Tag Archives: Truth in love

#28 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#28. Will not love to Jesus best help us to PERSEVERE in the Christian race?           

When trials, suffering and persecution come, only those who truly love Jesus will be able to endure.

 

CONCLUSION 

What shall I say to advance Jesus in your esteem, that you might love Him? Is He not a comprehensive good? Is He not eminently all? There is no goodness in the creature, but it is formally, or virtually, in Jesus. 

Is there wisdom in the creature? There is more in Jesus. 
Is there beauty or power in the creature? There is much more in Jesus. 

“For it pleased the Father, that in Him should all fullness dwell.” Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” This is the One whom I beg you to love. This is He who is altogether lovely and desirable

Consider now, I plead with you–can you ever imagine a better offer than Jesus? Can you find a better match for your soul? Can you say all this, or any one of all these things–concerning the objects you have loved previous to Jesus?

Oh then say, “I never understood the loveliness of Christ before this! How has sin fooled me! How has the world bewitched me! How has my foolish wicked heart deceived me–that I have lavished my love upon the creature and sin–when there was a Christ to love! Such a Christ to love! Such a good as is not to be found in all the world! Now He alone shall have my heart, my love–my all!”

#27 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#27. Is not love to Jesus the best help against the TEMPTATIONS of Satan?         

Is not Satan your enemy? Is not your heart sometimes anxious to yield to him? But love to Jesus would garrison your hearts, fortify your souls, and make you courageous and resolute against all the batteries of Satan and the assaults of sin. It would make you watchful against the allurements and amusements of the world, so that you would say, “Shall I offend my dearest Lord? Shall I displease Him who has done me such good, such everlasting good? Oh! how can I do this great evil, and sin against Him whom I love!” Do you not find that love forbids, and exceedingly restrains–from grieving, offending or wronging the one whom you entirely love? 

#26 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#26. Is not love to Jesus the most universally NECESSARY love?        

One man loves one thing, and a second another, and a third another. But there is no necessity that all men should love any one thing–except for Jesus, and things pertaining to our having and enjoying Him. Love to Jesus is absolutely necessary for poor and rich, for great and small, for noble and low-born, for learned and unlearned, for slave and free. 

#25 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#25. Is not love to Jesus the most PROFITABLE love?      

“What is a man profited, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” By loving Jesus you shall have such a gain that no man can value, that no mind can estimate, that no mathematician, by all his numbers and figures, can compute–even . . .  pardon of innumerable sins,   the favor of an infinite and holy God,   deliverance from inconceivable torments,   possession of endless bliss, and   more than I, or any man, can describe or comprehend! 

#24 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#24. You should never have any cause or reason to be ashamed to love Jesus.    

Is not the time coming, and the day hastening, when . . .  covetous men shall be ashamed of loving the world,   and voluptuous men ashamed of loving their pleasures,   and ambitious men ashamed of loving their honors? For is it not a horrid shame, that a rational creature should be so debased as to love sin which is most loathsome, and not to love Jesus who is most lovely? That he should love deformity, and not beauty?

Oh shame, shame! It is a shame that sin should have such esteem, and Jesus such great contempt put upon Him. But shame shall before long confound these now shameless wretches, when they shall cry out, “We are ashamed that we loved filthy lucre, and not Jesus–that we loved houses, lands, lusts, and not Jesus. This is the confusion of our faces, and shame covers us–that we should be so foolish, and so blind, that we had not sense, nor reason, to distinguish between sin, which is the greatest and most odious evil–and Jesus who is the greatest and most lovely good.” 

But the time will never come, the day will never be–that a gracious soul shall be ashamed of his sincere love to Jesus Christ. 

#23 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#23. Is it not great condescension in Jesus, that He will so kindly accept your love?  

Shall one so great, accept of the love of one so inferior? Shall one so holy, accept the love of one that is so sinful? Shall one so glorious, accept the love of one so vile? Do great men value the love of beggars? Do princes value the love of peasants? Would a man of noble birth and wealth, marry a diseased and deformed woman clothed in rags? 
I think, considering who Jesus is, and who you are–that you should say, “If Jesus will allow me, I will love Him.” Allow you! Not only so, but He gives you a command to love Him, and that upon pain and peril of everlasting damnation! 

