Grace Gems for MARCH, 2024

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How great the evil of sin must be!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Isaiah 53:10, "The Lord was pleased to crush Him, and cause Him to  suffer!"

Here we see the immaculate Jesus crushed under the weight of His Father's wrath, and His Father pleased with causing Him to suffer!

From whence did this arise?
 
From the evil, the dreadful evil, of sin!

Sin brought the Son of God from Heaven to earth.

Sin put Him to death on the cruel cross.

If Jesus had not died, the just for the unjust—then sin would have sunk each of us into the lowest abyss of misery forever!

What must sin be, when such are the monstrous effects arising from it! And yet how lightly do we think of sin!

Did our Redeemer think lightly of sin, when He cried: "My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?" 

Did the Father think lightly of sin, when He was crushing His own beloved Son and causing Him to suffer as the atoning sacrifice for our sins?

Do those in Hell think lightly of sin, who are now receiving the wages of it?

If nothing less than the death of Christ could expiate sin—then is it a small evil?

If sin crushed even Jesus with its weight—then can it be seen as a light matter?

We never can see sin aright—until we view it in the tears and groans, the blood and agonies, of the Son of God!

In the death of Jesus, we behold both the evil of sin—and the remedy for sin. If we look at sin in any other view, we may dread its consequences; but we shall never hate its malignity.

Only as we view sin in the death of Jesus, shall we begin to loath it as a hateful and accursed evil.

Only as we "look on Him whom we have pierced," shall we ever genuinely repent for sin.

Isaiah 53:5 (in the singular form)
 "He was pierced for my transgressions,
  He was crushed for my iniquities;
  the punishment that brought me peace was upon Him,
  and by His wounds I am forgiven!"

Ephesians 3:18-19, "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is! May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!"

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My child,

(Joseph Alleine, "The Gospel in a Map")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio
 
My child, 
Behold! I give Myself to you, and all things with Myself. I will be all to you that you can wish.
 
I will be a FRIEND to you.
My secrets shall be with you, and you shall have free access to Me, and liberty to pour out all your heart into My bosom.
 
I am the everlasting Father, and I will be a FATHER to you.
Behold, I receive you not as a servant, but as a son to abide in My house forever. Whatever love or care children may look for from their father—that, you may expect from Me, and so much more since I am wiser, greater, and better than any earthly parents. If earthly fathers will give good things to their children, much more will I give to you. If such cannot forget their children, much less will I forget you.
 
What would My children have?
   Your Father's heart,
   His house,
   His care,
   His ear,
   His bread, and
   His chastening rod?
These shall all be yours!
 
You shall have My fatherly affection. My heart I share with you. My tenderest love I bestow upon you.
 
You shall have My fatherly compassion. As a father pities his children, so will I pity you. I will consider your frame, and not be extreme to mark what is done amiss by you, but will cover all with the mantle of My pitying love.
 
I will be your Comforter in your solitude, your Counselor in your distress.
 
I will be a PHYSICIAN to you.
I will heal your backslidings and cure all your diseases. Fear not, for never did a soul miscarry that left itself in My hands, and would follow My prescriptions.
 
I will be a SHEPHERD to you.
Do not be afraid of evil tidings, for I am with you. My rod and My staff shall comfort you. You shall not lack, for I will feed you. You shall not wander or be lost, for I will restore you. I will cause you to lie down in green pastures, and will lead you beside the still waters. I will . . .
   gather you with My arm,
   carry you in My bosom,
   and will lead you softly.
 
I will bind up that which was broken, and strengthen you when sick. I will watch over My flock by night. My own eyes shall keep a perpetual watch by night and by day. The Keeper of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps, nor withdraws His eyes from His redeemed people.
 I will guide you with My eye.
 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.
 I will counsel you and watch over you!
 
I will be a HUSBAND to you.
In loving-kindness and mercy I will betroth you unto Myself forever! I will be as one with you, and you with Me. You shall be for Me and not for another; and I also will be for you.
 
Though I found you as a helpless infant, exposed in its own blood, all your unworthiness did not discourage Me. Lo, I have looked upon you, and put My loveliness upon you! Moreover, I swear unto you, and enter into covenant with you, and you shall be Mine!
 
Behold, I do here solemnly, in My marriage covenant, give away Myself to you, and with Myself all things. I Myself will be a bountiful and an everlasting portion to you.
 
Can you fathom your riches or count your own happiness? Can you grasp immensity, reach omnipotence, or comprehend eternity? All this is yours! I will set open all My treasures to you, and will keep back nothing from you.
 
I will be a never-failing fountain of joy, peace, and bliss unto you! I will be your God, your Father, and your Friend as long as I have any being. I have made My everlasting choice in electing you. Fear not, for the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath you are the everlasting arms. My unsearchable riches shall be yours! Though all should forsake you, yet I will never forsake you!
 
I am your rock and your fortress, your deliverer, your strength, the horn of your salvation, and your high tower!
 
I am God Almighty, your almighty Protector, your almighty Benefactor! 
My fullness is your treasure.
My house is your home.
You may come as freely to My store-house as to your own cupboard.
You may have your hand as freely in My treasures as in your own purses.
You cannot ask too much—you cannot look for too much from Me!
 
I will give you all comforts, or I Myself will be your comfort.
You shall have children, or I will be better to you than ten children.
You shall have riches, or I will be more to you than all riches!
 
Can you put out the lamp of heaven, or empty the boundless ocean with your hands? Why, the sun shall be dark and the sea dry before the Father of lights, the Fountain of mercies shall be exhausted! My infiniteness shall be the extent of your inheritance! I am your inheritance, which:
  no line can measure,
  no arithmetic can compute,
  and no surveyor can describe!
 
But all this is but a taste of what I have prepared for those who love Me!  
 
