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(James Smith, "Important Questions!" 1858)
"You fools--when will you be wise?" Psalm 94:8
The Scripture stigmatizes the lost sinner as a fool. He may be rich, he may be learned, he may fill an honorable station in the world--but so long as he neglects the one thing needful--he is called a fool.
Wisdom consists in fixing upon a worthy end--and pursuing it in the most prudent and judicious way.
A wise man . . .
thinks of his immortal soul--and seeks its salvation above everything else.
thinks of the wrath of God--and endeavors by all means to escape it.
thinks of a crown of glory--and sets his heart upon obtaining it.
sees that glorifying God is his highest honor, and secures his greatest happiness--and therefore he makes that the grand end of his life.
But the multitude, alas! the multitude overlook, or despise, or treat these things with contempt! They live . . .
as if self-gratification were the end of their creation,
as if earth were their eternal dwelling-place, and
as if glorifying God were no business of theirs!
If we were to judge them by their conduct, we would be ready to conclude . . .
that they had no souls to be saved or lost,
that there was no Hell to escape,
that there was no Heaven to obtain,
that there was no crown of glory to be won,
that there was no crown of shame to be avoided.
Surely the Scriptures are right in designating such men fools--for fools, the greatest fools, they must be!
Should the eye of a worldly man or woman light upon this page--God asks you the question, "When will you be wise?"
When will you begin to seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness?
When will you come to Jesus, and be saved from wrath by Him?
When will you begin to lay up for yourself treasure in heaven?
When will you prepare for death, judgment, and eternity?
"If only they were wise and would understand this, and discern what their end will be!" Deuteronomy 32:29
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Saturday, 30 April 2011
You fools--when will you be wise?
How the Characteristics of Grace Appear
Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
April 30, 2011
And we have such trust through Christ toward God.. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
We have been considering some characteristics that God wants to develop in our lives by His grace: namely, triumphant living, a fragrance of Christ, godly sincerity, and becoming living letters of Christ. How do these appear in our lives in an ever-increasing manner? As Paul wrote on these wonderful descriptions of godly living, his heart was stirred to ask, "And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16). Paul fully realized that man cannot produce these realities. Human resources are inadequate.
These heavenly traits grow in us as we live by the terms of the new covenant (humbly trusting in God, not in ourselves). "And we have such trust through Christ toward God." Paul's confidence in exhibiting these spiritual qualities of life was directed toward God, based upon the relationship that is available in Jesus Christ. This is not self-confidence; it is God-confidence. God must produce these characteristics.
There is no room for believers to trust in themselves. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." We are not the source of any of these wonderful traits of godly living. They must all come from God at work in us. "Our sufficiency is from God." When we live in humble dependency, the Lord's supply becomes our needed sufficiency. "Our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant."
Yes, new covenant servants live by the grace of God. Consequently, their sufficiency is what the Lord Himself supplies! This is precisely what God promised of old through His prophets. "I will make a new covenant …I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). God inscribes these spiritual traits upon the inner man (the heart and the mind) by His grace. The results are that these characteristics of godliness develop in our lives.
Again, we are looking at living by humility and faith. "God… gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Also, faith accesses grace: "through whom [the Lord Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2).
O Holy Father, I long to grow in these godly traits. I am not sufficient to produce them by my resources. My only hope is to be changed by You from the inside out. I humbly bow before You. With confidence in You, I ask that You pour Your grace upon my heart and mind, as I seek You in Your word. Through Christ my Lord, I pray, Amen.
Morning and Evening
Charles H. Spurgeon
April 30, 2011
Morning Reading
And all the children of Israel murmured.
There are murmurers amongst Christians now, as there were in the camp of Israel of old. There are those who, when the rod falls, cry out against the afflictive dispensation. They ask, "Why am I thus afflicted? What have I done to be chastened in this manner?" A word with thee, O murmurer! Why shouldst thou murmur against the dispensations of thy heavenly Father? Can He treat thee more hardly than thou deservest? Consider what a rebel thou wast once, but He has pardoned thee! Surely, if He in His wisdom sees fit now to chasten thee, thou shouldst not complain. After all, art thou smitten as hardly as thy sins deserve? Consider the corruption which is in thy breast, and then wilt thou wonder that there needs so much of the rod to fetch it out? Weigh thyself, and discern how much dross is mingled with thy gold; and dost thou think the fire too hot to purge away so much dross as thou hast? Does not that proud rebellious spirit of thine prove that thy heart is not thoroughly sanctified? Are not those murmuring words contrary to the holy submissive nature of God's children? Is not the correction needed? But if thou wilt murmur against the chastening, take heed, for it will go hard with murmurers. God always chastises His children twice, if they do not bear the first stroke patiently. But know one thing—"He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." All His corrections are sent in love, to purify thee, and to draw thee nearer to Himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the chastening with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father's hand. For "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." "Murmur not as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer."
Evening Reading
How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God.
Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside His mind from us, has us always before His eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon His people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; He always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest. In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us—we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes Him; in our toils He marks all our weariness, and writes in His book all the struggles of His faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for; all the littles of our little world are thought upon by the great God.
Dear reader, is this precious to you? then hold to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach up an impersonal God, and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord liveth and thinketh upon us, this is a truth far too precious for us to be lightly robbed of it. The notice of a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but what is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore.
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee
Daily Promises
Blue Letter Bible
April 30, 2011
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
O church, remember that Christ is the fulfilment of Israel and the seed of Abraham so long awaited by God's people. And recall that you are His bride! His redemption is your redemption! And even as He bears the name of God, so do you bear His own name! He is Christ and you are His Christians! Having been cleansed and made righteous by His blood, you are now counted worthy the honour of bearing the name above all names! Wonder of wonders—take joy, O bride of the Lamb!
Friday, 29 April 2011
Four Questions for Jonah
From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“…What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? ” (Jonah 1:8)
Part 5: “Of what people art thou?”
“Christians” today seem to have great difficulty of knowing to whom they belong. There are many doctrinal teachings scattered across the world that make an absolute mockery of the clear teachings of the Word of God. Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, and so shall it be for all who believe God. The Holy Bible reads: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (I Jn. 3:2-3)
Brethren, we do not have to wait and see, for we know that “now are we the sons of God”. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;” (Rom. 8:17) Apostle Peter wrote: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (I Pet. 2:9) The new creature within has the heritage of a “chosen generation” that is a royal priesthood of a holy nation that is heavenly in every respect. The believer’s people by heritage are the sons of God.
Peter again writes: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (I Pet. 2:5) We are a holy people with the holy task of offering up spiritual sacrifices. Our occupation is not of this world; therefore, be not distracted with the cares of this world. God has set us to a priestly work existing of holy sacrifices. Where are the holy sacrifices of sweet smelling savor due unto God and the Redeemer of our eternal spirits? “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14) Are you?