#22 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#22. Does not Jesus DESERVE your love? 

Do you not owe it to Him? 

Is it not due to Him by virtue of creation? Did not He give your being to you?

By virtue of preservation, has not Jesus kept you out of the grave and Hell until this day? Justice would have hewn you down, and wrath would have condemned you long ago. And who has procured a pardon for you but Christ? That you are on this side the torments of the damned, not beyond praying, and hearing, and hoping–is all through Christ’s securing for you longer time. Except by virtue of Jesus’ provision for you, you would not have had a rag for your back, nor a morsel for your mouth, nor sleep for your eyes.

By virtue of redemption, when you were worse than nothing–did not He lay down His soul, His life, His blood, as a ransom price for you?

If your love is due to Him in so many ways, what injustice will it be for you to deny Jesus that which is His due? Are you not careful to give to everyone what you owe them? And does it not ease your mind, that though you are not rich, yet you have given every one his due? Do you not work, and care, and save to give to all what you owe them–and shall Jesus be the only one to whom you will be unjust? If you have not enough to satisfy all your creditors, yet if there is one whom you love and bear more respect unto–how sure you will be to repay that one first. You should say, “Though I cannot do as much as I would like, yet Jesus shall not be a loser by me. He shall have my heart and love!”

#20 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#20. To truly love YOURSELVES, you must love Jesus supremely. 

 Does that man truly love himself, who does not regard the salvation of his soul–who ruins himself, and damns himself, and shuts himself out of Heaven? Does that man truly love himself, who exposes himself to the wrath of God, to the damnation of Hell, and to banishment from the glorious presence of the blessed God? All these things a man brings upon himself for lack of love to Jesus. If then you desire to truly love yourself, you must love Jesus supremely.

#19 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#19. Will you love worldly things, which you might easily love too much–and not Jesus whom you can never love too much? 

 You might love your riches, your relations, your pleasures, yourself, your liberty and your life too much. In these things your love might easily be too much and transgress the lawful bounds. And indeed, so much love as you give to these things, more than to Jesus–is too much love. But if you were able to bear it, and could you love Jesus with as much love as all the angels in Heaven love Him–it would not be too much love for Him. Many have complained they loved Christ too little, but no one ever said that Jesus had too much of their love. God blames you, and your conscience accuses you–for your inordinate love to things on earth. But neither God nor conscience will condemn you for the highest degrees of love to Jesus.

#18 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#18. Can you do anything less than love Jesus–and can you do anything more? 

 

Jesus has done such great things for you, is it not a small thing that Jesus should have your love in return? If Jesus had asked you to lay down your life for Him, had He called you to give your bodies to be burned for Him–would you not have done it? How much more when He says, “just let your hearts but burn in love unto Me”–when that burning will not be painful, but delightful! 
When Naaman came to the prophet to be cleansed of his leprosy, being directed to go and wash in the Jordan that he should be clean–in anger he went away. But his servant came to Him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when He says unto you–wash, and be clean?” In the same way, if Jesus had required some great thing, that you might escape great torments, and be partaker of His great salvation–would you not have gladly done it? How much rather, then, when He says, “Love Me, and be saved?”
When you have received a great kindness from a friend whom you cannot repay, do you not say, “I cannot do less than love him”. Yet this small thing of loving Jesus is of greater value to Him than all else. You pray to Him, but to love Him is better. A heart full of love means more to Jesus than a thousand prayers full of the most eloquent expressions, without love. You study His Word, but to love Him is better. You might suffer for Him, but to love to Him is better. Should you give all your goods to the poor, and your body to the fire for Him–yet to give your heart and to love Him is still better. And, indeed, except all the former things proceed from love and are accompanied with love–they are not pleasing to Jesus.

#17 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#17. Is it not the WISEST CHOICE to love Jesus, and not the things of this world? 

Everyone loves something. And do those act as rational creatures, as men endued with reason–who do not love Jesus, but give their affections to the world and sin? They love that which cannot love them back, nor satisfy them, and which they must soon part with. “He who loves silver shall never be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This is also meaningless.” “Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.” “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.”

