Dead Things Never Grow! (and others)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2).
Why is it that so many professing Christians make no spiritual progress, and indeed make no efforts to grow in grace? Why? Because they care nothing about it! To take up a "mere profession" is all they desire; but to proceed from one degree of piety to another; to grow in grace - is no part of their desire.
What! No solicitude to have more experimental knowledge of truth, faith in Christ, likeness to God, fitness for heaven!
No desire to advance in such things! Is it possible to be a Christian and yet destitute of this desire to grow in grace? No! It is not! I tell you, it is not!!
If you have no concern to grow in grace - there is no grace in you!
You are a piece of dead wood - and not a living branch!
You are a spiritual corpse - and not a living man!
In this state there can be no growth - for dead things never grow!
~John Angell James~
____________________
I Follow Like A Little Blind Child
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Strong faith has a firm persuasion of God's over-ruling Providence - so comprehensive as to include the destinies of empires and worlds; and so minute as to extend to individuals. Strong faith believes that God's Providence is ever active, ever directing, ever controlling, and ever subordinating all things to His own purposes and plans.
Strong faith is a conviction of this great truth - so deep, so satisfying, and so tranquilizing - as not at all to be shaken by the chaotic aspect of human affairs, or the prevalence of gigantic evils.
A weak faith must give way before the deep mysteries, the confounding events, the defeats of what is good, and the triumphs of what is evil, which are perpetually going on in our world's history.
The stream of Providence is so twisting, so dark, apparently so murky, and occasionally so devastating; that it requires strong faith, believe that it is the work of God and not of chance; and that if it is the work of God - it must be just, and wise, and good.
Faith assures us that the darker, the more confounding, the more disappointing events - are all right and just, and good.
Strong faith walks on amid shadows and darkness, grasping the arm of God, believing that He is leading us, and will lead us right. Strong faith gives up all into His hands, saying, I cannot even see a glimmering of light! I cannot see where to place my next step! But I can most implicitly trust in the wisdom, power, and truth of God! I follow like a little blind child, grasping the hand of his Father!"
Times of great troubles and difficulties, are seasons and opportunities for the exercise of faith. God is always the Christian's best refuge - and often his only one! He is sometimes reduced to extremity, and is compelled to say, "He alone is my rock and my salvation! My help comes only from the Lord! No one else will help me - no one else can!"
Sense and reason both faith. No door of escape presents itself - nor any way of relief. There is nothing left for him to do, but to take up the promise and carry it in the hand of faith, knock by prayer at the door of mercy, and as he stands there to say, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone! My hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation! He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Yes, Lord, You have bid me come, when I could go nowhere else. And here according to Your command and promise I will remain - waiting, trembling, yet believing and hoping. I am sure You will come and help me. My heavenly Father knows the necessities of His poor helpless child, and He will come in His own time, and in His own way, and I will wait for Him. My bread will be given to me, and my water will be sure."
~John Angell James~
Saturday, October 26, 2019
The Beauties of Social Virtue (and others)
The Beauties of Social Virtue (and others)
A Christian should be very eminent for a right discharge of all their social duties. Christianity, so far from loosening the bands of society, adds to them incredible strength and firmness, by motives drawn from the eternal world. One part of the design of Christianity is to purify and strengthen the social principle, and carry it to its greatest elevation and perfection.
A good Christian - and yet a bad husband, father, brother, neighbor, or citizen - is an anomaly.
Professing Christians should excel all others in the beauties of social virtue. True religion should give additional tenderness to the marital relationship; greater love to the Christian parent; loving obedience to the Christian child; fresh kindness to the Christian employer, diligence to the Christian employee.
The world should look to the church with this conviction, "Well, if social virtue were driven from every other portion of society, it would find a sanctuary, and be cherished with care, among Christians." Then will Christianity have attained its highest recognition upon earth, when it shall be admitted by universal consent, that to say a man is a Christian, is an indisputable testimony to his excellence in all the relationships he bears to society.
~John Angell James~
(The End)
_______________________
Beware of the Dog!
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2).
There are some people whose feelings are like dry straw - kindled into a blaze in a moment, by the least spark which has been purposely or accidentally thrown upon it. A word, or a look - is in some cases quite enough to be considered a very serious injury! It is a common thing for such people to excuse themselves on the ground that "their feelings are so delicate" - that they are offended by the least touch! This is a humiliating confession, for it is acknowledging that, instead of being like the oak of the forest, which laughs at the tempest, and is unmoved by the tread of the wild boar - they resemble the sensitive plant, a little squeamish shrub, which trembles before the breeze, and shrivels and contracts beneath the pressure of a tiny insect!
Delicate feelings! In plain English, this means that they are petulant, irritable and peevish! I would like to have a sign hung around the neck of such people - and it would be this, "Beware of the dog!"
We should never allow ourselves to be offended, until, at least, we are sure that offense was intended; and this is really not so often as we are apt to conclude. Had we but patience to wait, or humility to inquire, we would find that many hurtful things were done by mistake, which we are prone to attribute to design. How often do we violate that love which thinks no evil, and which imperatively demands of us to attribute a good motive to another's conduct - until a bad motive is proved!
Let us then deliberately determine, that, by God's grace, we fill not be easily offended. If such a resolution were generally made and kept, offenses would cease. Let us first ascertain whether offense was intended, before we allow the least emotion of anger to be indulged. And even then, when we have proved that the offense was committed on purpose, let us next ask ourselves whether it is necessary to notice it. What wise man will think it worth while, when an insect has stung him, to pursue it all day, in order to punish the aggressor?
