includes honor; the highest, holiest, and most satisfying honor! Glory, or splendor, which will fill the soul, clothe the body, and dignify the entire person forever!
Filled with light, peace, and joy; clothed with beauty, brightness, and magnificence, they will appear with Christ in glory, filling them with wonder and unutterable delight!
This glory will be possessed by us, as part of our marriage portion and inalienable inheritance. But we can form no adequate idea of that glory, for “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9
A Christian minister was dying. He had a young sister whom he tenderly loved, and in whose welfare he felt the deepest interest. She came to pay the last visit, and receive from his lips the last words of advice. The words of a dying minister, realizing the value of the soul, and the solemnity of eternity, are important words. Taking her by the hand, and fixing his eyes upon her with a loving look, he said: “Keep close to Christ!”
What could he say of more import? Her life-lesson was comprised in four words: “Keep close to Christ!” She had come to Jesus, she loved Jesus, she found happiness in Jesus; but the dying brother knew . . . the deceitfulness of the human heart; the power of the world’s fascinations, and the craft and subtlety of Satan, therefore he exhorts: “Keep close to Christ!”
May the Lord give us grace to get near to Him; and then give us more grace, to keep near to Him; for alas! how many of us, like Peter, follow Him afar off! What must we do, to keep close to Jesus?
We must keep close to His Word. Here He . . . reveals His mind, displays His love, and exhibits His beauty!
It is a revelation of His deepest, sweetest, kindest thoughts!
It is an exhibition of His infinite, eternal, deathless love!
It is a mirror in which we may see His unparalleled beauty and excellency!
No one can keep close to Jesus who does not daily, seriously, and prayerfully read His Word. That Word . . . received into the heart by faith, digested by meditation, and reduced to practice in the life, will bring the soul and Christ together!
For the more we know of Christ, the more we shall love Him; the more we shall prize, pant for, and seek to enjoy His presence!
Blessed Spirit, help us so to read the Word, as always to find Christ in it; and by it endear Him more and more unto us, and bring us into closer fellowship with Him!
There are usually two sides: the one dangerous, the other safe; the one is uncertain, and the other is sure.
It is always the wisest to be found on the safe side!
Look at the unbeliever: He denies the Bible to be God’s book. He walks by his own reason. He gratifies his senses and his lusts. He lives in sin. He must soon die. He has no Savior. He has no true hope. If the Bible is false, then he is safe. BUTif the Bible is true, then he is damned forever!
He is certainly not on the safe side!
There are many things in the Bible which he does not like. He is prejudiced against it. It never prophecies good concerning him, but always evil. It requires him to change his present sinful course, but he loves it. He loves sin, and the Bible condemns it. He gratifies the lusts of the flesh, and the Bible bids him to mortify them. In a word, there is as much opposition between the Bible and him, as between: light and darkness, holiness and sin, truth and error. Therefore he hates it!
At the best, with him all is uncertain, unsatisfactory, and vexatious. He is certainly not on the safe side!
Now look at the true Christian: He believes the Bible to be from God, he has examined it, he has evidence of its inspiration in his heart, he fully believes it. What the Bible says of himself as a sinner, he knows to be true. What it says of Jesus as a Savior, he has proved to be a fact. As guilty, he has applied to God for pardon, and obtained it. As impure, he has sought the cleansing operations of the Holy Spirit, and has experienced them. His guilt is gone, therefore he has no slavish fears. His soul is justified, therefore he has peace with God. He approves of the inspired precepts, and regulates his life by them. He carries his cares to God, and is sustained under them. He realizes that God is his Friend, his Father, and his everlasting Portion! He is peaceful. He is often happy. To him death has no sting, and eternity has no terror. He knows Jesus as his Savior, and trusts in Him. He knows God as his Father, and walks with Him. He knows the HolySpirit as his comforting Teacher, and listens to Him.
He is, perhaps, more tried than the unbeliever–but he has supports, consolations, and pleasures, of which the unbeliever knows nothing. He lives . . . to bless others, to honor God, to prepare for a glorious immortality.
He would not change his worst day, for the unbeliever’s best day!
