Grace Gems for NOVEMBER 2004
A little drop of purity in the midst
of impurity
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
How mysterious is the life of God in the soul.
It seems like a little drop of purity in the midst
of impurity.
We shall always find sin to be our worst enemy,
and self our greatest foe. We need not fear
anything but sin—nothing else can do us any
real injury. Though the Lord in tender mercy
forgives His erring wandering children, yet He
makes them all deeply feel that indeed it is
an evil and a bitter thing to sin against Him.
If Mr. Pride gets a wound in the head
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
"Some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry.
But others preach about Christ with pure motives."
Philip. 1:15
I hope I can rejoice in the Lord's blessing the labors
of other good men. It is indeed a sad spirit when
ministers are jealous of each other, and would
rather cavil and find fault with each other, instead
of desiring that the blessing of God might rest
upon them and their labors. Oh that miserable
spirit of detraction and envy, which would gladly
pull others down, that we might stand as it were,
a little higher upon their bodies! Where is there any . . .
true humility of mind,
simplicity of spirit,
brotherly love, or
an eye to God's glory,
when this wretched spirit is indulged?
If Mr. Pride gets a wound in the head, it
will
not be the worse for the grace of humility.
Our greatest enemy
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
I am more afraid of myself—my lusts and passions,
and strong and horrible corruptions—than of anybody
in the whole world.
SELF is and ever will be our greatest enemy.
And
all our enemies would be as weak as water against
us, were we not such vile wretches in ourselves.
Sin's sweetness and smiles
(Henry Law, "The Burnt
Offering")
Sin's sweetness tempts by its flattering
baits. But bitterness ensues.
It shows enticements in its front.
It seems to call to rich delights.
It promises a honied feast.
But ah! the juice is gall.
The dregs are wormwood.
Sin's smiles end in hell pains!
Poor worldlings snatch at miscalled
pleasure's husk. They eat, and fret,
and pine, and perish!
The sure conclusion of a godless life!
(Henry Law, "Deuteronomy"
1858)
"They always heap up their sins to the limit!
The wrath of God has come upon them at last!"
1 Thes. 2:16
All men are born spiritually dead.
SIN entered with murderous hand.
It planted deep its dagger in the heart.
Knowledge of God,
love of His name,
delight in holy communion,
sweet fellowship with heaven,
the happy worship of unsullied praise,
the blissful gaze on the Creator's smile,
and all the circle of pure joy—
were buried in a deep grave.
The soul became . . .
a total wreck,
a withered tree,
a dried up stream,
a wilderness of weeds,
a starless night,
a chaos of beclouded thought,
a rebel's camp,
the shattered home of misery,
the region in which death reigned.
The eyes were dim and saw not God.
The face was turned away.
Each step led downward.
The hands were lifted in defiance.
The mouth was opened to blaspheme.
Man was a dying body holding a dead soul.
He moved as an unmixed evil—as a sin-spreading pest.
All this is sad—but there are sadder things yet!
This is tremendous woe—but deeper woe comes on!
This is dark night—but darker shades will deepen yet.
This is full wretchedness—but still
the cup may hold more drops.
This fleeting scene must end!
The earthly home must be left!
DEATH comes!
It drives poor sinners to their final home.
And what is that?
Reader, shrink not!
Withdraw the darksome veil.
Look down into the dread abode.
Ponder the lost in their low cells.
HELL is their everlasting doom!
Think not, that hell is the mere phantom of
brain-sick thought. It is no fable fondly framed
to scare weak minds.
It is a dreadful reality!
It is a gigantic certainty!
It is the sure conclusion of a godless life!
It is the gulf, to which transgressing
streams rush hopelessly.
And it is not far away!
It gapes before the feet!
Another step may plunge the ruined into this abyss!
But hearken! There is a Savior, who delivers from
this death. There is a friend, who bestows heavenly
life. Jesus appears, and on the cross endures the
death, and by His righteousness brings in new life.
"Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath!"