~John Angell James~
______________________
A Godly Ministry
We can do nothing without a godly ministry. Of all the curses which God ever pours from the vials of His wrath upon a nation which He intends to scourge, there is not one so fearful as giving them up to an unholy ministry!
I trust our churches will ever consider piety as the first and most essential qualification in their pastors, for which talents, genius, learning, and eloquence, would and could be no substitutes. It will be a dark and evil day when personal godliness shall be considered as secondary to any other quality in those who serve at the altar of God.
No ministry will be really effective, whatever may be its eloquence, which is not a ministry of strong faith, true spirituality, and deep earnestness.
~John Angell James~
A Christian should be very eminent for a right discharge of all their social duties. Christianity, so far from loosening the bands of society, adds to them incredible strength and firmness, by motives drawn from the eternal world. One part of the design of Christianity is to purify and strengthen the social principle, and carry it to its greatest elevation and perfection.
A good Christian - and yet a bad husband, father, brother, neighbor, or citizen - is an anomaly.
Professing Christians should excel all others in the beauties of social virtue. True religion should give additional tenderness to the marital relationship; greater love to the Christian parent; loving obedience to the Christian child; fresh kindness to the Christian employer, diligence to the Christian employee.
The world should look to the church with this conviction, "Well, if social virtue were driven from every other portion of society, it would find a sanctuary, and be cherished with care, among Christians." Then will Christianity have attained its highest recognition upon earth, when it shall be admitted by universal consent, that to say a man is a Christian, is an indisputable testimony to his excellence in all the relationships he bears to society.
~John Angell James~
(The End)
_______________________
Beware of the Dog!
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2).
There are some people whose feelings are like dry straw - kindled into a blaze in a moment, by the least spark which has been purposely or accidentally thrown upon it. A word, or a look - is in some cases quite enough to be considered a very serious injury! It is a common thing for such people to excuse themselves on the ground that "their feelings are so delicate" - that they are offended by the least touch! This is a humiliating confession, for it is acknowledging that, instead of being like the oak of the forest, which laughs at the tempest, and is unmoved by the tread of the wild boar - they resemble the sensitive plant, a little squeamish shrub, which trembles before the breeze, and shrivels and contracts beneath the pressure of a tiny insect!
Delicate feelings! In plain English, this means that they are petulant, irritable and peevish! I would like to have a sign hung around the neck of such people - and it would be this, "Beware of the dog!"
We should never allow ourselves to be offended, until, at least, we are sure that offense was intended; and this is really not so often as we are apt to conclude. Had we but patience to wait, or humility to inquire, we would find that many hurtful things were done by mistake, which we are prone to attribute to design. How often do we violate that love which thinks no evil, and which imperatively demands of us to attribute a good motive to another's conduct - until a bad motive is proved!
Let us then deliberately determine, that, by God's grace, we fill not be easily offended. If such a resolution were generally made and kept, offenses would cease. Let us first ascertain whether offense was intended, before we allow the least emotion of anger to be indulged. And even then, when we have proved that the offense was committed on purpose, let us next ask ourselves whether it is necessary to notice it. What wise man will think it worth while, when an insect has stung him, to pursue it all day, in order to punish the aggressor?
~John Angell James~
______________________
A Godly Ministry
We can do nothing without a godly ministry. Of all the curses which God ever pours from the vials of His wrath upon a nation which He intends to scourge, there is not one so fearful as giving them up to an unholy ministry!
I trust our churches will ever consider piety as the first and most essential qualification in their pastors, for which talents, genius, learning, and eloquence, would and could be no substitutes. It will be a dark and evil day when personal godliness shall be considered as secondary to any other quality in those who serve at the altar of God.
No ministry will be really effective, whatever may be its eloquence, which is not a ministry of strong faith, true spirituality, and deep earnestness.
~John Angell James~
Saturday, October 19, 2019
A Little More Comfort, luxury, or Elegance
A Little More Comfort, Luxury or Elegance
"During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over His head" (Mark 14:3).
"She did what she could!" (Mark 14:8).
Have you, like your devoted sister of Bethany, done what you could? Take an inventory of the means which the Lord has put into your hands for honoring Him, and then look over the list of your contributions.
What proportion does your annual giving to the cause of Christ bear, compared to the cost of your furniture, your wardrobe, your entertainments, your ornaments and decorations, your luxuries?
Jesus did not withhold from you His very precious blood!! What are you will to do for Him? What beautiful jar of expensive perfume have you broken, will you break it for Him?
It is sorrowful to see professing Christians wholly taken up in getting wealth for themselves - either hoarding it up - or spending it in the luxuries that constitute "the pride of life."
Consider, I entreat you, the different results of the money you spend upon yourselves - and that which you spend on Christ. The money you spend selfishly perishes in the using. The money you spend for the cause of Christ acquires an imperishable existence.
What you spend in the comforts and elegances of life - and what you hoard unnecessarily - dies with you, when you die. But the wealth which, under the influence of pure motives, we devote to Christ, will never die. It is immortal and incorruptible.
Oh Christians! how is it that we can cheat ourselves of such heavenly felicity and eternal honor, merely to have a little more comfort, luxury, or elegance here? Why do we impoverish ourselves in the eternal world, to enrich ourselves in this present world?
Oh God! Bestow upon us Your grace, that when we meet you in judgment, we may hear this commendatory testimony from Your gracious lips, "They did what they could!"
~John Angell James~
_______________________
A Sublime Fiction
"Their destiny is destruction...their mind is on earthly things." (Phil. 3:19).
This is the description given by the apostle, of the predominant taste and pursuits of the men of the world.
