Christ's sympathy He is the infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, gracious, just, holy, and unchangeable I AM! The last day of the year This is the last evening of the year! Mary might well complain of Martha! The carrion which professors can now feed upon! The funeral of all your sorrows! Grace Gems for MAY 2007 The presence of a loving God! Orthodox in creed--but heterodox in life! My politics! Three golden balls! Spoiled children! He was infinitely happy and glorious without us! Yes, He is altogether lovely! A far-off Hell is the dread of no man! A Bag, a Book, and a Bottle! The Infinite has become an infant! Short pithy quotes from the Puritan Thomas Brooks! Grace Gems for MAY 2007 The presence of a loving God! The hen which does not sit on her eggs! The bags will come to an end, long before the treasure is exhausted! Who cares for pebbles--when jewels glitter before him? A golden master-key! Today's Puritan AUDIO Devotional:
Section 108. "The Rich Young Ruler" Luke 18:18-27
by J.C. Ryle, LISTEN to audio! READ text Download audio
You will find it helpful to READ the text--as you listen to the audio!
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The delight which God has in His redeemed people!
"I will rejoice over them to do them good." Jeremiah 32:41
"As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you!" Isaiah 62:5
The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you . . . He will rejoice over you with singing!" Zephaniah 3:17
How heart-cheering to the believer, is the delight which God has in His redeemed people!
We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us. We cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness.
And we fear that God's people cannot take much delight in us, for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities, than admire our graces.
But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery--that as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us!
We do not read anywhere that God delights in the cloud-capped mountains, or the sparkling stars--but we do read that His delights are with the sons of men.
We do not find it written that even angels give His soul delight; nor does He say, concerning cherubim and seraphim, "You shall be called Hephzibah, for the Lord delights in you"; but He does say all that to poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin--but redeemed and saved by His grace.
In what strong language He expresses His delight in His people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song? Yet it is written, "He will take great delight in you . . . He will rejoice over you with singing!"
As He looked upon the world He had made, He said, "It is very good". But when He beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus' blood, His own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer--but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.
Should not we utter our grateful response to such a marvelous declaration of His love, and sing, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!"
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If you desire additional reading, may we suggest James Smith's challenging 3 page article, "The Zealous Christian!"