1 Thes. 1:10
The muddy waters of this world
(Favell Lee Mortimer, "Family
Devotions")
"Everyone who drinks this water will thirst
again." John 4:13
There is a defect in all earthly pleasures and
comforts—they seem to satisfy us for a little
while, but soon the tormenting thirst returns.
Have we not often experienced the truth of this?
We have partaken of some pleasure, and have felt
satisfied—but O how short was our satisfaction! We
soon become restless and uneasy again.
Thus we continue to thirst until we are made
partakers of the Holy Spirit—then we feel satisfied.
Then we find within ourselves a source of happiness.
What is this source of never-failing delight? It is the
sense of pardoned sin, of God's love in Christ, the
hope of heaven, and of meeting our Redeemer there.
Have you not heard of people racked with pain, who
yet enjoyed a peace that passes all understanding?
Perhaps you have seen such people, and have wondered
at their case. Behold the mystery explained! They drank,
indeed, of no stream of earthly comforts, but there was
in them a well of water springing up that never could be
exhausted, and therefore they did not thirst after the
muddy waters of this world.
"Please, sir give me some of that water! Then
I'll never be thirsty again!" John 4:15
A self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded
people.
(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel
of Luke" 1858)
"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23
See the absolute necessity of daily self denial.
We ought every day . . .
to crucify the flesh,
to overcome the world,
and to resist the devil.
Now what do we know of all this? Surely
this is a question which ought to be asked.
A little formal church going, and a decent attendance
at a place of worship, can never be the Christianity of
which Christ speaks in this place.
Where is our self denial?
Where is our daily carrying of the cross?
Where is our following of Christ?
Without a religion of this kind we shall never be saved.
A crucified Savior will never be content to have a
self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people.
No self denial—no real grace!
No cross—no crown!
"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23
Our own amusement?
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
For what purpose did we come into the world?
Our own amusement?
O no! Yet many live as if they were born merely
to live in pleasure, and then to die like the beasts!
A young lady was once converted by meditating on
the first question in the catechism—"What is the chief
end of man?" The answer, "To glorify God, and enjoy
Him forever." She felt that she was not fulfilling this
end while spending her time in vain and worldly
pleasures. By the grace of God she gave them up,
and became an eminent Christian.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly
things." Col. 3:1-2
"God bless us."
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
"And I tell you this, that you must give an account
on judgment day of every idle word you speak."
Matthew 12:36
The Lord Jesus observes the expressions we use
in our common conversation. He notices every
reproachful word we utter to each other. He also
notices every irreverent word we speak of God.
Let us never forget that He still listens to our words,
and is displeased with every profane expression, such
as, "God bless us." Ungodly people are so
much in the
habit of uttering these exclamations, that they scarcely
know when they use them. They have no reverence for
the majesty of the Almighty God, nor care how they
insult His name.
Editor's note: Though sacrilege (the speaking of God—and
the things of God—in an unthinking, frivolous, trivial way)
is a common sin among professing Christians, God does not
treat such irreverence lightly. "You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain. The Lord will not let you go
unpunished if you use His name in vain." Exodus 20:7
A leprosy in our souls!
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
"But he was a leper!" 2 Kings 5:1
Of all diseases, none represents sin in
a more striking manner than leprosy.
Leprosy is a POLLUTING disease.
It rendered a man unfit to enter the temple, or
even to associate with his fellows; as by God's
law anyone who touched him became unclean.
Thus sin unfits man from entering heaven, and
for the society of spotless saints and angels.
Leprosy is also a SPREADING disease.
It covered a man with white scales from the
crown of the head to the sole of the foot. Thus
sin has defiled all our faculties. It has . . .
disordered our affections,
blinded our understandings,
hardened our consciences,
perverted our wills.
Leprosy is a PAINFUL disease.
The hands and feet of the poor leper are often
eaten away, and in this crippled state he drags
out a miserable existence. But what disease is
as painful as sin—
the swellings of pride,
the tumults of passion,
the anxieties of covetousness,
the gnawings of envy,
the gloom of unbelief?