Sadly, this also describes a large proportion of those who have professed to come out from the world, and to be a people separated unto God. How engrossed are they, not only in the business, but in the cares, the love, and the enjoyment of earthly vanities! Who would imagine, to see their conduct, to hear their conversations, to observe their spirit - so undevout, and so worldly - that these were the men, who have heaven in their eye and heart, as their eternal destiny? We would be inclined to think, that to them, heaven is nothing more than a mere name, a sublime fiction, a sacred vision, which, with all its splendor, has scarcely power enough to engage their thoughts and fix their regards! How little effect has heaven to elevate them above a predominant earthly mindedness, to comfort them in trouble, to minister to their happiness, to mortify their corruptions.
Can it be that they are seeking for, and going to glory, honor, and immortality - who think so little about it, and derive so small a portion of their enjoyment from the expectation of it?
"Their destiny is destruction...their mind is on earthly things" (Phil. 3:19).
~John Angell James~
"During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over His head" (Mark 14:3).
"She did what she could!" (Mark 14:8).
Have you, like your devoted sister of Bethany, done what you could? Take an inventory of the means which the Lord has put into your hands for honoring Him, and then look over the list of your contributions.
What proportion does your annual giving to the cause of Christ bear, compared to the cost of your furniture, your wardrobe, your entertainments, your ornaments and decorations, your luxuries?
Jesus did not withhold from you His very precious blood!! What are you will to do for Him? What beautiful jar of expensive perfume have you broken, will you break it for Him?
It is sorrowful to see professing Christians wholly taken up in getting wealth for themselves - either hoarding it up - or spending it in the luxuries that constitute "the pride of life."
Consider, I entreat you, the different results of the money you spend upon yourselves - and that which you spend on Christ. The money you spend selfishly perishes in the using. The money you spend for the cause of Christ acquires an imperishable existence.
What you spend in the comforts and elegances of life - and what you hoard unnecessarily - dies with you, when you die. But the wealth which, under the influence of pure motives, we devote to Christ, will never die. It is immortal and incorruptible.
Oh Christians! how is it that we can cheat ourselves of such heavenly felicity and eternal honor, merely to have a little more comfort, luxury, or elegance here? Why do we impoverish ourselves in the eternal world, to enrich ourselves in this present world?
Oh God! Bestow upon us Your grace, that when we meet you in judgment, we may hear this commendatory testimony from Your gracious lips, "They did what they could!"
~John Angell James~
_______________________
A Sublime Fiction
"Their destiny is destruction...their mind is on earthly things." (Phil. 3:19).
This is the description given by the apostle, of the predominant taste and pursuits of the men of the world.
Sadly, this also describes a large proportion of those who have professed to come out from the world, and to be a people separated unto God. How engrossed are they, not only in the business, but in the cares, the love, and the enjoyment of earthly vanities! Who would imagine, to see their conduct, to hear their conversations, to observe their spirit - so undevout, and so worldly - that these were the men, who have heaven in their eye and heart, as their eternal destiny? We would be inclined to think, that to them, heaven is nothing more than a mere name, a sublime fiction, a sacred vision, which, with all its splendor, has scarcely power enough to engage their thoughts and fix their regards! How little effect has heaven to elevate them above a predominant earthly mindedness, to comfort them in trouble, to minister to their happiness, to mortify their corruptions.
Can it be that they are seeking for, and going to glory, honor, and immortality - who think so little about it, and derive so small a portion of their enjoyment from the expectation of it?
"Their destiny is destruction...their mind is on earthly things" (Phil. 3:19).
~John Angell James~
Like A Ball and Chain Around His Ankle!
Like A Ball and Chain Around His Ankle!
"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily besets you" (Hebrews 12:1).
Besetting sins are powerful hindrances to Christian progress. In the case of most people, there is some one sin to which, either from their situation, taste, constitution, or other circumstances - they are more powerfully tempted than to others.
satan knows very well what in every case this is, and skillfully adapts his temptations to it. He is an expert angler, and never chooses his bait, or throws his line, at random! Independently, however, of him, the very tendency of the heart is in that direction.
That one sin, whatever it is, while indulged, will hold you back! You cannot make progress in holiness, until it is mortified. Even its partial indulgence, though it may be considerably weakened, will hinder you!
Study then your situation, circumstances, and constitution. You cannot be ignorant which temptation and sin, you are most liable to succumb to. You must know in what way you have most frequently wounded your conscience, and occasioned to yourself shame and sorrow.
Is it an unsanctified temper?
Is it an impure imagination?
Is it a proud heart?
Is it a vain mind?
It is a taste for worldly company?
Is it a proneness to envy and jealousy?
Is it a love of money?
Is it a tendency to exaggeration in speech?
Is it a fondness for pleasure?
Is it a disposition to censoriousness and backbiting?
Study yourselves! Examine your own heart! You must find out this matter, and ti requires no great pains in order to know it. It floats upon the surface of the heart, and does not lie hidden in its depths. There, there, is your danger! As long as that one sin, be it what it may, is indulged, you cannot advance in the Christian life!
Other sins are like unnecessary clothing to the racer.
Besetting sins are like a ball and chain around his ankle!
~John Angell James~
________________________
Dethroned - But Not Destroyed!
"For I know that in me (in my flesh), dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Romans 7:18).
A Christian is truly regenerated - but at the same time only partially sanctified.
Sin is dethroned - but not destroyed!
His predominant taste and disposition are holy - but godly principles may not yet have struck their roots very deep into his soul.
His holy purposes are somewhat vacillating, and his inclinations to evil sometimes strong.
We have the burden of our fleshly corruptions to carry, which without great labor and effort, will sadly retard us in our Christian lives.