You must have but smiles and hints now, and be content with glimpses and glances here on earth. But you shall be shortly taken up into your Father's bosom and live forever in the fullest views of His glory!
 
The day of your death, shall be the birthday of your glories!

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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 would have 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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Why?

(David Harsha, "Christ Crucified")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Why does the Lord of life and glory suffer?

Why does He endure that piercing agony and that bloody sweat in gloomy Gethsemane?

Why is He condemned to the death of Calvary?

Look at the crucified Jesus!

Why does He hang on that bloody cross?

Why are those blessed hands and feet nailed to the accursed tree?

Why is that dear side pierced with the soldier's spear?

Why does the immaculate Lamb of God thus bleed?

Ah! believing sinner, it is for you! 

For you, Christ endured that indescribable agony in Gethsemane, and those excruciating pains on Calvary!

For you, the blood trickles down those pale cheeks, and streams from that pierced side.

For you, the Son of God endures the hidings of His Father's face—until He is led to exclaim in the bitterness of His soul, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 

For you, His last breath is drawn, and His last cry uttered, "It is finished!"
 
O could you but see with faith's vision, what Christ has done for you—surely your whole heart would burn with love to such a Savior, who, to ransom your precious soul from eternal woe, shed His own blood! That precious blood was poured out to cleanse you from the guilt of sin!

Sin, then, was the cause of the sufferings and death of God's dear Son. Ah! sinner, you have slain the innocent Lamb of God! You have caused those wounds on Immanuel's glorious person. Your sins pierced Him to the very heart!

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Christ in the Old Testament

(Don Fortner)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Luke 24:27, "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself!"

Luke 24:44, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms!"

The Holy Spirit here reminds us that the message of the Old Testament is the same as that of the New: Christ crucified! The Bible, the Word of God, is one; and its message is one—the gospel of Christ!

Christ is the sum and substance of the Old Testament!

To Him, the earliest promises pointed in the days of Adam, Enoch, and Noah; and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

To Him, every sacrifice pointed in the ceremonial worship appointed at Mount Sinai.

Of Him . . .
  every high priest was a type,
  every part of the tabernacle was a shadow,
  and every judge and deliverer of Israel was a picture!

If we read only that which was written by Moses in the books of the law, we would see Christ everywhere!
Jesus is the Seed of the woman, who would break the serpent's head.
He is the Seed of Abraham, in whom all nations would be blessed.
He is the great Prophet like Moses, who would teach His redeemed people.

Not only is Christ crucified the message of Moses, He is the message of all the prophets. When Philip described Christ to Nathanael, he said, "We have found the One who Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph!" John 1:45.
 
All the law and all the prophets spoke of Him!

They wrote of his birth through a virgin's womb, and the place of his birth, Bethlehem. The prophets spoke of the Savior's sufferings and the glory that would follow. And they wrote about many things relating to His person, offices, and work—as Jehovah's righteous servant.

They described Him plainly as the King of the house of David, who came to be David's Lord, as well as David's son.

Jesus is . . .
  the Lamb foretold by Isaiah,
  the righteous Branch mentioned by Jeremiah,
  the true Shepherd described by Ezekiel,
  the Messenger of the Covenant promised by Malachi, and
  the Messiah who, according to Daniel, was to be cut off, not for Himself, but for His people!

Do we find it difficult to see Christ in the Old Testament? It is our spiritual blindness and ignorance that is to blame. The eyes of our understanding need to be enlightened. The veil needs to be taken away.

Let us pray as we open the Scriptures: "O Spirit of God, open this Book to my heart and open my heart to this Book. Take the things of Christ written upon these pages, and show them to me!"

The whole book of God is about our Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious accomplishments as our God-man Mediator!

1 Peter 1:10-11, "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing, when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow!"

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SELF vaulted into the vacant throne!

(Octavius Winslow, "Midnight Harmonies")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Looking unto Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2

We must look away from ourselves. SELF is, perhaps, the most common and insidious object that comes between the eye of the soul and Jesus.

When God was ejected from the heart of man, SELF vaulted into the vacant throne and has ever since maintained a supremacy.

We must look from righteous self:
  from all works of righteousness which we can perform,
  from our almsgivings,
  from our charities,
  from our religious observances, our fastings, and prayers, and sacraments,
  from all the works of the law by which we are seeking to be justified,
  from all our efforts to make ourselves better,
and thus to do something to commend ourselves to the Divine notice, and to propitiate the Divine regard.

From all this we must look, if we rightly look unto Jesus to be saved by His righteousness, and by His alone.

"I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith." Philippians 3:7-9

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What shouts of joy would echo through the vast expanse of Hell!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Psalm 116:12, "What shall I render to the Lord, for all His benefits to me?"

A cold or languid expression of gratitude, is utterly unsuited to the marvelous mercy and grace which He has freely given to us in salvation!

All that is within us, should praise Him for His wondrous redemption of such Hell-deserving sinners as we truly are!

If we would form a just idea of the gratitude which Jesus deserves from us, then let us imagine ourselves suffering the deserved wrath of God in eternal fire!

In the same way, how would the fallen angels who are now in Hell, rejoice to be restored to the bliss of Heaven! How would each one break forth into singing! What shouts of joy would echo through the vast expanse of Hell!
 
Precisely thus, ought we believers to be astonished with our glorious salvation from sin and Hell!

The more we contemplate Christ's redeeming love for us, the more will a sacred ardor glow within our bosoms to bless and praise Him for His wondrous salvation!

How much reason we have to exalt our adorable Redeemer, who has redeemed us with His precious sin-atoning blood! Let us then sing and shout for joy!

Let the mercy and love and grace which He has given in our redemption, be the special subjects of our praise! Thus shall we be prepared to join the heavenly choir, and to sing Hallelujahs! to God and to the Lamb forever and ever!