Leprosy is an INCURABLE disease.
Sin also is incurable by MAN. None can forgive
sins but God alone; none can overcome sins but
God alone. Tears cannot wash out our past sins,
nor can good resolutions keep us from committing
them in time to come.
Having then a leprosy in our souls, let us
imitate the poor leper of whom we read—
A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him
on his knees, "If you are willing, You can make me
clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out
His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He
said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him
and he was cured! Mark 1:40-42
The vain delights of this world
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
How many warnings are there in the
Scriptures against the love of the world.
"The heart of fools is in the house of
pleasure." Ecclesiastes 7:4
"Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers
of God." 2 Timothy 3:4
The unconverted person loves fleshly things.
He only delights in the earth—all his desires
are after the things of the world . . .
its pleasures,
its profit, and
its honors.
But when the Spirit changes a man's fleshly
heart, then he has a spiritual nature—then
he has desires after spiritual things—after
holiness and heaven.
God often permits the servants of Satan
to enjoy the vain delights of this world.
"You have lived on earth in luxury and self
indulgence. You have fattened yourselves
in the day of slaughter!" James 5:5
"She has lived in luxury and pleasure, so
match it now with torments and sorrows!"
Revelation 18:7
If young people spend their money
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
The crowd asked, "What should we do?" John
replied, "If you have two coats, give one to
him who has none. If you have food, share
it with those who are hungry." Luke 3:10-11
John, by his answer, shows us that the
chief sin of the people was covetousness!
Covetousness is the sin of the poor, as well as of
the rich. As we read in Jeremiah 8:10, "Everyone,
from the least, even to the greatest, is given to
covetousness."
Is this sin still very common? It is!
People's hearts are still wrapped up in . . .
their property,
their money,
their clothes,
their houses,
their furniture,
or their lands,
whether they have little or much.
People are so fond of their property that they are
reluctant to part with any of it. But the Word of
God tells us that we should be ready to give.
Those who have more than enough for themselves,
ought to give to those who have less than enough.
The Scriptures do not forbid our saving against old
age or sickness; but they command us to give to
those who are in need.
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The
Lord rescues them in times of trouble." Psalm 41:1
If young people spend their money . . .
in pleasures,
in fancy clothing, or
in useless things,
there is no promise for them to depend upon. But
if they delight in giving to the poor for God's sake,
they shall never be forsaken!
One truly innocent baby
(Favell
Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")
"Every inclination of his heart is evil from
childhood." Genesis 8:21
"I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment
my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5
"We were born with an evil nature, and we
were under God's wrath." Ephesians 2:3
There never was but one truly innocent
baby—it was the infant Savior.
"So the baby born to you will be holy, and
He will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
"One who is holy and blameless, unstained
by sin." Hebrews 7:26
Godly parents cannot convert their children
(Mary
Winslow, "Life in Jesus")
"We were born with an evil nature, and
we were under God's wrath." Ephes. 2:3
"You must be born again." John 3:7
Godly parents cannot convert their children.
God alone can do this. But they can lead them
to Jesus, and bring them up in the fear of the
Lord. And when they have done this, they have
done all they can do; for the Holy Spirit alone
can change the heart. They must be born again.
Christ has said it. It is not a change of sentiment,
nor an outward reformation of life; it is a new
heart implanted by the Holy Spirit.
"They are reborn! This is not a physical birth
resulting from human passion or plan—this
rebirth comes from God." John 1:13
The end will make amends for all!
(Letters of J.
C. Philpot)
What a world it is of sin and sorrow!
How everything serves to remind us
that we are all passing away!
I feel for you in your trials and afflictions,
so various, painful, and multiplied. But
dare I wish you free from what the all-wise,
all-gracious Lord lays upon you? Could
He not in a moment remove them all?