We are like a traveler who is on a smooth road, has fine weather, is intimately acquainted with the way, and has agreeable and helpful companions - but who at the same time is very lame, or has a load to carry. His lameness or his load will be a great delay to him. His attention must be directed to these things. He must cure the one or lighten the other, or he will make slow progress.
~John Angell James~
"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily besets you" (Hebrews 12:1).
Besetting sins are powerful hindrances to Christian progress. In the case of most people, there is some one sin to which, either from their situation, taste, constitution, or other circumstances - they are more powerfully tempted than to others.
satan knows very well what in every case this is, and skillfully adapts his temptations to it. He is an expert angler, and never chooses his bait, or throws his line, at random! Independently, however, of him, the very tendency of the heart is in that direction.
That one sin, whatever it is, while indulged, will hold you back! You cannot make progress in holiness, until it is mortified. Even its partial indulgence, though it may be considerably weakened, will hinder you!
Study then your situation, circumstances, and constitution. You cannot be ignorant which temptation and sin, you are most liable to succumb to. You must know in what way you have most frequently wounded your conscience, and occasioned to yourself shame and sorrow.
Is it an unsanctified temper?
Is it an impure imagination?
Is it a proud heart?
Is it a vain mind?
It is a taste for worldly company?
Is it a proneness to envy and jealousy?
Is it a love of money?
Is it a tendency to exaggeration in speech?
Is it a fondness for pleasure?
Is it a disposition to censoriousness and backbiting?
Study yourselves! Examine your own heart! You must find out this matter, and ti requires no great pains in order to know it. It floats upon the surface of the heart, and does not lie hidden in its depths. There, there, is your danger! As long as that one sin, be it what it may, is indulged, you cannot advance in the Christian life!
Other sins are like unnecessary clothing to the racer.
Besetting sins are like a ball and chain around his ankle!
~John Angell James~
________________________
Dethroned - But Not Destroyed!
"For I know that in me (in my flesh), dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Romans 7:18).
A Christian is truly regenerated - but at the same time only partially sanctified.
Sin is dethroned - but not destroyed!
His predominant taste and disposition are holy - but godly principles may not yet have struck their roots very deep into his soul.
His holy purposes are somewhat vacillating, and his inclinations to evil sometimes strong.
We have the burden of our fleshly corruptions to carry, which without great labor and effort, will sadly retard us in our Christian lives.
We are like a traveler who is on a smooth road, has fine weather, is intimately acquainted with the way, and has agreeable and helpful companions - but who at the same time is very lame, or has a load to carry. His lameness or his load will be a great delay to him. His attention must be directed to these things. He must cure the one or lighten the other, or he will make slow progress.
~John Angell James~
Saturday, October 12, 2019
The Sacredness of the Redeemed Life
The Sacredness of the Redeemed Life
There is embedded in an unpromising Bible chapter, like a gem in a hard rock or growing like a delicate flower on a bare, cold crag - a beautiful incident which teaches a valuable lesson.
David and his men were in the cave of Adullam. They were shut in, fierce Philistines holding them in a sort of siege. Homesickness came over David. He thought of the scenes of his boyhood, not far away from were he then was. He was thirsty, too, in the burning heat, and there came memories of a cool spring which bubbled up by the gate of Bethlehem at which in his happy youth he used to drink. "David longed for water and said: Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" (2 Sam. 23:15).
By his side stood three men who loved their leader and feared no danger. Hearing David's words they drew their swords, and, breaking through the lines of the enemy, made their way to the well, and having drawn of its sweet water they bore it back to David and presented it to him. David's heart was thrilled by this proof of loyalty and love. In his thirst, too, he longed to drink the water. But when he thought through what peril his men had brought it to him, he refused even to put it to his lips. "Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it." Therefore he would not drink it, but poured it out as a sacred offering unto the Lord. It had cost too much to be used for any common purpose or for mere personal gratification; the only fit thing to do with it was to devote it to God.
The incident has its suggestions. As a general principle it teaches us that whatever comes to us at great cost should be sacred in our eyes, and should not be devoted to any common, selfish or sinful use but should be dedicated to the Lord.
A most obvious application is to our own redeemed lives. We know how the blessings of spiritual life come to us. Jesus broke through the lines of enemies and brought water fresh from the costly well of salvation. All the blessings and joys of our Christian faith, reach us through the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. Can we devote these gifts and abilities of our lives, ransomed at such cost, to any common end or use? Can we do otherwise with them than as David did with the water - make them holy offerings to God? Is any other use in keeping with their sacredness?
This self-devotedness to God must be kept pure and clean. An old commentator says, "Let the eye look upon nothing evil, and it becomes a sacrifice unto God. Let the tongue say nothing foul, and it becomes an offering unto God. Let the hand do nothing unlawful, and it becomes a recompense unto God."
"The Lord has set apart the godly man for himself." The hands which take the sacramental emblems, must do no unholy work. The lips that speak the vows of love and the words of prayer, must utter no bitter words, no evil or impure words. The eye that is lifted up to look upon the suffering Lamb of God and upon the holy beauty of the exalted King, must not linger an instant on anything that defiles. The heart that has been warmed by the consciousness of the love of God, must not open to any foul thought or evil desire or unholy imagination. The life that has cost the blood of Jesus, must be used to honor God and bless the world. It is too sacred to be devoted to any but holy service.
When we think deeply of this matter we see that every blessing we have is sacred, because of its cost. Even in our common life we find illustration of this same law of cost. We cannot even pray, but pierced hands must be reached down to lift to heaven our sighs and tears. There is not a sweet hope of our lives, which does not come to us through the blood and tears of Gethsemane and Calvary.
