Tag Archives: Daily Armour

Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds!

September 29, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds! 

(J.C. Ryle)

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things–but only one thing is needed!” Luke 10:41-42

Let us observe what a solemn rebuke our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His servant Martha. Like a wise physician–He saw the disease which was preying upon her, and at once applied the remedy. Like a tender parent–He exposed the fault into which His erring child had fallen, and did not spare the chastening which was required. 

“Martha, Martha,” He said, “you are worried and upset about many things–but only one thing is needed!” Faithful are the wounds of a friend! That little sentence was a precious balm indeed! It contained a volume of practical divinity in a few words!

“Only one thing is needed!” How true that saying! The longer we live in the world, the more true it will appear. The nearer we come to the grave, the more thoroughly we shall assent to it. Health, and money, and lands, and rank, and honors, and prosperity, are all well in their way. But they cannot be called needful. Without them thousands are happy in this world, and reach glory in the world to come. The “many things” which men and women are continually struggling for, are not really necessities. The grace of God which brings salvation, is the one thing needful.

Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds! 
Let it check us when we are ready to murmur at earthly trials. 
Let it strengthen us when we are tempted to deny our Master on account of persecution. 
Let it caution us when we begin to think too much of the things of this world. 
Let it quicken us when we are disposed to look back, like Lot’s wife. 
In all such seasons, let the words of our Lord ring in our ears like a trumpet, and bring us to a right mind! “Only one thing is needed!” 

If Christ is ours–then we have all and abound!

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Poison!

September 28, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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Poison!

(J.C. Ryle)

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked: Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40 

Let us observe what a snare to our souls the cares of this world may be–if allowed to take up too much attention. It is plain from the tone of the passage before us, that Martha allowed her anxiety to provide a suitable entertainment for the Lord, to carry her away. Her excessive zeal for temporal provisions–made her forget, for a time, the things of her soul. 

She brought down on herself a solemn rebuke, and had to learn a lesson which probably made a lasting impression. Alas! how great a matter is kindled by a little fire! The beginning of all this, was a little over-anxiety about the innocent household affairs of this world!

The fault of Martha should be a perpetual warning to all Christians. If we desire to grow in grace, and to enjoy soul-prosperity–then we must beware of the cares of this world. Unless we watch and pray, they will insensibly eat up our spirituality, and bring leanness on our souls. 

It is not open sin, or flagrant breaches of God’s commandments alone, which lead men to eternal ruin. It is far more frequently an excessive attention to things which are in themselves lawful. It seems so right to provide for our own! It seems so proper to attend to the duties of our station! It is just here that our danger lies! Our families, our business, our daily callings, our household affairs, our interaction with society–all, all may become snares to our hearts, and may draw us away from God. We may go down to the pit of Hell from the very midst of lawful things!

Let us take heed to ourselves in this matter. Let us watch our habits of mind jealously, lest we fall into sin unawares. If we love life–then we must hold the things of this world with a very loose hand, and beware of allowing anything to have the first place in our hearts, excepting God. Let us mentally write “Poison!” on all temporal good things. Used in moderation they are blessings, for which we ought to be thankful. But permitted to fill our minds, and trample upon holy things–they become an inevitable curse. Profits and pleasures are dearly purchased–if in order to obtain them we thrust aside eternity from our thoughts, abridge our Bible-reading, become careless hearers of the Gospel, and shorten our prayers. 

A little earth upon the fire within us–will soon make that fire burn low.

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That time has arrived!

September 27, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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That time has arrived! 

(Arthur Pink)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4

That time has arrived! Church-goers today will not endure “sound doctrine.” Those . . .
   who preach the total depravity of man, 
   who insist upon the imperative necessity of the new birth, 
   who set forth the inflexible righteousness and holiness of God, and 
   who warn against the eternal and conscious torment awaiting every rejecter of Christ,
find it almost impossible to obtain a hearing! Such preachers are regarded as puritanic pessimists, and are not wanted. 

In these degenerate times, the masses demand that which will soothe them in their sins–and amuse them while they journey down the Broad Road which leads to eternal destruction! The multitude is affected with “itching ears” which crave novelty and that which will amuse them.

Not only are many of our Seminaries cesspools of spiritual corruption, 
not only are hundreds of our pulpits now filled by traitors to the cause they profess to champion, 
not only is every cardinal doctrine of the faith attacked and denied by the very ones paid to defend them–
but the evil effects of such teaching from our religious leaders have influenced multitudes of souls committed to their care. 

