Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The difference between a Christian and a Disciple…
I do believe (IMHO) that there is a difference between being a Christian and a Disciple. (Now I’m not dogmatic on this; this is just my conviction).
All Christians are followers of Jesus; Not all Christians are disciples. Now let me say at the beginning that they should be synonymous, but all too often they aren’t. The Bible speaks of “carnal Christians” (I Corinthians 3). Were Ananias and Sapphira Christians (Acts 5)? Many commentators believe that they were; certainly they were carnal and their discipleship commitment was questionable.
Let’s look at what Jesus considered discipleship:
John 12:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Here Jesus says that it is only in dying to our desires and submitting ourselves to the Father’s plan, purpose, and will for our lives that we can produce much fruit.
Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” According to Jesus, this is not a one time experience; it is a daily surrender to Him and His will.
Jesus defined for us what a disciple is in Luke 14:26-33: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
Here are some observations about what Jesus is saying:
1. Following Jesus means placing Him above all others, including family (verse 26).
2. Following Jesus means taking up His cross; it means giving your life for the benefit of others (verse 27).
3. Following Jesus involves counting the cost (verse 28-32).
4. Following Jesus involves forsaking all (verse 33).
Now, really, not all followers of Jesus are willing to obey Him and do what He says. These words here in Luke 14 are difficult; certainly impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to fulfill. G. K. Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
My desperate desire is to be a fully committed disciple of Jesus; to do so will mean my death…the death of my self. Yet it is the only way, for it is in dying that we produce much fruit, as Jesus said.
So here are ten ways to tell if you are a disciple:
10. You are a member in good attendance in a local Church.
9. You pray for your Church, the leadership, and your pastor everyday.
8. Instead of caring for your friends new baby so she can clean her house, you clean her house while she cares for her baby.
7. You mow your neighbors lawn when he breaks his leg (even though you don’t like to do yard work).
6. You volunteer to do the dishes even though it is not your wife’s birthday. (Great caution should be exercised here guys – you don’t want to frighten her).
5. Instead of waiting for others to serve you, you willingly, with a grateful heart, volunteer to serve others.
4. You visit shut-in’s, the elderly, the sick, the lonely and those you haven’t seen in Church in a while.
3. You give to meet the needs of others even though you know you are going to have to go without to do it.
2. You love those no one else is willing to love.
And the number one way you can tell if you are a disciple…
1. You love others as you love yourself, just as Jesus did in giving Himself for others, even dying in their place so that they could live.
Can you come up with any more reasons to tell if you are a disciple?
All Christians are followers of Jesus; Not all Christians are disciples. Now let me say at the beginning that they should be synonymous, but all too often they aren’t. The Bible speaks of “carnal Christians” (I Corinthians 3). Were Ananias and Sapphira Christians (Acts 5)? Many commentators believe that they were; certainly they were carnal and their discipleship commitment was questionable.
Let’s look at what Jesus considered discipleship:
John 12:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Here Jesus says that it is only in dying to our desires and submitting ourselves to the Father’s plan, purpose, and will for our lives that we can produce much fruit.
Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” According to Jesus, this is not a one time experience; it is a daily surrender to Him and His will.
Jesus defined for us what a disciple is in Luke 14:26-33: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
Here are some observations about what Jesus is saying:
1. Following Jesus means placing Him above all others, including family (verse 26).
2. Following Jesus means taking up His cross; it means giving your life for the benefit of others (verse 27).
3. Following Jesus involves counting the cost (verse 28-32).
4. Following Jesus involves forsaking all (verse 33).
Now, really, not all followers of Jesus are willing to obey Him and do what He says. These words here in Luke 14 are difficult; certainly impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to fulfill. G. K. Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
My desperate desire is to be a fully committed disciple of Jesus; to do so will mean my death…the death of my self. Yet it is the only way, for it is in dying that we produce much fruit, as Jesus said.
So here are ten ways to tell if you are a disciple:
10. You are a member in good attendance in a local Church.
9. You pray for your Church, the leadership, and your pastor everyday.
8. Instead of caring for your friends new baby so she can clean her house, you clean her house while she cares for her baby.
7. You mow your neighbors lawn when he breaks his leg (even though you don’t like to do yard work).
6. You volunteer to do the dishes even though it is not your wife’s birthday. (Great caution should be exercised here guys – you don’t want to frighten her).
5. Instead of waiting for others to serve you, you willingly, with a grateful heart, volunteer to serve others.
4. You visit shut-in’s, the elderly, the sick, the lonely and those you haven’t seen in Church in a while.
3. You give to meet the needs of others even though you know you are going to have to go without to do it.
2. You love those no one else is willing to love.
And the number one way you can tell if you are a disciple…
1. You love others as you love yourself, just as Jesus did in giving Himself for others, even dying in their place so that they could live.