We are reaping now the harvests of the tears which others sowed. If we would sow anything for those to reap who follow us - then we must go forth weeping. We may not sit still in comfortable ease and feed on the blessings which others in pain and sorrow have won for us. The cup of sweet life that is before us, we may not take and lightly drink, merely to quench our own thirst; it is the blood of those who before us went in jeopardy of their lives to win it, and we must treat it as sacred, pouring it before God in consecrated offering to bless other lives.
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
There is embedded in an unpromising Bible chapter, like a gem in a hard rock or growing like a delicate flower on a bare, cold crag - a beautiful incident which teaches a valuable lesson.
David and his men were in the cave of Adullam. They were shut in, fierce Philistines holding them in a sort of siege. Homesickness came over David. He thought of the scenes of his boyhood, not far away from were he then was. He was thirsty, too, in the burning heat, and there came memories of a cool spring which bubbled up by the gate of Bethlehem at which in his happy youth he used to drink. "David longed for water and said: Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" (2 Sam. 23:15).
By his side stood three men who loved their leader and feared no danger. Hearing David's words they drew their swords, and, breaking through the lines of the enemy, made their way to the well, and having drawn of its sweet water they bore it back to David and presented it to him. David's heart was thrilled by this proof of loyalty and love. In his thirst, too, he longed to drink the water. But when he thought through what peril his men had brought it to him, he refused even to put it to his lips. "Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it." Therefore he would not drink it, but poured it out as a sacred offering unto the Lord. It had cost too much to be used for any common purpose or for mere personal gratification; the only fit thing to do with it was to devote it to God.
The incident has its suggestions. As a general principle it teaches us that whatever comes to us at great cost should be sacred in our eyes, and should not be devoted to any common, selfish or sinful use but should be dedicated to the Lord.
A most obvious application is to our own redeemed lives. We know how the blessings of spiritual life come to us. Jesus broke through the lines of enemies and brought water fresh from the costly well of salvation. All the blessings and joys of our Christian faith, reach us through the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. Can we devote these gifts and abilities of our lives, ransomed at such cost, to any common end or use? Can we do otherwise with them than as David did with the water - make them holy offerings to God? Is any other use in keeping with their sacredness?
This self-devotedness to God must be kept pure and clean. An old commentator says, "Let the eye look upon nothing evil, and it becomes a sacrifice unto God. Let the tongue say nothing foul, and it becomes an offering unto God. Let the hand do nothing unlawful, and it becomes a recompense unto God."
"The Lord has set apart the godly man for himself." The hands which take the sacramental emblems, must do no unholy work. The lips that speak the vows of love and the words of prayer, must utter no bitter words, no evil or impure words. The eye that is lifted up to look upon the suffering Lamb of God and upon the holy beauty of the exalted King, must not linger an instant on anything that defiles. The heart that has been warmed by the consciousness of the love of God, must not open to any foul thought or evil desire or unholy imagination. The life that has cost the blood of Jesus, must be used to honor God and bless the world. It is too sacred to be devoted to any but holy service.
When we think deeply of this matter we see that every blessing we have is sacred, because of its cost. Even in our common life we find illustration of this same law of cost. We cannot even pray, but pierced hands must be reached down to lift to heaven our sighs and tears. There is not a sweet hope of our lives, which does not come to us through the blood and tears of Gethsemane and Calvary.
We are reaping now the harvests of the tears which others sowed. If we would sow anything for those to reap who follow us - then we must go forth weeping. We may not sit still in comfortable ease and feed on the blessings which others in pain and sorrow have won for us. The cup of sweet life that is before us, we may not take and lightly drink, merely to quench our own thirst; it is the blood of those who before us went in jeopardy of their lives to win it, and we must treat it as sacred, pouring it before God in consecrated offering to bless other lives.
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
The Great Giver # 2
The Great Giver # 2
Faithfulness demands that I should point out the qualifying pronoun in our text. It is not God "delivered him up for all," but "for us all." This is definitely defined in the verses which immediately precede. In v. 31 this "us" is defined as those whom God did predestinate and has "called" and "justified." The "us" are the high favorites of heaven, the objects of sovereign grace. God's elect. And yet in themselves they are, by nature and practice, deserving of nothing but wrath. But yet, thank God, it is "us all" - the worst as well as the best, the five-hundred pounds debtor, equally as much as the five-pence debtor.
3. The Spirit's Blessed Inference
Ponder well the glorious "conclusion" which the Spirit of God here draws from the wondrous fact stated in the first part of our text, "He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." How conclusive and how comforting is the inspired reasoning of the apostle. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, He proceeds to assure the believer of God's readiness to also freely bestow all needed blessings. The gift of His own Son, so ungrudgingly and unreservedly bestowed, is the pledge of every other needed mercy.
Here is the unfailing guaranty and pledge of perpetual reassurance to the drooping spirit of the tried believer. If God has done greater - will He leave the less undone? Infinite love can never change. That love which spared not Christ - cannot fail its objects nor begrudge any needed blessings. The sad thing is that our hearts dwell upon what we have not - instead of upon what we do have. Therefore the Spirit of God would here still our restless self-communings and quiet the repinings of ignorance with a soul-satisfying knowledge of the truth, by reminding us not only of the reality of our interest in the love of God, but also of the extent of that blessing which flows therefrom.
Weigh well what is involved in the logic of this verse. First, the great Gift was given unasked; will He not bestow others for the asking? None of us supplicated God to send forth His Beloved; yet He sent Him! Now, we may come to the throne of grace and there present our requests in the virtuous and all-efficacious name of Christ.
Second, the one great Gift cost Him much; will He not then bestow the lesser gifts which cost Him nothing but the delight of giving! How much less will He who spared not His own Son, withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.