Our Father sees fit in His wisdom and mercy
to afflict His children, and we know that He
would not do so unless it were for the good
of their soul. What can we say then? All we
can do is to beg of the Lord that He would
support, comfort, and bless them.
It is in the furnace that we learn our need of
realities, and our own helplessness and inability.
The furnace also brings to our mind the shortness
of life, and how vain all things are here below.
Affliction are sent to . . .
wean from this world,
make life burdensome,
and death desirable.
I well know that the poor coward flesh is fretful
and impatient under afflictions, and would gladly
have a smoother, easier path. But we cannot
choose our own trials, nor our own afflictions.
All are appointed in fixed weight and measure;
and the promise is that all things shall work
together for good to those who love God.
Wherever we go, and wherever we are, we must
expect trials to arise. But it will be our wisdom
and mercy to submit to what we cannot alter, and
not fret or repine under the trial—but accept it as
sent for our good.
We need trial upon trial, and stroke upon stroke
to bring our soul out of carnality. We slip insensibly
into carnal ease; but afflictions and trials of body
and mind stir us up to some degree of earnestness
in prayer, show us the emptiness and vanity of
earthly things, make us feel the suitability and
preciousness of the Lord Jesus.
The path in which you have been led so many
years is a safe way, though a rough and rugged
way. The end will make amends for all!
The gay and foolish multitude
(Letters of William Tiptaft)
"Who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive?"
1 Cor. 4:7
It is of God's grace if we differ from the gay
and foolish multitude around us.
"By the grace of God I am what I am." 1 Cor. 15:10
Self-sins
(A. W. Tozer, "The Pursuit of God")
"Love is not self-seeking." 1 Cor. 13:5
"They preach with selfish ambition,
not sincerely." Philippians 1:17
To be specific, the self-sins are . . .
self-righteousness,
self-pity,
self-confidence,
self-sufficiency,
self-admiration,
self-love
and a host of others like them.
The grosser manifestations of these self-sins
. . .
egotism,
exhibitionism (attracting attention to oneself),
self-promotion,
are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders,
even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy! They are
so much in evidence as actually, for many people,
to become identified with the gospel. They appear
to be a requisite for popularity in some sections of
the visible church. Promoting self under the guise
of promoting Christ, is currently so common as to
excite little notice.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit."
Philippians 2:3
"But those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Matthew 23:12
Unsaintly saints
(A. W. Tozer)
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander,
as well as all types of malicious behavior." Ephesians 4:31-32
Dispositional sins are fully as injurious to the Christian cause
as the more overt acts of wickedness. These sins are as many
as the various facets of human nature. Just so there may be
no misunderstanding let us list a few of them: sensitiveness,
irritability, churlishness, faultfinding, peevishness, temper,
resentfulness, cruelty, uncharitable attitudes; and of course
there are many more. These kill the spirit of the church and
mar the witness of the church in the community. Many unsaved
people have been turned away and embittered by manifestations
of ugly dispositional flaws in the lives of the very people who
were trying to win them.
Unsaintly saints are the tragedy of
Christianity!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Gal 5:22-23
We are no longer young
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
"My life is but a breath." Job 7:7
"My life passes more swiftly than a runner.
It flees away, filled with tragedy." Job 9:25
My dear friend,
We are no longer young. Life is, as it
were,
slipping from under our feet. It is a poor life
to live to sin, self, and the world—but it is
a blessed life to live unto the Lord.
I never expect to be free from trial, temptation,
pain, and suffering of one kind or another, while
in this valley of tears. It will be my mercy if these
things are sanctified to my soul's eternal good.
I cannot choose my own path, nor would I wish
to do so, as I am sure it would be a wrong one.
I desire to be led of the Lord Himself into the way
of peace, and truth, and righteousness—to walk in
His fear, live to His praise, and die in the sweet
experience of His love.
I have many enemies, but fear none so much as
myself. O may I be kept from all evil and all error,
and do the things which are pleasing in God's sight.
Our days are hastening away swifter than a runner.