Revelation 1:5-6, "All glory to Him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us! To Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."

Revelation 5:12-13, In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Revelation 7:9-12, After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever! Amen!"

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Trials and discomforts!

(Octavius Winslow, "Morning Thoughts")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

How strong the consolation flowing from this truth to the believer in Jesus! 'No condemnation' is the ground of all comfort to the suffering Christian!

God may afflict you, but He will never condemn you.

Chastisements are not judgments.

Afflictions are not condemnations.

Sickness, bereavement, and poverty, you can welcome and patiently bear. The fiery trials which purify our faith have not a spark in them of that "unquenchable fire" that will consume the condemned hereafter!
 
Oh, what are the trials and discomforts of this present world—if at last we are kept out of Hell!
 
And oh, what are the riches, and honors, and comforts of this life—if at last we are shut out of Heaven!

At the bottom of that cup of sinful pleasure which sparkles in the worldling's hand, and which with such zest and glee he quaffs—there lies eternal condemnation! The death-worm feeds at the root of all his good!

But at the bottom of this cup of sorrow, now trembling and dark in the hand of the suffering Christian, bitter and forbidding as it is—there is no condemnation; eternal glory is at the root of all his evil.

Christian, your whole life ought to be: a sweetly-tuned psalm, a continual anthem of thanksgiving and praise pouring forth its swelling notes to the God of your salvation; since beyond the cloudy scene of your present pilgrimage, there unveils the light and bliss of celestial glory, on whose portal you read as you pass within—No Condemnation!

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The Doctrines of Grace

(John MacArthur, adapted)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

The Doctrines of Grace are the very lifeblood of the full and free salvation promised in the gospel.

Scripture speaks with absolute, unmistakable clarity on these vital issues: 

1. Total Depravity: Sinners are utterly helpless to redeem themselves or to contribute anything meritorious toward their own salvation.

Ephesians 2:1-3,  "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest!"
  

2. Unconditional Election: God is sovereign in the exercise of His saving will.

Ephesians 1:4-5, "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."
 

3. Limited Atonement: Christ died as a substitute who bore the full weight of God's wrath on behalf of His people, and His atoning work is effectual for their salvation.

John 10:11, "I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
 

4. Irresistible Grace: God's saving purpose cannot be thwarted.

John 6:37, "All whom My Father gives to Me will come to Me."
  

5. The Preservation and Perseverance of the elect: None of Christ's true sheep will ever be lost.

John 10:28-29, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand!"
  

These are the five points of Calvinism, and I believe them because that is what the Scripture teaches.
 

Jude 1:24-25, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord—be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever! Amen."

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At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures! 

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the pit from which you were dug!" Isaiah 51:1

All the people of God should look back upon the time when they were first dug out of the pit.

How little prospect was there then, that they should ever form a part of God's redeemed people! They were as blind, as stupid, as averse to God and a holy life, as any pagan idolaters in the universe! If they "did not run to the same excess of riot" as others—they were restrained only by the overruling providence of God, and not by any goodness or hatred of sin which they had.

Who that sees a person now following Jesus and holiness—would ever imagine that he was once a hateful and determined enemy of God, and had a nature as corrupt as the worst of men?

Nothing can be more consoling to us, than a retrospective view of God's dealings with us! In them we may behold, God's sovereign grace in choosing us to be His redeemed people!

Why did He particularly hew us out of the quarry, while such a huge mass of stone was left behind?

Why did He form us as the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—while so many of the very same lump were left as the objects of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

Let the saints remember what they once were, that they may see what great things the Lord has done for them in His wondrous mercy! Let them "walk softly all the days of their life" under a sense of their former guilt, and stand amazed at the sovereign grace of God, who has so distinguished them with His favor. 

Every saint is a glorious monument of God's sovereign love, mercy, and grace!
 
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us—not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy!" Titus 3:3-5

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(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation!
 Old things have passed away.
 Behold, all things have become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Most people view Christianity as a superficial thing, consisting in a bare assent to certain notions, and a formal observance of certain religious rites. If they have some general views of Christianity; if they occasionally attend a church service; and finally, if they are not guilty of any scandalous sins—they think they have all the religion they need! But they merely substitute the shadow for the substance, and the external  for the internal.

True and saving religion is widely different from this! It is a radical conversion of the soul, turning from sin, and turning to God.

True religion, as it exists in the soul, is a heaven-born principle that pervades and operates in all our faculties. It . . .
  restrains our passions,
  corrects our desires,
  and purifies our affections.
It enters into all our motives, and subjects everything to itself.

Saving religion will endure no rival; nor will it make a truce with any sin—however dear and habitual.

It will reign over the whole man.
It brings its votary to the foot of the cross.
It constrains him to walk in the steps of his divine Master.
It progressively transforms him into the image of Christ!

"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 36:26-27

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Ready to murmur and repine?

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Deuteronomy 32:39
"See now that I Myself am He!
 There is no god besides Me.
 I put to death, and I bring to life;
 I have wounded, and I will heal;
 and no one can deliver out of My hand!"

God always acts according to His sovereign will, in the administration of  both His providence and grace.
 
The rich and the poor owe to Him their respective lots; as do also all who are appointed to health or sickness, life or death. There is not any trial with which man is visited, but it proceeds from God.

But where do we find one who, in a state of trouble, has not been  ready to murmur and repine? And what is that, but striving with our Maker? Just so does God construe it—and so it will be found in the last day! 1 Corinthians 10:10

As to the sovereign exercise of His grace, that is still more offensive to our proud hearts! Though we claim for ourselves a right to dispose of our own property as we please—we refuse that right to God; as if, in benefiting others, He did to us an injury!