Third, the one Gift was bestowed when we were enemies; will not then God be gracious to us now that we have been reconciled and are His friends? If He had designs of mercy for us while we were yet in our sins, how much more will He regard us favorably now that we have been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood of His Son!
"How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Is it temporal mercies that the reader is in need of? Are your circumstances adverse so that you are filled with dismal forbodings? Does your cruse of oil and barrel of meal look as though they will soon be quite empty? Then spread your need before God, and do it in simple childlike faith. Do you think that He will bestow the greater blessings of grace - and deny the lesser ones of Providence" No! My God shall supply all your needs. True, He has not promised to give all you ask, for we often ask "amiss." Mark the qualifying clause: "How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" We often desire things which would come in between us and Christ if they were granted, therefore does God in His faithfulness withhold them.
Here then are four things which should bring comfort to every renewed heart.
The Father's costly sacrifice
The Father's gracious design
The Spirit's infallible inference
The comforting promise
May the Lord add His blessing to this little meditation!
~A. W. Pink~
(The End)
Faithfulness demands that I should point out the qualifying pronoun in our text. It is not God "delivered him up for all," but "for us all." This is definitely defined in the verses which immediately precede. In v. 31 this "us" is defined as those whom God did predestinate and has "called" and "justified." The "us" are the high favorites of heaven, the objects of sovereign grace. God's elect. And yet in themselves they are, by nature and practice, deserving of nothing but wrath. But yet, thank God, it is "us all" - the worst as well as the best, the five-hundred pounds debtor, equally as much as the five-pence debtor.
3. The Spirit's Blessed Inference
Ponder well the glorious "conclusion" which the Spirit of God here draws from the wondrous fact stated in the first part of our text, "He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." How conclusive and how comforting is the inspired reasoning of the apostle. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, He proceeds to assure the believer of God's readiness to also freely bestow all needed blessings. The gift of His own Son, so ungrudgingly and unreservedly bestowed, is the pledge of every other needed mercy.
Here is the unfailing guaranty and pledge of perpetual reassurance to the drooping spirit of the tried believer. If God has done greater - will He leave the less undone? Infinite love can never change. That love which spared not Christ - cannot fail its objects nor begrudge any needed blessings. The sad thing is that our hearts dwell upon what we have not - instead of upon what we do have. Therefore the Spirit of God would here still our restless self-communings and quiet the repinings of ignorance with a soul-satisfying knowledge of the truth, by reminding us not only of the reality of our interest in the love of God, but also of the extent of that blessing which flows therefrom.
Weigh well what is involved in the logic of this verse. First, the great Gift was given unasked; will He not bestow others for the asking? None of us supplicated God to send forth His Beloved; yet He sent Him! Now, we may come to the throne of grace and there present our requests in the virtuous and all-efficacious name of Christ.
Second, the one great Gift cost Him much; will He not then bestow the lesser gifts which cost Him nothing but the delight of giving! How much less will He who spared not His own Son, withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.
Third, the one Gift was bestowed when we were enemies; will not then God be gracious to us now that we have been reconciled and are His friends? If He had designs of mercy for us while we were yet in our sins, how much more will He regard us favorably now that we have been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood of His Son!
"How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Is it temporal mercies that the reader is in need of? Are your circumstances adverse so that you are filled with dismal forbodings? Does your cruse of oil and barrel of meal look as though they will soon be quite empty? Then spread your need before God, and do it in simple childlike faith. Do you think that He will bestow the greater blessings of grace - and deny the lesser ones of Providence" No! My God shall supply all your needs. True, He has not promised to give all you ask, for we often ask "amiss." Mark the qualifying clause: "How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" We often desire things which would come in between us and Christ if they were granted, therefore does God in His faithfulness withhold them.
Here then are four things which should bring comfort to every renewed heart.
The Father's costly sacrifice
The Father's gracious design
The Spirit's infallible inference
The comforting promise
May the Lord add His blessing to this little meditation!
~A. W. Pink~
(The End)
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Delighting In God!
Delighting In God!
"Delight yourself in the Lord - and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
Delighting in worldly things - effectually prevents our delighting in God. Therefore it is often the case, that the Lord strips us of these things, or incapacitates us to enjoy them - in order to bring us back to delight in Himself.
He delights in His people - and He desires that His people to delight in Him. In order to accomplish this, He has revealed Himself in the most amiable characters, as a Husband, a Friend, a Brother, a Saviour, a Shepherd, and so forth - all on purpose to endear Himself to us!
Surely if our hearts were right - we would delight in Him on account of His glorious perfections, His unalterable love, the perfect atonement made for our sins, the promises made for our comfort and encouragement, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the communion we are urged to hold with Himself, and the glorious paradise of blessedness set before us - where we shall forever view the unfolding of His glories, enjoy the riches of His grace, and drink of the river of His pleasures!
Sick Christian, Jesus bids you to delight in Him! Delight in Him as your Saviour, Friend, and Brother! Delight in His person and glories! Delight in His perfect work! Delight in His glorious fullness!
Delight in your salvation in Him, union to Him, and claim upon Him. Oh, delight in Jesus! You will have no permanent peace or solid satisfaction - but as you delight in Him, and rejoice in Him, saying, "You are my portion, O Lord!"
He who delights in God has the desires of His heart - because they are in accordance with the purpose, promise, and pleasure of God.
The mind is thrown into the mold of God's mind, and the soul cries from its inmost recesses, "Not my will - but may Your will be done!" Its pleasures are spiritual, permanent, and satisfactory. The desire for earthly things becomes very contracted - a little of the things of this poor world will satisfy a soul that is delighting in Jehovah.