Soon with us it will be time no longer, and therefore
how we should desire to live to the Lord, and not
to self!
Yours affectionately in the truth,
J. C. Philpot, June 20, 1861
The bosom of His eternal Love!
(Anne Dutton's
Letters on Spiritual Subjects)
Oh, what heart can conceive, or tongue express,
a thousandth part of that joy and glory which He
has reserved for His people in the world to come,
when He will bid them enter into His own joy, and
He Himself will be their everlasting light and their
glory! Oh, then we shall have the light of life, of
glory-life, in such manner and measure as far
surpasses all our present thought!
Come, lie down by faith, in the bosom of His eternal
Love! It is a sweet, soft bed, that will delight and
refresh you exceedingly! Here is a basin of heavenly
wine, or rather a sea of boundless bliss! Drink your
fill, bathe your soul in pleasures—and shout the
glories, the fullness, the praises of the strong
Jehovah amid all your felt emptiness, weakness,
and imperfections! So shall you be exceeding joyful
and fruitful, and your obedience highly pleasing to
your God and Father, in the Son of His love.
The afflictions of the ungodly
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
"It was good for me to be afflicted." Ps. 119:71
There is a great difference between the
afflictions of the godly, and the afflictions
of the ungodly.
To the godly afflictions are a blessing;
but to the ungodly afflictions are a curse.
Afflictions soften the heart of the godly;
but they harden the heart of the ungodly.
In the case of the godly, afflictions . . .
stir up the grace of prayer,
wean the heart from the world,
bring us to Word of God,
make us consider our latter end,
give power and reality to divine things,
show us the emptiness of all creature religion,
make us look more simply and believingly to
the blessed Lord, to feel how suitable He is to
every want and woe; and that in Him, and in
Him alone, is pardon, acceptance, and peace.
But the afflictions of the ungodly only
produce . . .
sullenness,
self-pity, and
rebellion.
Like a little child in the arms of eternal love
(Letters of J.
C. Philpot)
How I see men deluded and put off with a vain
show, and how few there are, whether ministers
or people, who seem to know anything of the
transforming efficacy of real religion and vital
godliness.
We desire to be more separated from the world
in heart, spirit, and affection; to be spiritually
minded, and to know more of that holiness
without which no man shall see the Lord.
And though we find sin still working in us, and
sometimes as bad as ever, yet our desire is to
have it subdued in its power, as well as purged
away in its guilt and filth.
We have lived to see what the world can do for
us—and found it can only entangle; and what sin
can do—which is to please for a moment and
then bite like an adder.
And we have seen also a little of the Person and
work, blood and righteousness, grace and glory,
blessedness and suitability of the Son of God;
and He has won our heart and affections, so as
at times to be the chief among ten thousand
and the altogether lovely One.
May you experience the sweetness and blessedness
of calmly relying on the faithfulness of God, and lying
like a little child in the arms of eternal love.
Yours very affectionately,
J. C. Philpot
The end of God in all His doings and dealings
(Letters of J.
C. Philpot)
Blessed are those chastenings and those
teachings which bring us to the feet of Christ,
and by which He is made precious to the soul.
This is the end of God in all His doings and
dealings with His people—to strip and empty
them wholly of self, and to manifest and make
His dear Son feelingly and experimentally their
All in all. In Him and in Him alone can we, do
we, find either rest or peace.
The only smile worth having
(Letters of J.
C. Philpot)
All the vain applause of mortals, and all
that is called popularity, I think little of.
It leaves an aching void, and often a guilty
conscience. The blessing of the Lord makes
rich, and all else is poverty, rags, and shame.
Not he who commends himself is approved,
but whom the Lord commends. God's smile,
not man's, is the only smile worth having.
Every bitter cup
(Newman Hall, "Leaves
of Healing
from the Garden of
Grief" 1891)
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble,
and I will deliver you." Psalm 50:15
If God is willing to help us, who can stay His hand?