Can you come up with any more reasons to tell if you are a disciple?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Spurgeon on Following Jesus...
Mark 1:18: Straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him.
When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal, put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit occasion, our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good books, could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his loaf who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived of the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most readers and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but, alas! the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore no fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget, till, like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day, they are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little book of "Evening Readings" should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it. Should the reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these pages, let him hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed from his soul, and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner than be found rebellious to the Master's call. Do not give place to the devil by delay! Haste while opportunity and quickening are in happy conjunction. Do not be caught in your own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness, and away where glory calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with readers resolved to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a hundredfold, and his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that such might be our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried hints. Grant it, O Lord, unto thy servant!
When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal, put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit occasion, our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good books, could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his loaf who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived of the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most readers and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but, alas! the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore no fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget, till, like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day, they are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little book of "Evening Readings" should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it. Should the reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these pages, let him hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed from his soul, and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner than be found rebellious to the Master's call. Do not give place to the devil by delay! Haste while opportunity and quickening are in happy conjunction. Do not be caught in your own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness, and away where glory calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with readers resolved to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a hundredfold, and his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that such might be our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried hints. Grant it, O Lord, unto thy servant!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Spurgeon on the Holy Spirit...
Acts 2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
Rich were the blessings of this day if all of us were filled with the Holy Ghost. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul it would be impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace; and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit's benign presence. As sacred oil, He anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his office aright. As the only truly purifying water He cleanses us from the power of sin and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure. As the light, He manifested to us at first our lost estate, and now He reveals the Lord Jesus to us and in us, and guides us in the way of righteousness. Enlightened by His pure celestial ray, we are no more darkness but light in the Lord. As fire, He both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature on a blaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God. As heavenly dew, He removes our barrenness and fertilizes our lives. O that He would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning dew would be a sweet commencement for the day. As the dove, with wings of peaceful love He broods over His Church and over the souls of believers, and as a Comforter He dispels the cares and doubts which mar the peace of His beloved. He descends upon the chosen as upon the Lord in Jordan, and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial spirit by which they cry Abba, Father. As the wind, He brings the breath of life to men; blowing where He listeth He performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. Would to God, that we might feel His presence this day and every day.
Rich were the blessings of this day if all of us were filled with the Holy Ghost. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul it would be impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace; and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit's benign presence. As sacred oil, He anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his office aright. As the only truly purifying water He cleanses us from the power of sin and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure. As the light, He manifested to us at first our lost estate, and now He reveals the Lord Jesus to us and in us, and guides us in the way of righteousness. Enlightened by His pure celestial ray, we are no more darkness but light in the Lord. As fire, He both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature on a blaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God. As heavenly dew, He removes our barrenness and fertilizes our lives. O that He would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning dew would be a sweet commencement for the day. As the dove, with wings of peaceful love He broods over His Church and over the souls of believers, and as a Comforter He dispels the cares and doubts which mar the peace of His beloved. He descends upon the chosen as upon the Lord in Jordan, and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial spirit by which they cry Abba, Father. As the wind, He brings the breath of life to men; blowing where He listeth He performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. Would to God, that we might feel His presence this day and every day.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Help!
Psalm 12:1: Help, Lord.
The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication-when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner. The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the turn of needy souls. "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering or labouring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found, let us not beslack to cry to Him. The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us His aid; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and His sure promise stands, "Fear not, I WILL HELP THEE."
Charles Spurgeon
The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication-when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner. The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the turn of needy souls. "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering or labouring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found, let us not beslack to cry to Him. The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us His aid; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and His sure promise stands, "Fear not, I WILL HELP THEE."
Charles Spurgeon
Friday, June 13, 2008
Fathers Day…
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Next to knowing Jesus and marrying my wife, Debra, the greatest joy in my life is that of being a father. God has blessed me with two daughters, Rachel and Naomi. I am proud of them both. My chief desire and obligation to them has been to try (by the Spirit’s power) to love the Lord (example) and to teach them the commands (word) of the Lord.
I love my daughters – because of them I am a father. I haven’t always been the best father, nor have I always modeled my faith properly as well. But by the grace of God, I am what I am.
Rachel: My dear daughter; I know your struggles with depression. If I could, I would gladly take your place and suffer for you; however, I don’t have to as Jesus already did. He loves you more than I ever could. He has allowed this in your life for His reasons (which He has not made me privy to at this time). But you can know this: God does not make junk; He knows what He is doing and even in your suffering, He is using you to speak to others and offer them hope.