The very case is stated by Paul; who, having instanced, in the case of Pharaoh, and in the destinies of Jacob and of Esau, the uncontrolled sovereignty of God—states the feelings of an ungodly man: "You will say unto Me: Why then does He find fault? For who has resisted His will?"

To which God indignantly replies, "Nay, but who are you O man, who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say unto him who formed it: Why have you made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:19-21

Here, then, we indisputably see in what light God views all such instances of murmuring and complaint; for, in all circumstances whatever our only wish should be, "Not my will, but may Your will be done."

Isaiah 45:7
"I am the LORD, and there is no other!
 I form the light, and create darkness;
 I bring prosperity, and create disaster;
 I, the LORD, do all these things!"

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A single word was sufficient to subdue the stoutest heart!  

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Matthew 4:18-22.
"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers—Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers—James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and  immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him."

When He was on earth, Jesus never coerced any to be His followers by outward force—a single word was sufficient to subdue the stoutest heart! 
 
If He said to Matthew the greedy tax collector, "Follow Me!"—then not all the wealth of kingdoms could detain His willing captive!

If He said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately!"—then behold, the covetous extortioner is instantly transformed into His benevolent and obedient follower!

He effectually called to Himself, whomever He desired. Such was His all-constraining power, that, without hesitation, they left all that they had, and followed Him! And though He promised His subjects nothing but poverty and persecution in this world—yet they all delighted to be His devoted followers, and gloried in suffering for His sake. So entirely did they yield up themselves to Him, that opposition served only to rivet their affections to Him, and to confirm them in their determination to live and die in His service!

To this day, multitudes in every place take, as it were, an oath of allegiance to Him, and are made willing to even lay down their lives for Him!

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The faith of devils! 

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

James 2:19, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!"
 
Do not suppose that genuine faith in Christ, is a mere assent to Scripture truths which you have been taught by your parents! If you would not eternally perish, I charge you before God, to dismiss from your minds all such delusive expectations, and to seek from God that genuine faith which alone can save and sanctify the soul.

True "faith is the gift of God!" Ephesians 2:8. Nothing but the almighty power of God can form genuine faith in the soul. If ever you have believed to the saving of your soul, it must have been through the operation of divine grace!
 
If we possess saving faith, then Christ will become our meditation and delight. The height and depth, and length and breadth of His unsearchable love—will occupy our minds, and inflame our hearts with love to Him!
 
Genuine faith will always "work by love." Galatians 5:6

Genuine faith will always "overcome the world." 1 John 5:4

Genuine faith will always "purify the heart." Acts 15:9

See then, whether your faith produces these effects! For, if it does not, it is but "a dead faith" and "the faith of devils!" James 2:19

If your faith is not "the faith of God's elect," (Titus 1:1) then it will only deceive you to your everlasting ruin.

If God has indeed granted saving faith to you, then you have the greatest gift that you can ever possess, in this world or the next. Crowns and kingdoms, in comparison with it—are no more than a speck of dust on a scale!

If God has indeed granted saving faith to you—then you have obtained the forgiveness of all your sins!

If God has indeed granted saving faith to you—then you have within your own bosom a sanctifying principle which shall progressively transform you into the very image of the Lord Jesus!

If God has indeed granted saving faith to you—then you have "a priceless inheritance, an inheritance that is reserved in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!" 1 Peter 1:4

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

Alas! Who can conceive what it is to lie down in everlasting burnings?

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!   Download Audio

To believe and obey God's Word, is our truest wisdom and happiness. An attention to the voice of God in His Word would comfort us under all troubles, and keep us steadfast amidst all the vicissitudes of life.

Luke 16:23-24, "In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him: Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!"

Who would not rather be in the forlorn condition of Lazarus, and attain his glorious end—than live as the Rich Man did for a little time, and then lack a drop of water to cool his tongue forever?
 
 Alas! Who can conceive what it is to lie down in everlasting burnings?
 
Who would not rather be Paul in prison, notwithstanding his chains—than to be like King Agrippa on his throne?

Yes, the most afflictive circumstances of a pious man are infinitely preferable, all things considered, to the most prosperous state which an ungodly man can enjoy while on earth!

The pious man sows in tears—to reap in joy.
The ungodly man sows the wind—to reap the whirlwind! Hosea 8:7

Let us then be persuaded that to serve God is our truest happiness, and that in keeping His commandments there is great reward!

"They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
 they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
 By them is your servant warned;
 in keeping them there is great reward!" Psalm 19:10-11

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

Such love cannot be described!

(Joel Headley, "Jesus Christ")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Christ's love to man was superhuman, divine!

Neglect,
    abuse,
      scorn,
rejection of His offered blessings,
fiendish thirst for His blood—
could not lessen its gentle force, nor silence its tender appeals.

His whole object is to win hearts.

Acts of personal kindness in the relief of suffering;
sympathy with the distressed;
loving words to the fearful;
cheering promises to the despairing;
offers of peace, pardon, and fullness of joy, and eternal blessedness to the believing
—make up His life, and form the substance of His message.

He confronts poor, sinful man with every motive, and addresses him with every form of appeal, to enkindle within him love and trust.

Whether alone on the mountain top bowed in prayer, or in the presence of corrupt, degraded women—the same divine purity invests Him. Unchanged by circumstances, unmoved by danger, and never excited by the temptations, or passions, or ambitions of men—He, though moving in their midst, is as completely separate from them as heaven from earth.

Love, overwhelming, inexpressible love—is the only chain that binds Him to the world in which He lives.
 
His character exhibits the most striking contrasts, and qualities apparently the most opposite and contradictory—and yet it is a perfect, harmonious whole. With unbounded courage without rashness, was joined perfect meekness without loss of dignity. Of heroic firmness under every trial—He yet weeps at the grave of his friend. Filling us with awe as He stands amid the glories of the transfiguration today—He wins our confidence tomorrow by taking little children in His arms and blessing them.