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain
and hill be made low. Fountains shall spring up in
the wilderness, and a path be opened through the
great waters. In His hands are the hearts of all men.
He can thwart the malice of foes, or make our enemies
to be at peace with us. He who rescued Israel from
Egypt, and Jerusalem from Sennacherib, and Daniel
from the lions, is still as able to remove from His
children every bitter cup—or give them
grace to
drink it.
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble,
and I will deliver you." Psalm 50:15
The world in the Christian
(J. Wilbur Chapman)
Christian! It is not the ship in the water,
but the water in the ship, which sinks it.
So it is not the Christian in the world,
but the world in the Christian, which
constitutes the danger.
Anything which dims my vision of Christ,
or takes away my taste for Bible study, or
cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian
work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must,
as a Christian, turn away from it!
We take much to uproot us
(Letters of J. C. Philpot,
March 19, 1862)
My dear friend,
I am glad to find that in your illness you have not been
altogether left of the gracious Lord. It is but rarely that
we can see at the time itself, what benefit there is to
spring out of sickness and affliction. Our coward flesh
cries out for ease—we want to get better, and dread
being worse.
But indeed it is an unspeakable mercy when the affliction
is truly sanctified to our soul's good—when we can submit
to the Lord's will, lie passive in His hand, and know no will
but His. When also, a little measure of meekness and
softness is communicated, with faith and hope in exercise
upon the blessed Lord, it seems to reconcile the mind to
the affliction. When also, we can read the Word of truth
with sweetness and pleasure, are enabled to call upon the
Lord with a believing heart, and are in any way blessed
with that spirituality of mind which is life and peace, then
we can say, "It is good for me to have been afflicted".
All the saints of God have ever acknowledged that it was in
the furnace of affliction that they learned their deepest
lessons, and got their greatest blessings. It is a good thing
to be thus daily reminded of our latter end. It has a good
effect in loosening the heart and affections from the poor
perishing things of time and sense, and impressing deeply
upon our minds that this polluted world is not our rest or
home.
We take much to uproot us, for our carnal
heart strikes deep
root into earthly objects—much deeper than we are aware of,
until we find how closely we cleave to things which we thought
had scarcely any hold upon us!
James gives good advice where he says, "Is any among you
afflicted? Let him pray." You will find it a great mercy if you
are enabled in your affliction to call upon the Lord; for though
He may seem to hide His face and delay to answer, yet He
puts the tears of His saints in His bottle, and writes their
prayers in His book.
Yours very affectionately,
J. C. Philpot
The worst kind of pride
(Newman Hall,
"Leaves of Healing
from the Garden of Grief" 1891)
"But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given
a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment
me and keep me from getting proud." 2 Corinth. 12:7
The thorn in the flesh saved Paul from pride in the spirit.
How exposed are the most useful Christians to this
temptation! To be proud of . . .
our beauty,
our strength,
our riches,
our station,
our power,
our learning and genius
—this is absurd, for what do we have,
which we have not received from God?
But to be proud of . . .
our piety,
our spiritual experience,
our prayerfulness,
our zeal,
our usefulness—this is . . .
the worst kind of pride,
most offensive to God,
most injurious to our own soul,
most obstructive to usefulness.
If so, how beneficent the thorn, in whatever
shape, that checks such self-destructive abuse
of heavenly gifts!
"But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given
a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment
me and keep me from getting proud." 2 Corinth. 12:7
The cup!
(Newman Hall,
"Leaves of Healing
from the Garden of Grief" 1891)
"Shall I not drink the cup the Father
has given Me?" John 18:11
The hand that presented the bitter cup to
Jesus
was the hand of Him whom the Sufferer addressed
as 'Dear Father'. Love decreed the cup!
Christians must not think that the bitterness of
the
cup given to them is any sign of diminished love in
their Father who gives it. "Whom the Lord loves He
chastens." He says, "I have loved You with an
everlasting love." By love He first drew us to Himself;
and ever since He has held us by 'cords of love.' Love
daily feeds us with heavenly manna and living water.