The man in the pew, following the lead of his teachers, has lost faith in the Bible as a Divine revelation, and in consequence, no longer submits to its authority. 

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Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today?

September 26, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? 

(James Smith, “A Help to Devotion” 1859)

“Abide with us–for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” Luke 24:29

The presence of Jesus, is the life and the joy of the saints. When we enjoy it–we dread the thought of losing it; and when we have lost it–we cannot rest until we have regained it. That is a gloomy day–in which the presence of Jesus is not enjoyed; and that is a dreary night–when Jesus is absent from us. 

Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? Has He communed with your spirit, thereby . . .
  strengthening your faith,
  exciting your hope, and
  deepening your comfort? 

If so, I know that your prayer tonight will be, “Abide with me! Yes, precious Lord Jesus, we do beseech You to visit us, converse with us, open up the Scriptures to us, and abide with us. Let us feast our eyes on Your glory–and our hearts on Your grace. With You, we can feel at home–we can be happy anywhere. Without You, we cannot rest, we cannot feel satisfied, we cannot enjoy repose–let us have whatever we may. You have won our heart’s love–You have made yourself the center and source of our comfort. Come, then, and abide with us this evening–and then a blessed evening it will be. Your presence will free us from all our cares, and raise us above all our troubles. Your presence will feast us, refresh us, and make us satisfied with our lot, be it what it may!”

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I am the Devil–I am a deceiver! I will lead you into Hell!

September 25, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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I am the Devil–I am a deceiver! I will lead you into Hell!

(Ralph Venning, “The Plague of Plagues!” 1669)

“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light!” 2 Corinthians 11:14 

The Devil disguises himself as an angel of light–that he may more effectually lead us into darkness. If he were to come like a devil, like an enemy–then everyone would run from him. But he comes masked and puts on the face of a friend–and so he tricks and cheats us. Indeed, he prevails more by his wily subtleties–than by his power. 

If the Devil had come to Eve and spoken to her as follows: ‘I was once a glorious angel and lived above in the Court of Heaven–but I have sinned and am now cast down to Hell. Eat the forbidden fruit–and you will be like me!’ Would this have succeeded? Surely not!

Thus if he came and tempted men to sin, by telling them that sin is the sure way to Hell–would this prevail with them to sin? No! The Devil is a subtle old serpent–he cloaks and paints sin. He covers his hook with a bait–and draws men in before they are aware of it. He is a deceiver–and lest he should be known, he puts on a false garb and disguises himself as an angel of light.

He dare not say, “I am the Devil–I am a deceiver! I will lead you into Hell!“–for that would spoil his wily schemes.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” Matthew 7:15 


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Especially beware of light reading!

September 24, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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Especially beware of light reading!

(Horatius Bonar, “Follow the Lamb” 1861)

“They are more desirable than gold–yes, than much fine gold! Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.Moreover, by them Your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward!” Psalm 19:10-11 

The Christian has discovered one book truer and more precious than all the rest together. Let the Bible be to us the book of books–the one book in all the world whose every verse is wisdom. In studying it, be sure to take it for what it really is–the revelation of the thoughts of God, given us in the words of God. Knowing that we have divine thoughts embodied in divine words–we sit down to the study of the heavenly volume, assured that we shall find the perfection of wisdom in all of its teachings. 

Let us read and re-read the Scriptures–meditating on them day and night. 
They never grow old, they never lose their sap, they never run dry. 

Though it is right and profitable to read other books, if they are true and good–yet beware of reading too many. Do not let man’s book thrust God’s book into a corner! Do not let commentaries smother the text–nor let the good, shut out the best. 
 
Especially beware of light reading! Shun novels–they are the literary curse of the age! If you are a parent–keep novels out of the way of your children. Neither read them yourself, nor set an example of novel-reading to others. Do not let novels lie on your table, or be seen in your hand. The reading of the light novels of the day, has done deep injury to many:
  vitiating their taste,
  enervating their minds,
  unfitting them for life’s plain work,
  eating out their love for the Bible,
  teaching them a false morality, and  
  creating in the soul an unreal standard of truth, and beauty, and love. 

Do not be too fond of the newspaper. Extract matter for thought and prayer out of all that you read. 

Let your reading be always select–and whatever you read, begin with seeking God’s blessing on it. 

But see that your relish for the Bible is above every other enjoyment. The moment you begin to feel greater relish for any other book–lay it down until you have sought deliverance from such a snare, and obtained from the Holy Spirit a more intense relish, and a keener appetite for the Word of God!