He is on the safe side!
If the unbeliever should be right, then the Christian is no loser.
But if the Christian is right, and he is–then the unbeliever is the biggest loser, aninfinite loser!
Reader, on which side are you? There is but one safe side.
There is no safety for a sinner now, but at the Cross!
There will be no safety at death and judgment, but in Christ!
He who is on the safe side now, will be on the safe side then!
There will be no changing sides then!
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne! All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separatethe people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand, and the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world!’ (the safe side) Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons!’ (the perilous side) And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life!” Matthew 25:31-46
No condition can possibly be more dreary, than to feel that no one lovesor caresfor us!
There is something peculiarly sweet and pleasant, in being the object of another’s love. Even the love of a poor child is sweet. But to be loved by one who is most wealthy, most exalted in station, and most honorable in character–must be peculiarly delightful!
How, then, should we rejoice; how happy should we be–who are loved by the Lord Jesus! Especially when we consider: on the one hand . . . how despicable, how poor, how worthless, and how unlovely WE are! And, on the other hand . . . how glorious, how wealthy, how worthy, how lovely JESUS is!
To be loved by Jesus, is to be preferred before the possession of a world!
Think of . . . the glory of His person, the vastness of His possessions, the number of His angelic attendants, the unlimited sovereignty which He exercises, and the excellent character He bears!
Also bear in mind that He knew what loving us would cost Him–how He would be treated by us and by others, for our sakes!
Yet He fixed His love upon US!
He loved US, just because He would!
He passed by others more dignified in nature, more exalted in station–but He chose US!
He did not, could not, NEED us–for He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
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Go to Him just as you are, and receive from Him all you need!
(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Morning Visit”) “Come unto Me!” Matthew 11:28
Jesus calls you to His throne of grace. He is there waiting to hear, relieve and bless you. You are to go to Him just as you are, and receive from Him all you need.
He will give you: wisdom, to direct your steps; peace, to keep your hearts; strength, to do His will; righteousness, to justify your souls; and rest, unspeakably sweet.
He is glorified in bestowing these blessings upon you. He calls you this morning, this moment–to receive all you need, without money and without price. What a precious Savior is Jesus! What a kind and tender Friend!
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
“Come!” He says, “Come to Me!
Do not go to SELF, to the world, to the empty cisterns which creatures idolize; but come unto Me, and I will do immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine! Your sins, I will pardon; your graces, I will revive; your comforts, I will restore; your holiness, I will increase; your efforts to glorify Me, I will crown with success; I will bless you, and you shall be a blessing!”
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Our great lesson!
(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Morning Visit”) “I will instructyou.” Psalm 32:8 At best we know but little, and we are slowto learn. But the Lord has promised to instruct us. The Lord’s teaching always produces . . . humility, self-loathing, confidence in God, zeal for His glory, and heart devotion to Him!
The Lord’s teaching always . . . brings us to the feet of Jesus, and delivers us from the present evil world.
Under Divine instruction we learn . . . the true nature of sin, the vanity of the world, the emptiness of creatures, and the fullness and preciousness of Christ!
Is God willing to instruct us? Then let us be early and often at His throne of grace, praying, as the Psalmist did, “Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me; for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5
Then shall we exclaim, as Elihu did, “God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him!” Job 36:22
The Lord will teach us to profit, and sanctify us through the truth He imparts.
Christ isour great lesson, and to know Him rightly is life, peace and joy!
Is Jesus your Teacher? Then . . . sit at His feet, treasure up His Words, and show forth His praise!
He says, “Learn of Me.” Learn to . . . know Him, love Him, obey Him, and live upon Him!
“Teach me Your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path!” Psalm 27:11
“Learn from Me–for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
All of Christian life is a school. “Learn from Me,” said the Master. We are only beginners when we first become Christians, and enter Christ’s school. We begin at the lowest grade. We do not have to wait until we know a great deal before we begin to attend school. School is not for finished scholars, but for the most ignorant. We may come to Christ when we know almost nothing. He is the teacher, and all believers are learners.