Might you not be rich today, and poor tomorrow? Healthy today, and sick tomorrow? In honor today, and in disgrace tomorrow? Was it not so with Haman? 
When you have riches and love them, you are not sure to keep them. Will you set your eyes, your heart and your love, “upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings, and fly away as an eagle towards heaven.” Death carries the lovers of this world far away–far from the things they love. The pleasures of sin, and also the profits of the world, are but for a season; and when the season is over, they are gone! But Jesus will never leave you, nor ever forsake you! 

#16 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#16. Is not love to Jesus the most ENDURING love?

It is a love that shall never end. Before long, everyone will be done loving this world–even those who love it most and have their hearts most set upon it. Those who now have their hearts full of earth, shall soon have their mouths full of earth, when their bodies lie rotting in the earth–then they will be done loving it. Death, which ends their life in this world–shall end their love to this world!
But you, the true lover of Jesus, shall never be done loving Him. It is sweet to love Jesus, but this makes it even more sweet–to think you shall ALWAYS love Him–love Him in life, love Him in death and love Him after death. Oh blessed love that shall never be lost, but last forever!
What can those who never loved Jesus in this world, love in the next world? What can damned souls in Hell love? 
Can they love God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, angels or believers? No! their hatred to all these is, and shall be, more deeply rooted in them than it ever was while upon earth. 
Can they love their location in Hell? No, they will wish they never had come there. 
Can they love the pains of Hell? No, they grieve and groan under these torments, and are weary to bear them.
Can they love the devils in Hell? No, they curse them for tempting them to the sin which brought them to their place in Hell. 
Can they love their companions in Hell? No, they are an aggravation of one another’s misery.
Can they love their sin in Hell? Alas! all that was pleasurable in sin is gone, and only the pain and sting of sin remain. 
Can they love their being in Hell? They had rather die than live, and cease to be at all–than to continue to be in Hell.
Oh loathsome place, where there is, and can be, no love!
Oh! how lovely is Heaven to us! Where love reigns and where love lives! Our life shall be forever a life of love! 
Dear Lord! save me from Hell, because in Hell there is no love to You, nor to anything that is good. Sweet Savior! lead me in the way to Heaven, and bring me there, where love to You shall live and last forever!

#12 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#12. Is not love to Jesus the SWEETEST love?         

The one who loves other things instead of Jesus, loves nothing but vanity–and to love vanity will prove troublesome. He who loves riches has disturbing sorrow, fretting fears, and perplexing, anxious cares.

So without love to Jesus, love to other things will always be a bitter love. Oh now, how sorry I am that ever I loved the world as I have done–that ever I loved my pleasures, my sin as I have done. But you will never have cause to say, I am sorry that ever I loved Jesus. Never was such a word ever heard. Those who never repent of their love to the world and sin–their worldly love will certainly end in sorrow, and with bitterness of soul be sadly lamented in Hell. But what contentment, satisfaction, delight, comfort and joy is there in the loving of Jesus! None can tell so well, as those who love Him.

#10 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#10. Has not Jesus DESERVED your love–by what He has suffered, done, given, purchased, promised and prepared for you?      

Behold the wounds which He has endured for you! Behold the crown of thorns on His head, that there may be a crown of glory upon your head! Behold Him dying, that you might live! Behold Him suffering, that you may be saved! Behold Him poor, that you may be made rich with the best, surest and most durable of riches. Behold Him condemned, that you may be absolved!Behold Him in an agony, that you might have rest and ease in glory.Behold Him bearing the cross, and the cross bearing Him–that you might not bear the curse! Behold Him bearing the Father’s wrath–that you might be made the subject of His grace, and the object of His everlasting love!

And now tell me–does not this Jesus deserve your love? Should you love any other like Him, when none other has done so much for you as He has done? Does the small kindness of a fellow creature draw out your love–and shall not all these great things that Jesus has done for you, kindle a fire of love towards Him? How can you bear not to love Him?

#9 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#9. Is not Jesus a SURE GOOD?     