The Creator of man, He yet allows wicked man to spit upon Him; and, at last, offers up His life to save him.

In love, He heals the sick, raises the dead, and comforts the weary and sorrowful. In love, He exclaims over the city about to crucify him, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! How often would I have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings; but you would not."

It is His incomprehensible, infinite love, that, when life was ebbing fast away, could look on His murderers, and say, in tones that will thrill the heart to the end of time; no, through eternity, "Father, forgive them!"
 
 Such love cannot be described!  It can only be felt by a penitent, loving heart.

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

We are apt to measure His wisdom, by the faulty line of our own reason!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

In the Scriptures, Jehovah is represented as ordering and overruling all things for His own glory, and the good of His redeemed people!

There is nothing in the whole universe which did not derive its existence from His all-creating hand; nor is anything left to its own operations without His sovereign control.

Be it either prosperity or calamity—all things only come to pass according to God's sovereign plan! As God Himself has told us,
"I am the Lord, and there is no other.
 I form the light and create darkness,
 I bring prosperity and create disaster!
 I, the Lord, do all these things!"
    Isaiah 45:7

Just because God does not exert His Almighty power for us at the first moment that we implore His aid—we might suppose that our way is hidden from Him, or that He does not care about us. But we forget that He has gracious designs to accomplish; and that He accomplishes them in ways we have no conception of. We are apt to measure His wisdom, by the faulty line of our own reason! We forget that His sovereign  thoughts and ways and paths are unfathomable!

Now let God's almighty power and unerring wisdom be considered. Let the afflicted saint contemplate Jehovah as ordering and overruling everything for the good of His people and for the glory of His own name. Let us say, "I have cried to Him for a a very long time, and have not been heard—but perhaps the purposes of Jehovah are not yet ripe for accomplishment. Perhaps I must remain longer in His purifying furnace in order to a more glorious exaltation."

Let us recollect the ways in which Joseph's dreams were realized; and bear in mind, that the same God sits at the helm, and directs our vessel amidst all the storms—the very storms and winds all fulfilling his sovereign will and pleasure!

This would be abundantly sufficient to compose our minds under the most afflictive circumstances that can be imagined. For where there is unerring wisdom to direct, and Almighty power to execute—no difficulty can exist, which shall not be overruled for our ultimate good and God's glory!

Hence, we must leave everything to His all-wise disposal, in a way of humble dependence and meek submission to His holy will!

"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

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
 do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you and help you;
 I will uphold you with My righteous right hand!"
    Isaiah 41:10

        ~   ~   ~   ~ 

The more bloody—the more lovely! 
 
(Thomas Watson, "The Loveliness of Christ")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio 
 
"Yes, He is altogether lovely!" Song of Solomon 5:16
 
Lost men cannot see the stupendous beauty of Christ.
All sparkling beauties are found in Him—but they lack eyes!
 
He is infinitely and superlatively lovely! All that we could ever say about Jesus falls infinitely short of His matchless worth. He is pure, unspotted beauty! There is an infinite resplendency, a sparkling luster to His beauty!
 
Jesus is most lovely in His sufferings, when He made an atonement for our sins. What, lovely in His sufferings? Lovely when He was buffeted, spit upon, and besmeared with blood?
 
Oh yes, He was most lovely upon the cross, when He showed most love to us!
 
He bled love at every vein!
Those drops were love drops!
 
The more blood—the more lovely!
 
Oh how lovely ought a bleeding Savior be to our eyes!
Let us wear this blessed crucifix always in our heart!
 
The cross of Christ is the key that opens paradise to us!
 
How beautiful is Christ on the cross!
 
The ruddiness of His blood, took away the redness of our guilt!
 
Christ's crucifixion, is our coronation!
 
He left His Father's bosom, that hive of sweetness—to come and live in this poor world. Truly, He exchanged the palace for the dunghill!
 
"The unsearchable riches of Christ!" Not even the angels can dig to the bottom of this mine! They adore Christ, being ravished with His amazing beauties!
 
Jesus is the very extract and quintessence of beauty.
He is a whole paradise of delights!

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

(J.C. Ryle)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able!" Luke 13:24

This is the only gate which leads to:
  pardon of sin,
  peace with God,
  and Heaven.
Whoever goes in by this gate, shall be saved.

Never, surely, was a gate more needed!

Sin is a vast mountain between man and God.
 How shall a man climb over it?

Sin is a high wall between man and God.
 How shall man get through it?

Sin is a deep gulf between man and God.
 How shall man cross over it?

God is absolutely holy and pure! He cannot bear that which is evil, or look upon iniquity with approval.

Man is a poor fallen worm, crawling on earth for a few years. He is sinful, corrupt, erring, defective! His imagination is only evil, and his heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked!

How shall sinful man and the holy God be brought together?
How shall man ever draw near to his Maker without fear and shame?

Blessed be God, there is a way!

There is a road.

There is a path.

There is a door.

It is the gate spoken of in these words of Christ—"the narrow gate."

This gate was made for sinners by the Lord Jesus Christ. In the fullness of time He came into the world, and made this gate by His sin-atoning death on the cross! By that death, He . . .
  made atonement for man's sin,
  paid man's debt to God, and
  bore man's punishment.

He built this great gate at the cost of His own blood!

He made a door by which the chief of sinners may enter into the holy presence of God!

He opened a road by which the vilest of men, believing in Him, may draw near to God and have peace with Him.

This gate is called the narrow gate, and it is not called so without cause. It is always narrow, and difficult to pass through to some people; and it will be so as long as the world stands.

It is narrow to all who love sin—and are determined not to part with it.