“Learn from Me–for I am gentle.” Gentleness is a lesson which we are to learn. It will probably take us a good long while to learn this lesson, but we must learn it because it is in Christ’s curriculum for all His students.
Contentment is another lesson which we must learn. When he was well along in life, Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being contentin any and every situation.” It was a long and difficult lesson for him to learn.
Patience is a lesson that has to be learned. An impatient person is not a complete Christian.
Thoughtfulness is a necessary lesson. There are a great many thoughtless Christians. They are always blundering in their interactions with others. They say the wrong word, they do the wrong thing. They are always hurting other people’s feelings, giving pain to gentle hearts. Yet it is all from thoughtlessness. “I didn’t mean to offend him. I didn’t mean to be unkind. I just never thought!” There are few lessons in Christian life that more people need to learn, than this of thoughtfulness.
We have to learn to trust. Worry is a sin. It is probably as great a sin as dishonesty or profanity or bad temper. Yet a good many Christian people worry, and one of the most important lessons in Christ’s school, is to learn not to worry.
Kindness is a lesson we must learn. It takes many years to learn the one little lesson of kindness.
Joy is a lesson to be learned.
Peace is another.
Humility is another necessary lesson.
Praise is a great lesson. All of life is a school, and it is in learning these lessons that Jesus says we shall find rest for your souls. Christ Himself is our teacher, and with Him we should never fail to learn, though it be only slowly. Then as we learn our lessons, our lives will grow continually more and more into quietness, peace and Christlikeness.
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“The Christian is not superficial in any sense, but is fundamentally serious and fundamentally happy. You see, the joy of the Christian is a holy joy, the happiness of the Christian is a serious happiness. … it is a solemn joy, it is a holy joy, it is a serious happiness; so that, though he is grave and sober-minded and serious, he is never cold and prohibitive.” ― David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
Who has not felt vexation? Who knows not what it means?
The infant in its cradle, the schoolboy at his play, youth in all its vitality, manhood in its prime, and especially old age— all, all have felt vexation!
My soul, you know it well! Your sins, your fallen nature, your infirmities–all lay you open to vexation. How easily irritated you get! How quick to feel offenses! How swift to gather sorrows to yourself through your excess of sensitivity! Often have you murmured at your lot, rising in mutiny against your Maker! How often has your patience failed! What trifles have often wounded you! Some scheme of pleasure has been thwarted–and you were quite vexed! A rainy day, or even some trifling inconvenience–has often ruffled your composure. How often a kind reproof, a friendly warning–some imagined slight–a look–a smile withheld, and yet with no intention of unkindness–has filled you with vexation! How often has . . . wounded pride; a humbling sense of your infirmities; a deep conviction of your lack of judgment; the fear of standing low in man’s opinion –vexed you beyond expression!
My soul, you are not singular in your vexation. Go where you will, you will find it. The world is full of vexation. “All is vexation of spirit!”
This does not mean that . . . woes may lawfully be brooded over, or sense of injuries may be cherished in the soul, or that morbid feelings may be indulged in, or that moody silence, brooding vexation, and carking care–are healthful for the soul! Oh, no!
If God is true, if Scripture precept has its weight, and promises their meaning–then vexation, O my soul, should have no part in you! Open you must be to its trials day by day. But . . . where is your grace; where is your holiness; where is your consistency; where is your strength, your comfort, and your steadfastness –if you are conquered by vexation?
Have you, then, learned of Christ, the lowly and the meek One–and not found rest for your soul? (Matthew 11:29.) Have you learned your lesson so badly? Go, learn it over again. Fight, then, against this habit of vexation. Give it no place within you. Look to the Comforter to help you. Taste the tranquility of God. Take every trial, as it rises, to Jesus, your Savior-Friend. Then peace shall be your portion–not vexation.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid!” John 14:27
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:7
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A life-giving stream for parched pilgrims!
The Word and the Spirit are so intimately conjoined, that we are scarcely warranted in thinking of the one without the other. The Word does not operate without the Spirit’s agency; and the Spirit does not work apart from the Word.