Naomi: My darling angel face; you have my heart. I love you and am proud of you. You are the subject of my constant prayers. God has a call on your life that will bring you before thousands. He has given you a gift. My prayer for you is that you seek Him and enter into His plan and purpose for your life. He is the joy you are looking for; He is the hope that you desire. Like your sister, He desires to use you to speak to others and offer them hope.
To my darling wife: Thank you for my two lovely daughters. You have given me a wonderful gift for which I am thankful and forever grateful. You have made my father’s day a joy.
Fathers: I hope you have a wonderful fathers day.
Next to knowing Jesus and marrying my wife, Debra, the greatest joy in my life is that of being a father. God has blessed me with two daughters, Rachel and Naomi. I am proud of them both. My chief desire and obligation to them has been to try (by the Spirit’s power) to love the Lord (example) and to teach them the commands (word) of the Lord.
I love my daughters – because of them I am a father. I haven’t always been the best father, nor have I always modeled my faith properly as well. But by the grace of God, I am what I am.
Rachel: My dear daughter; I know your struggles with depression. If I could, I would gladly take your place and suffer for you; however, I don’t have to as Jesus already did. He loves you more than I ever could. He has allowed this in your life for His reasons (which He has not made me privy to at this time). But you can know this: God does not make junk; He knows what He is doing and even in your suffering, He is using you to speak to others and offer them hope.
Naomi: My darling angel face; you have my heart. I love you and am proud of you. You are the subject of my constant prayers. God has a call on your life that will bring you before thousands. He has given you a gift. My prayer for you is that you seek Him and enter into His plan and purpose for your life. He is the joy you are looking for; He is the hope that you desire. Like your sister, He desires to use you to speak to others and offer them hope.
To my darling wife: Thank you for my two lovely daughters. You have given me a wonderful gift for which I am thankful and forever grateful. You have made my father’s day a joy.
Fathers: I hope you have a wonderful fathers day.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tragedy in Oklahoma…
This week, in the tiny little town of Weleetka, two young girls, Skyla Jade, 11, and her best friend, Taylor Dawn Paschal-Placker, were murdered. As the two girls were walking home, someone shot them repeatedly in the head and torso. At this time, all the police know for sure is that the girls were shot with two different guns; one high powered, one low powered. The girls were left in a ditch near a bridge along County Line Road.
Police have no motive for the shootings. The girls were not sexually molested. They were found by Peter Placker, grandfather of Taylor, 300 yards from his home. Officials think that, because the rural area, the slayings may have been committed by people from the local area or who are familiar with rural Okfuskee County roads. OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) agent Ben Rosser was reported as saying, “It’s an isolated area. We don’t know if this is some kind of a random thrill killing or an attempted abduction or a case of mistaken identity. It is possible that they may have interrupted something at the bridge.” All of Oklahoma is in shock at this terrible crime.
What kind of monster/s are capable of such a heartless and brutal crime? Why would they do such a thing? What possible motive could they have had? We are awaiting answers as local and state law enforcement conduct their investigation.
Funeral services for Taylor are at 10 a.m. at Dewar First Baptist Church. Services for Skyla will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Henryetta.
Please pray for the families as they morn the loss of these young girls.
Police have no motive for the shootings. The girls were not sexually molested. They were found by Peter Placker, grandfather of Taylor, 300 yards from his home. Officials think that, because the rural area, the slayings may have been committed by people from the local area or who are familiar with rural Okfuskee County roads. OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) agent Ben Rosser was reported as saying, “It’s an isolated area. We don’t know if this is some kind of a random thrill killing or an attempted abduction or a case of mistaken identity. It is possible that they may have interrupted something at the bridge.” All of Oklahoma is in shock at this terrible crime.
What kind of monster/s are capable of such a heartless and brutal crime? Why would they do such a thing? What possible motive could they have had? We are awaiting answers as local and state law enforcement conduct their investigation.
Funeral services for Taylor are at 10 a.m. at Dewar First Baptist Church. Services for Skyla will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Henryetta.
Please pray for the families as they morn the loss of these young girls.
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Sirens of Greek Mythology
I originally heard Pastor Chuck Smith speak on this subject years ago. Since then I have used the story several times, modifying it to fit the subject matter of the flesh verses the Spirit.
In Greek mythology we read of the Sirens, women living on an island in the Mediterranean, surrounded by cliffs and rocks. Singing their song, they lured seamen sailing by toward the island, wrecking on the rocks and perishing. Thus the island was the scene of many a shipwreck.
Their music was known throughout the world for it’s beauty.
Ulysses decided that he wanted to hear the music of the Sirens. So he took his sailors and plugged their ears with wax, he had them tie him to the mast of the ship. He then ordered them to row by the island that he might hear the music of the Sirens. As the music floated over the waters out to the ship, Ulysses began to scream to his sailors, “Turn in towards shore, turn in towards shore!”