It is narrow to all who set their affections on this world—and seek first its pleasures and rewards.

It is narrow to all who dislike effort—and are unwilling to take pains and make sacrifices for their souls.

It is narrow to all who like worldly company—and want to keep in with the crowd.

It is narrow to all who are self-righteous—and think they are good people, and deserve to be saved.

To all such, the great gate which Christ made is narrow and strait.
In vain they seek to pass through—the gate will not admit them.

God is not unwilling to receive them—their sins are not too many to be forgiven.
But they are not willing to be saved in God's way!
 
Thousands have tried to make the gate wider!

Thousands have worked and toiled to get to Heaven on lower terms.

But the gate never alters. It is not elastic—it will not stretch to accommodate one man more than another. It is still the narrow gate.

As narrow as this gate is, it is the only one by which men can get to Heaven.
There is no side door;
there is no bye-path;
there is no gap or low place in the wall.

All who are ever saved—will be saved by faith alone, in Christ alone!

The best works that any man can do, are little better than splendid sins.
When we have done all that we can, we are still poor "unprofitable servants."

It is a mere waste of time to seek any other gate to eternal life.
 
 Proud men may dislike the gate if they will.
 
 Debauched men may scoff at it, and make a jest of those who use it. 
 
 Lazy men may complain that the way is hard.

But men will discover no other salvation, than that of faith in the crucified Redeemer!

Between us and Heaven, there stands one great gate.
It may be narrow, but it is the only one.

We must either enter Heaven by the narrow gate, or not at all!

        ~   ~   ~   ~ 

Growth in grace

(Archibald Alexander, "Growth in Grace" 1844)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

Growth in grace is evidenced by a more habitual vigilance against besetting sins and temptations, and by greater self-denial in regard to personal indulgence. 
 
A growing conscientiousness in regard to what may be called minor Christian duties is also a good sign. (The counterfeit of this is an over-scrupulous conscience, which sometimes haggles at the most innocent gratifications, and has led some to hesitate about taking their daily food.)

Increasing spiritual-mindedness is a sure evidence of progress in piety; and this will always be accompanied by increasing deadness to the world.

Continued aspirations for God, indicate the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, by whose agency all progress in sanctification is made. 

Increasing solicitude for the salvation of men, sorrow on account of their sinful and miserable condition, and a disposition tenderly to warn sinners of their danger—evince a growing state of piety. 

It is also a strong evidence of growth in grace, when you can bear injuries and provocations with meekness, and when you can from the heart, desire the temporal and eternal welfare of your bitterest enemies. 

An entire and confident reliance on the promises and providence of God, however dark may be your horizon, or however many difficulties environ you—is a sign that you have learned to live by faith. 

Humble contentment with your condition, though it is one of poverty and obscurity—shows that you have profited by sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Diligence in the duties of our secular calling, with a view to the glory of God—is an evidence not to be despised. 

Indeed, there is no surer standard of spiritual growth, than a habit of aiming at the glory of God in everything!

Increasing love to the brethren is a sure sign of growth; for as brotherly love is a proof of the existence of grace, so is the exercise of such love a proof of vigor in the divine life.

A victory over besetting sins by which the person was frequently led away—shows an increased vigor in grace. 

Sometimes the children of God grow faster when in the fiery furnace than elsewhere. As metals are purified by being cast into the fire—so saints have their dross consumed and their graces brightened, by being cast into the furnace of affliction!

        ~   ~   ~   ~ 

    The divine Illuminator!

(James W. Alexander, "Consolation" 1852)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio
 
"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name—He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." John 14:26
 
Divine Truth is an instrument in the hand of the Spirit, for the accomplishment of His work of consolation. If we would be comforted, we must seek it by the truth. The Comforter is the Spirit of truth. The consoling process is carried on by the application of Scriptural truth. Therefore, the Word of God is beyond all other volumes—the Book of Consolation. The precious doctrines concerning God, Christ, salvation, and Heaven—are the principal means which the Holy Spirit uses for the support of the soul under heavy afflictions. 
 
Thus we are enabled to perceive more clearly and fully, how the adorable Spirit comes in Christ's name. He teaches what Christ taught. He takes of the things of Christ, and reveals them unto us. From the infinite fund of Scriptural wisdom and knowledge—He draws and dispenses, according to the diversified necessities of His people. It is scarcely a change of teacher. The Spirit gives the same lessons as Jesus. He repeats and revives them. He brings out afresh in the chambers of memory, the truths which had faded. He touches the sluggish heart to awaken it to new impressions of Scriptural truth. All this is by a direct influence on the soul by the Spirit, opening the mind and pouring in light. It is this which accounts for the difference between believers; and between different states of the same individual. 
 
In order that truth be effectual, especially to consolation, something more is necessary than that it should be revealed in the Bible; something more than that it should be understood by the intellect. It must be powerfully brought home to the mind and heart, and to do this is the especial work of the Holy Spirit. No effect will be produced in reading Scripture, except so far as the Holy Spirit takes, shows, and impresses them to the heart! And this He graciously does to many a broken-hearted Christian. 
 
The experienced and godly Christian, long tried in the 'school of sorrows'—is made to know that the soul may be comforted amidst the deepest afflictions. In some unexpected moment, the divine Illuminator reveals to him the great abiding truths of Scripture; truths which are as precious and as satisfying—in adverse, as in prosperous days. By a process of holy attraction, his thoughts are drawn away from self and all its sorrows and losses—to be fixed and absorbed . . . 
   by the character of God, 
   by His mighty works, 
   by the person of the adorable Redeemer, 
   by the work of redemption, 
   by the glory yet to be revealed. 
  