“Your words were found, and I ate them. And Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart!” Jeremiah 15:16

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The hell of Hell!

September 23, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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The hell of Hell!

(Thomas Brooks, “The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures“)

And as there are a diversity of torments in Hell–so the torments of Hell are everlasting. 

“Depart from Me, you who are cursed–into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” Matthew 25:41

The sentence which shall be passed upon them–is eternal.

God Himself, who damns them–is eternal. 

The prison and chains which hold them–are eternal. 

The worm which gnaws them–is eternal. 

The fire which torments them–is eternal. 

Grievous is the torment of the damned–for the bitterness of the punishments. 
It is more grievous–for the diversity of the punishments. 
But it is most grievous–for the eternity of the punishments! 

If, after so many millions of years as there are drops in the ocean, there might be a deliverance out of Hell–this would yield a little ease, a little comfort to the damned. But oh, but this word, ‘Eternity! Eternity! Eternity!’–this word, ‘Everlasting! Everlasting! Everlasting!’–this word, ‘Forever! Forever! Forever!’–will break the hearts of the damned into ten thousand pieces! 

Suppose that the whole world were turned into a mountain of sand, and that a little bird would come once every thousand years and carry away one grain of sand from that heap. What an infinite number of years would be spent before this great mountain of sand would be fetched away! Just so–if a man should lie in everlasting burnings so long a time as this, and then have an end of his woe–it would give him some ease, some hope, and some comfort. 

But when that immortal bird shall have carried away this great mountain of sand–a thousand times over and over–alas, alas, sinful man shall be as far from the end of his anguish and torment as ever he was! He shall be no nearer coming out of Hell–than he was the very first moment that he entered into Hell! 

Suppose, say others, that a man were to endure the torments of Hell for as many years as there are . . .
  sands on the sea-shore,
  drops of water in the sea,
  stars in the heavens, 
  leaves on the trees,
  blades of grass on the ground
–then he would comfort himself with this poor thought, “Well, there will come a day when my misery and torment shall have an end.” 

But woe and alas! this word, “Forever! Forever! Forever!” will fill the hearts of the damned with the greatest . . .
  horror and terror,
  anger and rage,
  bewilderment and astonishment!

If the fire of Hell were terminable–then it might be tolerable. 
But being endless–it must needs be easeless, and remediless. 

The eternity of Hell–is the hell of Hell. 

The damned shall live as long in Hell–as long as God Himself shall live in Heaven!

“The reprobate shall have . . .
  punishment–without pity,
  misery–without mercy,
  sorrow–without support,
  crying–without compassion,
  mischief–without measure,
  and torment–without end!” 

“And they will go away into eternal punishment–but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 

All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were due to the elect–fell on Christ, until divine justice was fully satisfied! “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath–but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 

Oh, exalt that Christ! Oh, extol that Savior–who has saved you from that eternal wrath!

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Nothing less than a LIVING Christ will do for us!

September 22, 2018 by Steve 0 Comments

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Nothing less than a LIVING Christ will do for us!

(J.R. Miller, “Miller’s Year Book–a Year’s Daily Readings”)

“He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:4 

If your faith stops at the cross–it misses the blessing of the fullest revealing of Christ! 

You need a Savior who not merely two thousand years ago went to death to redeem you–but one who also is alive to walk by your side in loving companionship! 

You need a Savior . . .
  who can hear your prayers,
  to whose feet you can creep in penitence when you have sinned,
  to whom you can call for help when the battle is going against you.

You need a Savior who is interested in all the affairs of your common life, and who can assist you in every time of need.

You need a Christ who can be a real friend–loving you, keeping close beside you, able to sympathize with your weaknesses.

You need a Savior who will come into your life, and will save you, not by one great act of centuries past–but by a life warm and throbbing with love today, and living again in you.

A DYING Christ alone, will not satisfy our heart. We must have the living One for our friend! Nothing less than a LIVING Christ will do for us! And that is the Christ the gospel brings to us: one who was dead–and is now alive for ever and ever!

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!” cried the psalmist, and cries every redeemed soul. It is only as we realize the truth of a living Christ–that our hearts are satisfied. We crave love . . .
  a bosom to lean upon,
  a hand to touch ours,
  a heart whose beatings we can feel,
  a personal friendship that will come into our life with . . . 
    its sympathy,
    its inspiration, 
    its companionship, 
    its shelter, 
    its life, and
    its comfort. 

All this, the living Christ is to us!

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” Revelation 1:18

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