"Blessed is The Man..."

Christian! These are some of your choice spiritual blessings: 

Election by the father. Redemption by the son. Regeneration by the Spirit. Justification by faith. Forgiveness of every sin. Reconciliation with God. Adoption into God's family. Glorification and eternal life in Heaven! 

Ponder the 'names' given to believers in the Scriptures: 

"Sons of God," "children of light," "children of obedience," "children of promise," "children of the living God," "children of the resurrection," "children of their Father in Heaven!" 

While the whole world besides is: 

 "Children of the devil," "children of darkness," "children of disobedience," "children of the wicked one," "children of Hell," "children of wrath!" 

Consider some of the believer's prospects in the eternal world: 

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God! He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." (Revelation 21:3-4) 

While to all others, there is nothing but: 

"a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries!" Consider the unbeliever's prospects in the eternal world: in outer darkness, in the lake of fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is never quenched, where the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever, where there is no rest day or night, with Satan and his demons, in the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

Psalm 1:1-6 ...  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ❤

Differing Gifts ...

All men are not alike in their natural endowments. The differences we see in abilities and attainments are not all the result of education or of varying circumstances. If all had precisely the same opportunities for development and culture, if all grew up in precisely the same circumstances there would still be the most wonderful diversity of gifts and abilities. The sun shines alike on all the plants and trees, and the rains fall alike on them; and yet they grow up, each with its own distinct individuality. 

All flowers do not become daisies, nor do all trees become oaks. The rose cannot through any kind of culture, become an apple-tree. The creeping vine cannot be taught to rear its head high up the peer of the mighty oak. The clover cannot be cultivated into a waterlily. A thousand years of culture would not give to the blazing sunflower, the fragrance of the mignonette. God has made them to differ. 

He gives to the oak, a gift of strength; to the vine, a gift of fruitfulness; to the rose, a gift of beauty; and to the lily, a gift of fragrance. Just so, he makes men to differ distributing his gifts among them; and no advantages of culture or education would obliterate these differences. He gives to some five talents, to some two, to others only one. 

There is the most wonderful variety in all of God's works. One star differs from another star in glory. The surface of the earth is diversified by valleys, hills, mountains, plateaus, rivers, lakes, and seas. In the natural world you find the giant redwood of California and at its root the tiny moss clinging to the rock. The sea contains great whales and if you take a microscope and look into a drop of water, you shall find it to contain myriads of minute animalcular, so small that the single drop in which they move is like an ocean to them. Great beasts roam the forest and if you examine a green leaf, you shall find it a little world in itself, with its tiny forests and gardens, and covered with its dense population of living creatures. In the same way, the same variety characterizes human gifts. 

No two faces are alike; of all the millions on the earth no two people have precisely the same capacities and endowments. I suppose the reason why God has thus distributed his gifts so unequally is that every part of the work of the world may be done. This is the reason which the apostle Paul gives in his letter to the Corinthians: "If the whole body were an eye, then where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, then where would the sense of smell be?" We may further carry out the illustration. If all men were merchants, then who would till the soil, navigate the ships, and work the mines? If all were painters or sculptors, then who would write the books and heal the sick? 

If all had the gifts of a Napoleon to organize and command, then who would be the sergeants and privates? If all were millionaires, then who would compose the great army of laborers who drive the wheels of business? If all had the gift of poetry, then who would write the plain prose of life? If all in the church had the gift of pulpit eloquence then who would teach in the Sunday-school, or carry tracts and books from street to street, or minister in men's homes among the sick, the poor, the fallen or the weary? 

There is every variety of work to be done and there is, therefore, need for every variety of workman. And God distributes his gifts so that there may be a hand for every task, a foot for every errand, a tongue for every word that needs to be spoken, and a heart for every service of love. There is no confusion in his distribution of gifts. As the many members of the body, working together in perfect harmony, make up one complete body so the many members of the body of Christ, if all are faithful in their diverse spheres, together make one glorious whole. Everyone, even the lowliest has a distinct mission of his own, and God bestows just the gifts each one needs for the work allotted. He wanted some great apostles to find his church and to bear his name before kings and he chose twelve men and gave them great gifts. He wanted a reformer to tear the draperies of superstition from the cross and to unchain the Bible and he raised up Luther and fitted him for the glorious work. 

So, in every age, he has a few great missions to fill, and he grants to a few men great gifts. But at the same time, he wants humble servants to go and sit down by the poor, sick woman in her dingy garret and tell her of the Savior's love; to visit workhouses, prisons, almshouses, and hospitals; to teach the ragged child, and to do the thousand little nameless things of Christian service which must every day be done. And he gives to many of his servants, just the precise talent to fit them for doing just these little things. The Great Eastern is a magnificent ocean steamer but she could not travel up the river. 