Filled and animated and tranquilized by these blessed truths, he is led to forget his private griefs; and thus the Comforter performs His office by means of the truth. "The things of Christ," applied to the heart by the Spirit—direct the mind from its earthly pangs, and to a certain extent afford a foretaste of the celestial joy!

        ~   ~   ~   ~    

Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!

(Octavius Winslow, "Evening Thoughts")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"I tell you the truth, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him—and He will grant your request because you use My name." John 16:23

That God should have erected in this lower world a throne of grace—a mercy-seat, around which may gather, in clustering and welcome multitudes . . .
  the helpless,
  the burdened,
  the friendless,
  the vile,
  the guilty,
  the deeply necessitous
that no poor comer, be . . .
  his poverty ever so great,
  his burden ever so heavy, or
  his case ever so desperate,
should meet with the refusal of a hearing or a welcome—does greatly develop and magnify the riches of . . .
  His grace,
  His wisdom, and
  His love to sinners.
 
What a God our God must be, thus to have appointed a meeting-place—an audience-chamber, for those upon whom all other doors were closed!

But more than this—that He should have appointed Jesus as the door of approach to that throne—that He should have given His only-begotten and well-beloved Son to be the "new and living way" of access—thus removing all obstruction in the path of the soul's coming, both on the part of Himself, and on the part of the sinner; that the door should be a crucified Savior, the wounds of the Son of God—that through blood, and that blood,  the blood of the incarnate Deity, the guilty should approach! Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!

Shall we say even more than this? For there is a yet lower depth in this love and condescension of God—that He should have sent His Spirit into the heart, the Author of prayer . . .
  inditing the petition;
  breathing in the soul;
  implanting the desire;
  convincing of the existing necessity;
  unfolding the character of God;
  working faith in the heart;
  and drawing it up to God through Jesus;
seems the very perfection of His wisdom, benevolence, and grace!
 
 Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!

        ~   ~   ~   ~  

The gospel!

(Octavius Winslow, "Morning Thoughts")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio
 
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 it 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!

        ~   ~   ~   ~ 

    The best means to mortify sin!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity, or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

While a darling sin lives and keeps the throne in the heart—grace and holiness will be kept exceeding weak and low. But when your darling sin is dethroned and slain by the power and the sword of the Spirit—grace and holiness will quickly grow stronger and stronger, and rise higher and higher.

When a man has eaten poison, nothing will make him thrive, until he has vomited up the poison. Beloved sins are the poison of the soul—and until these are vomited up, and cast out by sound repentance, and the exercise of faith in the blood of Christ—the soul will never thrive in grace and holiness!

If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness, then fall with all your might upon subduing and crucifying your most raging corruptions and your most darling lusts!

Oh do not think that your golden and your silver idols will lay down their weapons, and yield the battle, and lie at your feet, and let you trample them to death—without striking a blow! Oh remember that besetting-sins will do all they can to keep their ground—and therefore you must arise with all your strength against them, and crush them to powder, and burn them to ashes!

Oh deal with your most enraged lusts, as the Philistines dealt with Samson—pluck out their eyes, and force them to grind in the mill of mortification, until their strength is utterly consumed and wasted!

I have read of five men, who being asked what was the best means to mortify sin, gave these answers:
 
  Said the first, "The best means to mortify sin, is to meditate on death."
 
  Said the second, "The best means to mortify sin, is to meditate on the judgment-day."
 
  Said the third, "The best means to mortify sin, is to meditate on the joys of Heaven."
 
  Said the fourth, "The best means to mortify sin, is to meditate on the torments of Hell."
 
  Said the fifth, "The best means to mortify sin, is to meditate on the death and sufferings of Christ!"
 
Doubtless the last man hit the nail on the head! The daily sight of a bleeding, groaning, dying Savior—is the only thing which will subdue and mortify darling sins!
 
O friends! Never stop looking up to a crucified Christ, until virtue flows from Him, to the crucifying of those special besetting sins which do most obstruct and hinder the growth and increase of holiness!
 
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live!" Romans 8:1

        ~   ~   ~   ~  

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

The fear of God is the essential part of true wisdom. As Solomon has said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding!" Proverbs 9:10

However this wisdom may be reputed as folly by the ungodly world, and considered as an indication of a disordered mind—it most assuredly enlarges the understanding, and elevates its possessor above his fellows. Yes, and above others also, who in natural capacity, and in literary attainments, are far his superiors!

The fear of God, if I may so say, opens a new world to him in whom it is found!
 
If we set before us two people, one uneducated, and the other well-versed in arts and sciences—we would suppose, of course, that there can be no comparison between the two in point of learning. And this is true, so far as earthly knowledge is concerned.

But let the uneducated man be abounding in divine wisdom, and actuated by the fear of God—and he will have a far more accurate understanding of reality, than the man of learning has ever attained!

The mere worldly man, in his estimate of things, keeps eternity out of view.

But the man who is taught by God, views things in their true light—even as God Himself views them; and he speaks of them in accordance with the representation given of them in the Inspired Volume. The principle of piety which is implanted in his soul, has corrected and rectified his judgment!

If the conversation of these two men were recorded for the space of one hour—we would be astonished at the mass of error contained in the learned man; while truth and reality pervaded the pious man!

A man filled with divine wisdom, has within himself an entirely new standard whereby to judge of truth and to regulate his life!

"Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me!"

"I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes!"

"I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts!"

    Psalm 119:98-100

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

All these foes and fears!

(J.C. Philpot, "King of Kings")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

We daily and hourly feel the workings of . . .
    mighty sins,
    raging lusts,
    powerful temptations,
    besetting evils,
against the least and feeblest of which, we have no strength.

But as the eye of faith views our blessed Lord at the right hand of the Father—we are led by the power of His grace to . . .
  look unto Him,
  hang upon Him,
  and seek help from Him.