Other things God may give, and afterwards call for them back again, “Therefore I will take away My grain when it ripens, and My new wine when it is ready. I will take back My wool and my linen…” Hosea 2:9. But God never said, “I gave such a man my Jesus, but I will take Him away.” God may take riches out of your hand; but if you once receive the Lord Jesus, God will never take Jesus out of your heart.

#6 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#6. Is not Jesus the most NECESSARY GOOD to you? 

Do you need food so much when you are hungry, or liberty so much when you are in prison, or medicine so much when you are sick–as much as Jesus when you are a sinner? 

You could never have been truly happy, pardoned, reconciled, and forever saved without Jesus. Jesus is needful, because without Him, your sin-sick soul would have no cure. He gave you the choicest and the richest cordial. And when you die, He will secure your departing soul. And after death, He will be your friend forever. When all worldly things shall leave you at your grave, Jesus will be yours forever!

#5 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#5. Is not Jesus a SPECIAL GOOD to you? 

When He was given by special love, to a chosen people, and brings with Him incredible privileges! All other things you might love are as common to lost people, as well as to the saved. Though a worldly man, whose heart and hands and house, are full of the world, might say, “Riches are mine”–yet he cannot truly say, “Jesus is mine”. Let Jesus have the best of your love, because you are the object of His special, electing, redemptive love!

#2 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#2. Is not Jesus the most SUITABLE GOOD for you? 

Is liberty so suitable to a captive man, or bread to a hungry man, or health to a sick man, or ease to a suffering man–as Jesus is to a sinful man? Were you not lost, undone and in danger to be eternally damned? Jesus was your Savior, your Keeper and your Redeemer. “The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost!” “Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.” Jesus is “Mighty to save!”

Were you not ignorant, dark and blind, not knowing the way to Heaven and eternal happiness? Did not you weary yourself trying to find the gate of life, and yet missed it when you had done all you could? Jesus became your Teacher and your Guide, to infallibly direct you to Heaven. He anointed your eyes with His eye-salve, even though you were born blind, and then He gave you spiritual sight. Now you are able to see your lost estate, the beauty of Jesus, and the way of salvation.

Were you not sick, and full of spiritual diseases–abounding with soul-ailments? Were you not sick and near to eternal death? Jesus was your able and skillful Physician. None whom He has undertaken to cure, has ever yet perished under His hands. For rather than you justly die of your soul’s disease, He made a potion for you out of His own blood, which, when you drank it, you were made totally well. Therefore He came to be your soul-physician, that He might save incurable sinners like yourself.

Were you not indebted to God? Did not you owe millions to Him, yet had not a penny to pay? If God were to demand payment from you, would it not have proven your damnation? If His justice were to pursue you, and death arrest you–would not your soul be seized and thrown into the prison of Hell, from where you would never have been delivered, until you had paid the last penny you owe, which would never be? But now that Jesus has loved you, He has become your Substitute and made full payment for your unpayable sin-debt!

Were you not spiritually polluted and vile? Had not the leprosy of sin spread over your understanding, your will, your conscience, your memory and all your affections? So that you were defiled all over, and lay wallowing in your blood, cast out because you were so loathsome to God? In this filthy state, you could never enter into the holy kingdom of God. But Jesus loved you, took away your filthy rags, and gave you a change of clothing made of His perfect righteousness. You said to Him, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” He in love said to you, “I am willing, be clean!” He bathed you in His own blood, and cleansed you from all your sins. Yes, though your sins were as scarlet, they became as white as snow; though they were red like crimson, they became as white as wool.

Were you not a captive to Satan and to sin–drudging elbow deep in the loathsome service of sin? Was not your bondage worse than that of the Israelites in Egypt? And were not Satan and sin as cruel and tyrannical as Pharaoh and his task-masters? Did you not love your chains of sin? Were you not at ease in your shackles? Do you remember how Jesus released you from your fetters? Jesus became your Redeemer and made you free–and then you were free indeed!

Were you not an enemy to God? You were born His enemy, and then continued to live as His adversary. Had you died in this condition, your soul would have been alienated from God forever. But now Jesus has become your blessed peacemaker, and by the blood of His cross He reconciled you to God.

Were you not spiritually dead? Had you not lost the holy image of God? Though you were dead, Jesus gave you spiritual life and eternal glory.