Delighting in God always produces resignation and holy contentment. Whatever they have - they enjoy it as the undeserved gift of God; and they feel obligated and thankful for all. They would rather be conformed to God's will - than have their own will. They know that His appointments are best - because they are infinitely wise, holy, and gracious. They can say, "I trust in You, O Lord, for you are my God! My times are in Your hand!" They find that godliness with contentment is great gain; and say with one of old, "The little that a righteous man has - is better than the riches of many wicked!" "Better a little with the fear of the Lord - than great treasure with turmoil."
The presence, the promise, and the smile of God - are to them inestimably valuable; but other things are no so important. They seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - and all other necessary things are added unto them. They live at the fountain - when all the streams are dried up! They delight in God - when creatures fade and wither!
O Lord! I would delight in Thee,
And on Your care depend;
To You in every trouble flee,
My best, my only Friend!
No good in creatures can be found,
But may be found in Thee;
I must have all things and abound,
While God is God to me!
~James Smith~
(The End)
"Delight yourself in the Lord - and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
Delighting in worldly things - effectually prevents our delighting in God. Therefore it is often the case, that the Lord strips us of these things, or incapacitates us to enjoy them - in order to bring us back to delight in Himself.
He delights in His people - and He desires that His people to delight in Him. In order to accomplish this, He has revealed Himself in the most amiable characters, as a Husband, a Friend, a Brother, a Saviour, a Shepherd, and so forth - all on purpose to endear Himself to us!
Surely if our hearts were right - we would delight in Him on account of His glorious perfections, His unalterable love, the perfect atonement made for our sins, the promises made for our comfort and encouragement, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the communion we are urged to hold with Himself, and the glorious paradise of blessedness set before us - where we shall forever view the unfolding of His glories, enjoy the riches of His grace, and drink of the river of His pleasures!
Sick Christian, Jesus bids you to delight in Him! Delight in Him as your Saviour, Friend, and Brother! Delight in His person and glories! Delight in His perfect work! Delight in His glorious fullness!
Delight in your salvation in Him, union to Him, and claim upon Him. Oh, delight in Jesus! You will have no permanent peace or solid satisfaction - but as you delight in Him, and rejoice in Him, saying, "You are my portion, O Lord!"
He who delights in God has the desires of His heart - because they are in accordance with the purpose, promise, and pleasure of God.
The mind is thrown into the mold of God's mind, and the soul cries from its inmost recesses, "Not my will - but may Your will be done!" Its pleasures are spiritual, permanent, and satisfactory. The desire for earthly things becomes very contracted - a little of the things of this poor world will satisfy a soul that is delighting in Jehovah.
Delighting in God always produces resignation and holy contentment. Whatever they have - they enjoy it as the undeserved gift of God; and they feel obligated and thankful for all. They would rather be conformed to God's will - than have their own will. They know that His appointments are best - because they are infinitely wise, holy, and gracious. They can say, "I trust in You, O Lord, for you are my God! My times are in Your hand!" They find that godliness with contentment is great gain; and say with one of old, "The little that a righteous man has - is better than the riches of many wicked!" "Better a little with the fear of the Lord - than great treasure with turmoil."
The presence, the promise, and the smile of God - are to them inestimably valuable; but other things are no so important. They seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - and all other necessary things are added unto them. They live at the fountain - when all the streams are dried up! They delight in God - when creatures fade and wither!
O Lord! I would delight in Thee,
And on Your care depend;
To You in every trouble flee,
My best, my only Friend!
No good in creatures can be found,
But may be found in Thee;
I must have all things and abound,
While God is God to me!
~James Smith~
(The End)
The Great Giver # 1
The Great Giver # 1
"He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all - how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:12).
The above verse supplies us with an instance of Divine logic. It contains a conclusion drawn from a premise; the premise is that God delivered up Christ for all His people, therefore everything else that is needed by them is sure to be given. There are many examples in Holy Writ of such Divine logic. "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?" (Matt. 6:30). "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son - how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10). "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children - how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11). So here in our text the reasoning is irresistible and goes straight to the understanding heart.
Our text tells of the gracious character of our loving God as interpreted by the gift of His Son. And this, not merely for the instruction of our minds, but for the comfort and assurance of our hearts. The gift of His own Son is God's guarantee to His people of all needed blessings. The greater includes the lesser. His unspeakable spiritual gift is the pledge of all needed temporal mercies. Note in our text four things:
1. The Father's costly sacrifice.
This brings before us a side of the truth upon which I fear we rarely meditate. We delight to think of the wondrous love of Christ, whose love was stronger than death, and who deemed no suffering too great for His people. But what must it have meant to the heart of the Father when His Beloved left His Heavenly home! God is love, and nothing is so sensitive as love. I do not believe that Deity is emotionless, or stoical. I believe the sending forth of the Son was something which the heart of the Father felt - that it was a real sacrifice on His part.
Weigh well then, the solemn fact which premises the sure promise that follows. God "spared not His own Son!" Expressive, profound, melting words! Knowing full well, as He only could, all that redemption involved - the Law rigid and unbending, insisting upon perfect obedience and demanding death for its transgressors. Justice, stern and inexorable, requiring full satisfaction, refusing to "clear the guilty." Yet God withheld not the only Sacrifice which could meet the case.
God "spared not His own Son," though knowing full well the humiliation and ignominy of Bethlehem's manger, the ingratitude of men, the not having where to lay His head, the hatred and opposition of the ungodly, the enmity and bruising of satan - yet He did not hesitate. God did not relax ought of the holy requirements of His throne, nor abate one whit of the awful curse. No, He "spared not His own Son." The utmost farthing was exacted; the last dregs in the cup of wrath must be drained. Even when His Beloved cried from the Garden, "if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," God spared Him not. Even when vile hands had nailed Him to the tree, God cried "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, the man who is my Partner, says the Lord Almighty. Strike down the Shepherd!" (Zech. 13:7).