Love . . .
ordains every struggle to strengthen us,
lights every furnace to purify us,
mingles every bitter cup to heal us.
Such confidence in our Father's love should render
easy submission to His will. We may confidently
surrender our own will to that of our Father, whose
infinite resources are at the service of infinite
love, and say with our Elder Brother, "May Your
will be done. Shall I not drink the cup the
Father has given Me?
Rest in the Lord
(Newman Hall,
"Leaves of Healing
from the Garden of Grief" 1891)
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for
Him."
Psalm 37:7
For salvation, we may rest on His atonement.
In all our weakness, we may rest on His strength.
In all our sorrow, we may rest on His sympathy.
In all our perplexity, we may rest on His guidance.
In all our need, we may rest on His help.
In all our danger, we may rest on His deliverance.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for
Him."
Oh, how changed a man is he now!
(Octavius Winslow)
"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new
creature; old things have passed away; behold,
all things are become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
Originally shaped in iniquity, and conceived in sin—the
love of sin and the hatred of holiness are born with us.
But when by the Holy Spirit we are born again, this
original and natural love of sin and hatred of holiness
are reversed! A new and heavenly principle is implanted
which leads the regenerate to hate sin and love holiness.
Now, it is in this divine principle that the love of holiness
in the believer is implanted—and a power in antagonism
to sin is implanted in his heart.
What a reverse now transpires!
The regenerate now love what they once
hated—and hate what they once loved!
We loved sin, lived in sin, in some of its many forms . . .
intellectual sin,
gross sin,
refined sin,
open sin,
secret sin,
the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eye,
the pride of life,
the power of Mammon,
the fascination of the world,
the idolatry of the creature,
the love of SELF.
Some, or all these forms of sin maintained the
supremacy, and held their unbroken, undisputed rule.
Oh, how changed a man is he now!
The sins which he once committed,
the objects which he once loved,
the tastes which he once cultivated,
the sensualities in which he once indulged,
have lost their power . . .
to fascinate,
to please,
to enthrall.
The miserable dregs of self
(J. C. Philpot,
"Meditations on Matters
of Christian Faith & Experience")
"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He
has made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephes. 1:6
We are ever looking for something in self to make
ourselves acceptable to God, and are often sadly
cast down and discouraged when we cannot find . . .
that holiness,
that obedience,
that calm submission to the will of God,
that serenity of soul,
that spirituality and heavenly-mindedness
which we believe to be acceptable in His sight. Our . . .
crooked tempers,
fretful, peevish minds,
rebellious thoughts,
coldness,
barrenness,
alienation from good,
headlong proneness to ill,
with the daily feeling that we get no better but rather
worse, make us think that God views us just as we view
ourselves. And this brings on great darkness of mind
and bondage of spirit, and we seem to lose sight of
our acceptance in Christ, and get into the miserable
dregs of self, almost ready to quarrel with God because
we are so vile, and only get worse as we get older.
Now the more we get into these dregs of self, and
the more we keep looking at the dreadful scenes of
wreck and ruin which our heart presents to daily view,
the farther do we get from the grace of the gospel,
and the more do we lose sight of the only ground of
our acceptance with God. It is "in the Beloved" that
we are accepted, and not for any . . .
good words,
good works,
good thoughts,
good hearts, or
good intentions of our own.
If our acceptance with God depended on anything in
ourselves, we would have to adopt the Wesleyan creed,
and believe we might be children of God today and
children of the devil tomorrow.
What, then, is to keep us from sinking altogether
into despair, without hope or help? Why, a knowledge
of our acceptance "in the Beloved," independent of
everything in us, good or bad.
"Their righteousness is of Me, says the Lord."
"You are complete in Him."
What a universal chorus of harmonious voices do
we hear all sounding forth the same melodious
strain—that we are accepted in the Beloved.
"He saved us, not because of the good things
we did, but because of His mercy." Titus 3:5