Now, if this was your desperate condition, and Jesus helped you in every respect–then how suitable is He to you? Is not His suitableness to you a foundation for love, and a motive to love Him? What an argument is this to win your heart to Jesus!

You were lost, but Jesus saved you! You were ignorant, but Jesus taught you! You were sick, but Jesus healed you! You were polluted, but Jesus cleansed you! You were a captive to sin and Satan, but Jesus freed you! You were an enemy of God, but Jesus reconciled you! You were spiritually dead, and Jesus gave you spiritual life!

Oh, you never found one so suitable for you! Now, even now, He should be loved by you. O, Jesus is the most excellent object for your love, and you should no longer withhold your devotion from Him. 

#1 ✞ 28 Motives to Love Jesus!

Red Love logo with reflection 

28 Motives to Love Jesus!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

#1. Can you find a more EXCELLENT OBJECT for your love, than Jesus?

If you search through the whole creation, could you find any like Him? Are riches, honors, pleasures, or other relationships comparable to Jesus, whom you ought to love supremely? Should not the highest good be the best object of your love? Can you love lesser things, and not the greatest good? Is not all the goodness in the creature but as a drop compared to the sea, as a candle compared to the sun, as a speck of sand compared to a mountain–when compared to the goodness that is in Jesus? If David were worth ten thousand other men–then is not Jesus, David’s Lord, better than all the world?

The crying evil of both the Church and of the world!

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The crying evil of both the Church and of the world! 

(Thomas Reade, “The Desire of More”) 

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5 

“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or covetous person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a covetous person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world.” Ephesians 5:5 

The love of money
 under every form, insinuates itself into every heart. 

A day is fast approaching when it will be clearly seen whether Christ or Mammon has swayed our affections. 

Covetousness
, in the language of Scripture, is the desire of having more. If we are habitually desirous of riches, for their own sake, we are, in the estimation of God, covetous people, idolaters, the servants of mammon. Our station may be exalted; our profession of religion may be outwardly strict, but still our destruction is sure. 

There are, perhaps, few sins which assume so plausible an appearance; and for which so many excuses are made as for that ofcovetousness. And hence it is that we have need to guard so much the citadel of the heart. 

Covetousness
, eating like a canker, upon the vitals of our religion–is the crying evil of both the Church and of the world! 

What advantage did Lot’s wife, Achan, Gehazi, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira, gain by their desire for more? They reaped shame and death; and now stand as beacons in the Word of God to warn us against their soul-destroying sin! 

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” Luke 9:25 

As foolish as to hope to bind an angel with a string, or to lure a star with music!

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As foolish as to hope to bind an angel with a string, or to lure a star with music! 

(Charles Spurgeon)

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes!” Romans 1:16 

To try to win a soul to Christ by keeping that soul in ignorance of any truth, is contrary to the mind of the Spirit. To endeavor to save men by mere claptrap, or entertainments, or excitements, or oratorical displays–is as foolish as to hope to bind an angel with a string, or to lure a star with music! 

The best attraction is the gospel in its purity. The weapon with which the Lord conquers men, is the truth as it is in Jesus. The gospel will be found equal to every emergency. The gospel is an arrow which can pierce the hardest heart–a balm which will heal the deadliest wound. Preach it, and preach nothing else. Rely implicitly upon the old, old gospel. 

You need no other nets when you fish for men; those your Master has given you are strong enough for the large fish, and have meshes fine enough to hold the little ones. 

Spread those nets and no others, and you need not fear the fulfillment of His Word, “I will make you fishers of men.”

Walking in the truth

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Walking in the truth

(Charles Spurgeon)

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.” 3 John 3 

The truth was in Gaius–and Gaius walked in a the truth. 
If the first had not been the case–the second could never have occurred.
If the second could not be said of him–the first would have been a mere pretense. 

Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it–or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of mere creed–are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the body. But doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. 

Truth must be a living force in us, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the warp and woof of our being. 

It is a rule of nature–that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the center of the lantern through the glass. When, therefore, the truth is kindled within–its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conduct. 