It was by the Spirit’s inspiration that the Word was first given, for “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
It is by the Spirit that we are enlightened (Ephesians 1:17, 18), yet the Word is the means He employs.
It is by the Spirit that we are sanctified (Romans 15:16), yet not apart from the Truth (John 17:17).
It is by the Spirit, that we are strengthened (Ephesians 3:16) as He causes the Word to dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16).
It is by the Spirit, that we are comforted (Acts 9:31) as He applies the Divine promises to our hearts.
How appropriate, then, that the grand instrument employed by the Spirit of grace, should be termed “the Word of His grace.”
The “Word of His grace” proclaims . . . rest for the weary, pardon to the guilty, justification to the ungodly, adoption to the outcast, eternal heavenly treasures for spiritual paupers!
It is “the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” who are to be called to the feast which free grace has spread! (Luke 14:13)
“The Word of His grace” not only instructs us where grace is to be found, and how further supplies of it are to be obtained–but it is the principal medium through which grace is actually imparted to the soul. It is a life-giving stream for parched pilgrims–as they journey through this “wilderness of sin.”
As its sacred pages are reverently perused– the mind is instructed, the conscience is enlightened, the affections are warmed, and the will is moved.
As its exceeding great and precious promises are meditated upon and treasured up in the heart–new strength is imparted to the soul.
As its holy precepts are turned into earnest prayer–help is obtained for the discharge of duty.
As its timely warnings and admonitions are heeded–temptations lose their power and the snares of Satan are avoided.
As its cheering revelation of what God has prepared for those who love Him is received by faith–new hope is kindled in the heart, and the trials of life are borne with greater fortitude. And as the end of the journey is neared–death loses its terrors and the call to leave this “valley of tears” becomes more desirable.
Without “the Word of His grace” we would be mariners upon the sea of life–without chart or compass!
“Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified!” Acts 20:32
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The transforming power of the Spirit!
(J.C. Ryle, “The Lord’s Garden“) “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.” Romans 1:7
Believers are separated from the world by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit calls them out from the world, and separates them as effectually as if a wall were built between them and it. He puts in them . . . new hearts, new minds, new tastes, new desires, new sorrows, new joys, new wishes, new pleasures, new longings.
He gives them . . . new eyes, new ears, new affections, new opinions.
He makes them new creatures. They are born again–and with a new birth they begin a new existence. Mighty indeed is the transforming power of the Spirit!
“No longer will there be any curse!” Revelation 22:3 Our beautiful world, filled with the wonderful works of God, bears evident tracesthat it is not what it was created at first. It bears everywhere, the marks of a great change–which change is accounted for in the Bible by the fall of Adam. God made everything very good–but man sinned, and the curse came upon himself and the whole creation! Though still beautiful, yet how much is its beauty marred and defaced! Now, thorns and thistles spring up, where once were only lovely flowers and sweet fruits. The wild beasts of the forest, though still beautiful in outward form–now possess violent and ferocious dispositions; and the beasts of burden groan under the tyranny of man. Man himself is subject to labor and toil, to sorrow and sickness and death. Even his most innocent enjoyments are marred by sin!
But thanks be to God, the promise of deliverance from the curse sounds in our ears in this blessed Scripture, “No longer will there be any curse!” Where then, is this land of blessing and perfection? It is that Paradise which Christ has gone to prepare for His people; that “Rest which remains for the people of God.”
Here on earth, even our very blessings are mixed with signs of the curse. But there shall be no more curse in our Heavenly home: no more toil and labor, no more weariness and faintness, no more hunger or thirst, no more bitter cold or burning heat, no more disappointment, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more sickness, no more death!
In Heaven there shall be no more curse, but all will be the perfection of bliss. Who can conceive the happiness of such a state? For this, the whole creation groans and travails in pain, eagerly waiting for its consummation.
Let us, then, who have such exceedingly great and precious promises, when sighing under the effects of the curse in any of its forms–gladly turn our thoughts to meditate on Heaven’s glorious realities! And when admiring the beautiful works of God, which still exist to show us what they once were–let us also turn our thoughts to the greater beauty and glory of our Paradise above!
March 21, 2024 
iChristian 
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