The Father's Gracious Design
"But delivered Him up for us all." Here we are told why the Father made such a costly sacrifice. He did not spare His Son - that He might spare us! It was not lack of love to the Saviour - but wondrous, matchless, fathomless love for us! Oh marvel at the wondrous design of the Most High. "God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Truly, such love passes knowledge. Moreover, He made this costly sacrifice not grudgingly or reluctantly, but FREELY - out of love for us.
Once God had said to rebellious Israel - "How shall I give you up, Ephraim?" (Hosea 11:8). Infinitely more cause had He to say this of the Holy One. His well-beloved, the One in whom His soul daily delighted. Yet, He "delivered Him up" - to shame and spitting, to hatred and persecution, to suffering and death itself. And He delivered Him up for us - descendants of rebellious Adam, depraved and defiled, corrupt and sinful, vile and worthless! For us who had gone into the "country" of alienation from Him, and there spent our substance in riotous living. Yes, "for us" who had gone astray like sheep, each one turning to "his own way." For us "who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others," in whom there dwelt no good thing. For us who had rebelled against our Creator, hated His holiness, despised His Word, broken His commandments, resisted His Spirit. For us who richly deserved to be cast into the everlasting burnings and receive those wages which our sins so fully earned.
Yes, for you fellow Christian, who are sometimes tempted to interpret your afflictions as tokens of God's hardness; who regard your poverty as a mark of His neglect, and our seasons of darkness as evidences of His desertion. O, confess to Him now the wickedness of such dishonoring doubtings, and never again question the love of Him who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all!
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
"He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all - how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:12).
The above verse supplies us with an instance of Divine logic. It contains a conclusion drawn from a premise; the premise is that God delivered up Christ for all His people, therefore everything else that is needed by them is sure to be given. There are many examples in Holy Writ of such Divine logic. "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?" (Matt. 6:30). "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son - how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10). "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children - how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11). So here in our text the reasoning is irresistible and goes straight to the understanding heart.
Our text tells of the gracious character of our loving God as interpreted by the gift of His Son. And this, not merely for the instruction of our minds, but for the comfort and assurance of our hearts. The gift of His own Son is God's guarantee to His people of all needed blessings. The greater includes the lesser. His unspeakable spiritual gift is the pledge of all needed temporal mercies. Note in our text four things:
1. The Father's costly sacrifice.
This brings before us a side of the truth upon which I fear we rarely meditate. We delight to think of the wondrous love of Christ, whose love was stronger than death, and who deemed no suffering too great for His people. But what must it have meant to the heart of the Father when His Beloved left His Heavenly home! God is love, and nothing is so sensitive as love. I do not believe that Deity is emotionless, or stoical. I believe the sending forth of the Son was something which the heart of the Father felt - that it was a real sacrifice on His part.
Weigh well then, the solemn fact which premises the sure promise that follows. God "spared not His own Son!" Expressive, profound, melting words! Knowing full well, as He only could, all that redemption involved - the Law rigid and unbending, insisting upon perfect obedience and demanding death for its transgressors. Justice, stern and inexorable, requiring full satisfaction, refusing to "clear the guilty." Yet God withheld not the only Sacrifice which could meet the case.
God "spared not His own Son," though knowing full well the humiliation and ignominy of Bethlehem's manger, the ingratitude of men, the not having where to lay His head, the hatred and opposition of the ungodly, the enmity and bruising of satan - yet He did not hesitate. God did not relax ought of the holy requirements of His throne, nor abate one whit of the awful curse. No, He "spared not His own Son." The utmost farthing was exacted; the last dregs in the cup of wrath must be drained. Even when His Beloved cried from the Garden, "if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," God spared Him not. Even when vile hands had nailed Him to the tree, God cried "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, the man who is my Partner, says the Lord Almighty. Strike down the Shepherd!" (Zech. 13:7).
The Father's Gracious Design
"But delivered Him up for us all." Here we are told why the Father made such a costly sacrifice. He did not spare His Son - that He might spare us! It was not lack of love to the Saviour - but wondrous, matchless, fathomless love for us! Oh marvel at the wondrous design of the Most High. "God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Truly, such love passes knowledge. Moreover, He made this costly sacrifice not grudgingly or reluctantly, but FREELY - out of love for us.
Once God had said to rebellious Israel - "How shall I give you up, Ephraim?" (Hosea 11:8). Infinitely more cause had He to say this of the Holy One. His well-beloved, the One in whom His soul daily delighted. Yet, He "delivered Him up" - to shame and spitting, to hatred and persecution, to suffering and death itself. And He delivered Him up for us - descendants of rebellious Adam, depraved and defiled, corrupt and sinful, vile and worthless! For us who had gone into the "country" of alienation from Him, and there spent our substance in riotous living. Yes, "for us" who had gone astray like sheep, each one turning to "his own way." For us "who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others," in whom there dwelt no good thing. For us who had rebelled against our Creator, hated His holiness, despised His Word, broken His commandments, resisted His Spirit. For us who richly deserved to be cast into the everlasting burnings and receive those wages which our sins so fully earned.
Yes, for you fellow Christian, who are sometimes tempted to interpret your afflictions as tokens of God's hardness; who regard your poverty as a mark of His neglect, and our seasons of darkness as evidences of His desertion. O, confess to Him now the wickedness of such dishonoring doubtings, and never again question the love of Him who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all!
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
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