But their ears were full of wax and they could not hear his cries. He struggled trying to free himself, trying madly to turn the ship in towards the shore. His sailors, unable to hear his cries, did not respond to his commands, and safely sailed past the island. Thus, Ulysses was one of the few men able to hear the music of the Sirens and not be destroyed.
Yet, there was another ship that sailed successfully past. It was the ship of Orpheus, the flute player. As his ship was sailing past and the music began to flow out towards them, the men began to get excited and to turn the ship towards shore.
Orpheus realizing the danger took out his flute and began to play such beautiful music that it completely overcame the music of the Sirens. The men were so enchanted by the music of Orpheus that they sailed by and thus were not lured to their destruction.
While this is an entertaining myth, there is a parallel in Christianity.
There are those Christians whose lives are dominated by the flesh and the desires of the flesh. They flirt with sin, seeing how close they can come without really sinning. Though they know that they should turn from the things of the world, the song of the world compels them to come. Thus they constantly struggle with the things of the flesh. Like Ulysses, they struggle against the mast, inwardly entertaining there desires, while outwardly trying to maintain a sense of denial.
There are those Christians whose lives, while tempted by the desires of the flesh, live free from the things of the world that compel them to come. Thus, for them, the song of the world holds no sway for them as they hear a sweeter song, that of the Holy Spirit. The song He sings overcomes the song of the world. Thus they sail on by the temptations of the world, focusing on the song of the Spirit, escaping the destruction that results from listening to the song of the world.
So, what kind of Christian are you? Are you tied to the mast, struggling against the work of the Spirit in your life. Do you outwardly appear to be in submission to the Spirit, all the while inwardly desiring to submit yourselves to the song of the world and the destruction it brings?
Or are you the kind of Christian who is listening to a sweeter song, the song of the Spirit? Are you, while being tempted by the song of the world, able to sail on past by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus avoiding destruction?
The difference between the two is the difference between struggling in the flesh verses submission to the Holy Spirit and the power He gives. If you find yourself struggling with the song of the world, why not submit yourself to the work of the Spirit in your life and the power He gives? Until you do, you will never be able to resist the song of the world and escape the destruction it brings.
Yet if you do, you will still be tempted; however, in the time of temptation you will hear Him sing His song, so enchanting that you will sail on by and escape being lured to destruction.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Spurgeon on love...
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God.
The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me." Then love gives the countersign, and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. "We love Him because He first loved us." In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly to be seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ, and rested upon it as a man leaneth upon a staff whose trustiness he has tried. The love which they felt towards the Lord was not a quiet emotion which they hid within themselves in the secret chamber of their souls, and which they only spake of in their private assemblies when they met on the first day of the week, and sang hymns in honour of Christ Jesus the crucified, but it was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy, that it was visible in all their actions, spoke in their common talk, and looked out of their eyes even in their commonest glances. Love to Jesus was a flame which fed upon the core and heart of their being; and, therefore, from its own force burned its way into the outer man, and shone there. Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love to Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love-the love of Christ constraineth them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Saviour with a pure heart, fervently. My reader, do you love Him? Ere you sleep give an honest answer to a weighty question!
He that loveth not knoweth not God.
The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me." Then love gives the countersign, and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. "We love Him because He first loved us." In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly to be seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ, and rested upon it as a man leaneth upon a staff whose trustiness he has tried. The love which they felt towards the Lord was not a quiet emotion which they hid within themselves in the secret chamber of their souls, and which they only spake of in their private assemblies when they met on the first day of the week, and sang hymns in honour of Christ Jesus the crucified, but it was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy, that it was visible in all their actions, spoke in their common talk, and looked out of their eyes even in their commonest glances. Love to Jesus was a flame which fed upon the core and heart of their being; and, therefore, from its own force burned its way into the outer man, and shone there. Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love to Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love-the love of Christ constraineth them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Saviour with a pure heart, fervently. My reader, do you love Him? Ere you sleep give an honest answer to a weighty question!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Not feeling well...
Well, since yesterday I have been as sick as a ...well you know. I went to the doctor today and I have sinusitis and an upper respiratory infection. My antibiotic was $111.00; I guess the drug company president needed to make his Cadillac payment?
Anyway, God does speak to us though illness. Sometimes it is because we have been running too fast so He has to slow us down. Sometimes it is because we don't take care of ourselves. Whatever the reason, God uses the time to speak to us. We can't do it all; His program was alive and well before we came along and His program will continue long after we are gone.
What is most important is that we take the time to fellowship with the Lord. Paul's prayer was to "know Him;" Jesus not only died for our sins, He also died to restore the fellowship we had with Him in the garden.
It's too bad that often He has to use sickness to slow us down enough to listen to Him...
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