It is said that the food of certain silkworms, colors the cocoons of silk which they spin. In the same way, the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives–gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. 

To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity–the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul–by their manifestation in the man’s life. 

Be it ours today, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by Your divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men. 

What a farce it all is!

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What a farce it all is!

(Arthur Pink)

The vast majority of the churches are in a sorry state! Those that are out-and-out worldly are at their wits end to invent new devices for drawing a crowd. Others which still preserve an outward form of godliness often provide nothing substantial for the soul; there is little ministering of Christ to the heart, and little preaching of sound doctrine without which souls cannot be built up and established in the faith.

The great majority of the pastors summon to their aid some professional speaker, who puts on a high-pressure campaign and secures sufficient new ‘converts’ to take the place of those who have ‘lapsed’ since he was last with them.

What a farce it all is!

In our eagerness to make converts

(A.W. Tozer)

In our eagerness to make converts, I am afraid we have been guilty of using the techniques of modern salesmanship–which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product, and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the hill. If they will but accept Christ–then He will . . .

give them peace of mind,
solve their problems,
prosper their business,
protect their families and
keep them happy all day long.

They believe us and come–and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and that is the last we hear of many of them.

The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be a realist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find Him making over-optimistic promises. He told His hearers the whole truth, and let them make up their minds. He never ran after the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth–to try to win him with rosy promises.

He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost–or He would let them go their ways.

All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the lost world–and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will be felt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that fact from others.

Tongues Like Thrusting Swords

Hi all, wanted to post a seemingly random encouragement this morning! 😀 

Sarah & i have just returned from a hospital appointment(don’t panic it was only a scan, lol) where i was flooded with Bible verses when leaving the waiting room. It was the quickest we have ever been seen and we’re still shocked now we’re back home.

We entered the waiting room and i was trying to navigate to a seat without stepping on anyones feet(that i couldn’t see) which is quite an adventure for me! 😀 And just as we sat down…Sarah’s name was called. Sarah said “Wow that’s amazingly quick, i’ve never been called that quickly before”. We got straight back up and started towards the door when i heard “That’s not fair” from a lady on my right, then “No, that’s not fair” from a lady on my left, then a few people said “No, that’s not fair they’ve just arrived”.

Jesus cautions in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” When evil resides in the heart, it will be exposed in speech,

Before you crucify me, i’m not saying anything about the salvation of the people in the waiting room, only God knows that, it was a shocking reminder for us to take every thought captive before we show our selfishness in speech.Our tongues are like thrusting swords and we were being hacked to death without them even knowing us, or our situation.

As i was leaving through the door of shame, more Bible verses were filling my mind and i couldn’t help but be reminded of how i(and every Brother & Sister in Christ) was chosen while they were selfish sinners, and born again into the Kingdom of God to put off the old man and put on the new. The heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh.

The unbelievers will always follow the pattern of this world. But we are called to be set apart and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God. 

When first reading the verses below as a new babe in Christ, i’d never found anything that described me inside and out with such clarity. We can easily forget what we were before being saved and this terrible(yet hope filled) list is one i always return to when i need encouragement. My hope is that you’ll also be encouraged and thankful to our merciful and Loving Saviour.

Ephesians 4:17-25 Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Christian’s Walk

17 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], 18 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. 19 And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand]. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way! 21 If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], 22 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].

25 Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].

Please be encouraged and season your speech with Grace and speak Truth in Love so we can build up others and not hack them down. God bless you all. 😀


Proverbs 12:18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Radical Truthfulness

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“Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. The conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God’s mercy and grace.”

Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Ignorant Of The Scriptures

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“Why is it so hard to get people to study the Scriptures? Common sense tells us what revelation commands: ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’–‘Search the Scriptures’–‘Be ready to give to every one a reason of the hope that is in you.’ These are the words of the inspired writers, and these injunctions are confirmed by praising those who obey the admonition. And yet, for all that we have the Bible in our houses, we are ignorant of its contents. No wonder that so many Christians know so little about what Christ actually taught; no wonder that they are so mistaken about the faith that they profess.”

William Wilberforce, Real Christianity

Put On Love!

Red Love logo with reflection

Colossians 3:12-14 The Voice

Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together.


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