Commit Into His Hands

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: …” (Ps. 37:5-7a)

The word “commit” has the idea of “to roll over into;” and the word “way” refers to one’s course of life. David acknowledges that the sons of God are encompassed in this world by a host of cruel, wicked, evil doers that seek to destroy them. Thus, he encourages them to relinquish control of their destinies by rolling over the course of their lives (flesh and spirit) into God’s hands.

The Apostle Paul said this is what he did in writing: “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (II Tim. 1:12) It is an utter impossibility for us to keep ourselves. Even with the best of our efforts, we would make an awful mess of things and would find ourselves shipwrecked upon the deadly reefs. It is far better for us to trust in the sovereign power of our heavenly Father to bring us safely into eternity’s harbor. Depend not upon yourself, brethren, for we cannot see what God sees, and we dare not venture into the treacherous dark depths of life without our Captain at the helm. Have confidence that the Father shall surely carry us safely home.

The word “rest” is “to quiet one’s self, to keep silent.” The thought is for the saints to stop complaining and murmuring about their lot in life. (I must admit I am guilty!) As Paul wrote: “study to be quiet,” (I Thess. 4:11) We must learn to stop complaining! Stop it in front of the unsaved, for it brings reproach upon the Good Shepherd’s care of His sheep. Stop it in front of the saints, for it discourages the lambs. Stop it, because it demoralizes our thoughts and spirits, thus, weakening our faith. Rest in the Lord gives peace in the heart in the midst of chaos. Be still my soul in the Lord!

Paul wrote: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,” (II Tim. 4:7-8a) Paul committed his course of life into the hands of God, and admitted “by the grace of God I am what I am:” (I Cor. 15:10) Arrogant stubbornness impedes a restful course of life; quiet submissiveness enhances the course of faith.

Liberation from sin

Today's Promise from the Bible

Psalm 107:14

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Reflection

In the same way that God delivered His people in times of the Old Testament and broke their chains, He also delivers His people in the age of the church. For those whom God has saved, they have been eternally liberated from their enslavement to sin.

Moses Refusing Egypt and Choosing God's People, by Faith

Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

November 1, 2010

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. (Hebrews 11:24-25)

The natural tendency of humanity is to desire privilege and pleasure. These two were certainly available to Moses in Egypt. Yet, he refused Egypt and chose God's people, demonstrating the far reaching impact of trusting in the Lord.

When the daughter of Pharaoh discovered baby Moses, she decided to raise him as her child. "Moses was born...and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son" (Acts 7:20-21). As an offspring of the palace, Moses had access to the very best of human education, and he became proficient in all that was provided for him. "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds" (Acts 7:22). In terms of conventional earthly perspectives, Moses was guaranteed a life of privilege and pleasure.

However, when he reached the age of relative maturity, his heart was drawn in a distinctively different direction. "But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel" (Acts 7:23). The wording implies that he had been taught of his link with the Israelites as he was growing up in Pharoah's household. Eventually, his heart was stirred by this connection, and he made a life-shaping decision, by faith. "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter." He decided to renounce his place of privilege in Pharoah's family and to identify himself with God's people. He was aware that this choice was a renunciation of a pleasure-filled life and would inevitably lead to suffering: "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin."

To commit to the palace would have been pleasurable, but sinful. Furthermore, those sinful pleasures would have been temporary. On the other hand, the blessings of following the leading of the Lord would last forever. Moses' heavenly perspective was much like the Psalmist. "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [that is, in anyplace else]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalm 84:10).

Heavenly Father, help me to discern whenever the offer of human privilege is competing with Your will for my life. Please give me a heart to identify with Your people, even though inconvenience or suffering might result. Strengthen my faith to choose eternal blessings over the passing pleasures of sin, Amen.

The Work of the Holy Spirit unto Obedience

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(James Smith, "Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)

I love to meditate on the work of the Holy Spirit, to whom we are so much indebted, and from whom we receive such great and invaluable blessings. To Him, I feel that I am indebted, for every good thought, and for every good work. How wonderful His patience--that He should bear with me so long; and how wonderful His loving-kindness--that He should confer on me so much! O that I was more deeply sensible of my obligations!

It was the Holy Spirit who quickened me when I was dead in trespasses and sins--imparting a new life, infusing new thoughts, and producing new desires in my soul.

Having quickened me, He conquered me--subduing the enmity of my heart, the obstinacy of my will, the worldliness of my affections--and bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ.

Having quickened and conquered me, He comforted me, assuring me of a saving interest in--the love of God, the perfect work of Jesus, the precious promises of the Word, and the eternal rest which remains for the people of God.

Having quickened, conquered, and comforted me, He sanctified me--separating me from the world, and setting me apart for my Redeemer's glory and praise.

As my Sanctifier, He became my Guide--leading me into the truth, conducting me out of the paths of danger, and directing me into the everlasting way.

Not only my guide, but He became my Guard--preserving me from danger, protecting me from foes, and becoming a wall of fire round about me.

Whenever I wander--He reproves me; when I willfully go astray--He corrects me, and makes me smart for my folly.

The work He began so long ago--He carries on, nor will He withdraw His hand from it, until it is perfected, and I am fully fitted for glory.

Reader, what do you experimentally know the work of the Holy Spirit?
Has He quickened you?
Has He conquered you?
Does He comfort you?
Are you sanctified by His presence, power, and operation in your heart?
Does He . . .
guide you by His counsel,
guard you by His power, and
correct you for your follies?

The work of the Spirit within us--is as necessary as the work of Jesus for us! For if the atonement of Christ entitles us to glory--it is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to possess and enjoy it. We must be washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God--or we cannot be saved!

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Perfection and Preservation

Monday, November 01, 2010

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon

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November 1

Perfection and Preservation

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

What will He do? He will sanctify us wholly. See the previous verse. He will carry on the work of purification till we are perfect in every part. He will preserve our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." He will not allow us to fall from grace, nor come under the dominion of sin. What great favors are these! Well may we adore the giver of such unspeakable gifts.

Who will do this? The Lord who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, out of death in sin into eternal life in Christ Jesus. Only He can do this: such perfection and preservation can only come from the God of all grace.

Why will He do it? Because He is "faithful"—faithful to His own promise which is pledged to save the believer; faithful to His Son, whose reward it is that His people shall he presented to Him faultless, faithful to the work which He has commenced in us by our effectual calling. It is not their own faithfulness but the Lord's own faithfulness on which the saints rely.

Come, my soul, here is a grand feast to begin a dull month with. There may be fogs without, but there should be sunshine within.