Trials in providence,
afflictions in the family,
sickness and infirmities in the body,
crooked things in the church,
opposition and persecution from the world,
a vile, unbelieving heart, which we can neither sanctify nor subdue,
a rough and rugged path, increasing in difficulty as we journey onward,
doubts, fears, and misgivings in our own bosom,
inward slips and falls,
wanderings,
startings aside,
hourly backslidings from the strait and narrow path,
jealous enemies watching for our halting
—with no eye to pity, nor arm to help.

How all these foes and fears make us feel our need of an enthroned King, Head and Husband . . .
  whose tender heart is soft to pity,
  whose mighty arm is strong to relieve!

"I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you: 
  Do not fear; I will help you!
  Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I Myself will help you!  
 declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel!" 
     Isaiah 41:13-14  

"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

    ~   ~   ~   ~ 

    This is our most inestimable privilege!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares about you!" 1 Peter 5:7

Whatever our trials may be, we may spread them all before our merciful Father with a confidence that He will grant us the wisest relief. We may commit to Him,
  the directing of our path,
  the supplying of our needs,
  and the keeping of our souls,
not doubting but that, as our Creator, our Provider, and our Redeemer—He will be faithful to His own promises, and bring to pass whatever He, in His unerring wisdom, knows is best for us!

We must despair of any help from the creature, and commit our cause entirely to God!

We are not left to bear our burdens alone. Our daily experience shows us how unable we are, of ourselves, to bear the various trials of life. But we have a merciful and an omnipotent Savior-God to go unto, a God who says, "Cast your burden upon Me, and I will sustain you!"

If "help were not laid upon One that is mighty"—upon One who says to us, "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"—then what hope could any of us have?

But with such a Refuge and such a Friend—we may well be satisfied; for He is both a sun to enlighten us, and a shield to protect us! He will give us both grace and glory! No good thing, either in time or in eternity, will He withhold from His redeemed people—if we humbly and sincerely commit our cause to Him!
 
This is our most inestimable privilege!
 
When, like Peter sinking in the waves, we cry out to Him, "Lord, save me!"—He will stretch out His almighty hand, and wisely grant us the support that is best for our particular situation.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need!" Hebrews 4:16

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The buzzing of a fly!

(Octavius Winslow, "The God of Bethel")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio 
  
Look at that flower! It neither toils nor spins—and why? Because your Heavenly Father clothes it! 
 
Look at that  bird! Leaping from bow to bow, springing from hill to valley, sparkling with beauty, gushing with song, and wild with ecstatic delight! It has not a thought or care of its own—and why? Because  God thinks and cares for it.
 
Oh, you of little faith! Why do you hesitate . . . 
  to trust all your personal interests, 
  to confide all your worldly affairs, 
  to disclose all your temporal needs and sorrows in prayer to God? 
 
He is not too high for your lowest need—nor too great for your smallest care. 
 
"If the buzzing of a fly troubles me," says John Newton, "I may take it to God." 
 
This is not mere sentiment. It is the practical embodiment of a principle of experimental religion most honoring to God and sanctifying to us—the principle of faith, which . . .
  acknowledges God in all our ways, 
  sees God in everything, and 
  takes everything, the smallest, to God.
  

Matthew 6:26-32
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
 
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
 
So do not worry, saying:
   'What shall we eat?' or
   'What shall we drink?' or
   'What shall we wear?'
 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them!"

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This world!

(Thomas Reade, "Christian Experience")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Do not be conformed to this world." Romans 12:2

The very admonition implies the danger of worldly conformity, and the proneness of the heart to earthly things.

Who can say that he is always raised above the undue influence of terrestrial objects; that he is daily passing, as it were, upon tiptoe, across this world of vanity? Alas! alas! We too often sink into the mire of earthly-mindedness, and have our thoughts absorbed amid the trifles of a day!

But what can this world profit us? 

This world can neither secure us against temporal evils, nor save us from eternal misery! 

This world cannot, for a single moment, prolong our existence here, or make that existence peaceful and happy.

This world is often a clog, but never a help in moments of spiritual distress.

And yet, we love this world, though by its deceitful smile it . . .
  robs us of our peace,
  entangles us in its snares; and would,
  if left under its power, eventually destroy our souls!

This world would no longer sway our affections, did we daily reflect how quickly it is passing away!

The heavenly-mindedness and contempt of this world which shone so brightly in the lives of the first Christians, may well cause us to blush. These devoted followers of a crucified Redeemer, did not study those arts of splendor which have overspread this world.

When the honor of their Divine Master required the sacrifice, they could trample under foot those profits and pleasures which ensnare and enslave mankind. They looked upon the delights and advantages of this world as things not worthy to arrest their affections, in their journey homeward.

Their spirits breathed in too pure an air, to be caught with the delusive charms of this lower world. It was their continual regard to dwell within the prospect of eternity! 

"All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and pilgrims here on earth!" Hebrews 11:13

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Our God!

(Charles Spurgeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Romans 9:13-16, "Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated!' What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion!' It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

God may, if He wills, save the entire human race. Or if it pleases Him, He may save none. If He so wills, He may make one man a monument of mercy, and leave his neighbor to reap his due punishment. This is what God has a right to do, and He claims His sovereign prerogative.

No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God!
 
 Men have no objection to a god who is really no God. I mean, by this:
  a god who shall be the subject of their caprice,
  a god who shall be a lackey to their will,
  a god who shall be under their control—
they have no objection to such a being as that.
 
But a God who speaks, and it is done;
a God who commands, and it stands fast;
a God who does as He wills among the armies of Heaven and among the inhabitants of this lower world—such a God as this they cannot endure!

Psalm 115:3, "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases!"
 
Psalm 135:5-6, "For I know that the Lord is great; our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does—in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all their depths!"