There must be vessels of all sizes to ply in all the channels of the waters. In the same way, there is need for every variety of gift in the church. God needs men to stand in the pulpit with hearts and tongues on fire with the eloquence of Heaven to proclaim the gospel to the thousands and to edify the saints. And he needs men and women to go out into all the trades and occupations, into printing-offices and counting-rooms, into mills and stores, into narrow courts and dark alleys to bear the name of Jesus and the fragrance of his love everywhere. Hence to many of his servants he gives only one talent to fit them for doing little quiet things, for running little errands, for performing little noiseless ministries. 

Sometimes God touches a woman's tongue, and she writes songs or books which thrill a nation by their eloquence, and her words move the masses and fire the people's hearts. But if all women wrote poetry or books then who would mold and train infancy and childhood? Who would fill homes with love and sweetness? Who would perform the countless little humble ministries in the sick room, among the poor, in the abodes of sorrow, which only woman's soft and gentle fingers can do? There must be a great many people with common gifts for plain, common work. But whatever our talents are they are just what God has given us; and they are just what we need for the special work which God has allotted us. And if we use our gifts and fill our places, however lowly and humble they are we shall live noble lives. 

Who will say that the modest daisy is not as noble in its own place as the tallest, proudest oak? Nobleness consists in being what God made and meant us to be and in doing what God gives us to do. Faithfulness to our mission will receive the reward. Unfaithfulness in the use of our gifts, whether great or small will bring God's displeasure and loss of all. 

[J. R. Miller]

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. ❤

Say, Is Not This Lovely?

Great and rich believers, along with lowly and poor believers are all one in Christ and are equal with each other!  The same confessions of sin, however humiliating they may proceed equally from the hearts of all. The same petitions for grace, for mercy, for strength are asked by all. The same devout gratitude for spiritual blessings is poured forth by all. The Word is pronounced with the same authority to all, and entire submission to it is required from them all. The same exceedingly great and precious promises are guaranteed to them all. The same priceless inheritance is reserved in Heaven for all who by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, receive and obey the Gospel. 

View both rich and poor believers, sitting down together at the table of the Lord as guests equally invited, and equally accepted by the great Master of the feast! All eating of the same bread; all drinking of the same cup; all receiving into their souls, the same divine blessings. Say, is not this lovely? Is it not a true picture of Heaven itself, where the poor beggar Lazarus, whose sores the dogs once licked, because he had not a friend to bind them up now sits down with all the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord at the marriage supper of the Lamb! Yes! 

Thus, it is in the Church below. The rich and the poor meet together, for the Lord is the Redeemer of them all, the Father of them all, the Friend of them all, the portion of them all! In Christ's church on earth, both poor and rich are all in a measure poor in spirit, mournful over their sinfulness, meek and humble, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, holy and Christly! 

In the body of Christ, there is no place for despising the poor, or envying the rich as the same honor and blessedness belong to all! 

[Charles Simeon] 

 ✞  ✞  ✞ 

James 1:9-10 ... Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

Galatians 3:28 ... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 ... Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Romans 12:5 ... So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ❤

"The Work of Christian Charity"

 1. The Character of Christian Charity.

Christian charity is, as the name indicates, a specifically Christian virtue, the fruit of saving grace. It is Christian love extended to those that are in misery, a love that reveals itself in a voluntary and unselfish devotion to those that are subject to the ills of life, particularly, when they are in straitened circumstances.

The Christian, in his work of charity, seeks those that are in misery, of whatever rank they may be, and aims at promoting the glory of God.

Christian charity differs even from the charity that was exercised by Israel under the Old Testament. This was limited almost exclusively to the poor of their own nation. Moreover, it was carefully regulated by an external law. Christian charity, on the other hand, is inspired and regulated by an internal principle and is universal.

2. The Motives for Christian Charity.

The primary motive is found in the fact that the Word of God calls upon us to show forth the image of God also in this respect. "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). This is a very high ideal.

In the second place the Christian love that fills our hearts prompts us to exercise charity. This charity will reveal itself in all its tenderness and compassion where misery is greatest, as, for instance, during a pestilence, or a famine, or on the battlefield.

Moreover, it is necessary for our own spiritual development that we exercise charity. This is not selfishness, but merely a part of the law of our spiritual existence.

3. Opportunities for Exercising Christian Charity.

There is always abundant opportunity for exercising this virtue. We can do it wherever we come in contact with misery.

[Louis Berkhof]

 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞

Your Future is Bright!!

Your past may be in the mouth of others but,

Your future is in the hands of God!

Jeremiah 29:11 ...  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ❤

An Ocean of Consolation!

There is great consolation in Christ's unvarying love. The love of Jesus is always the same. It never ebbs but flows on in one continuous stream. His love is as ancient as eternity, as strong as omnipotence, and as unchangeable as His nature. Creature love may fail; and creatures who love us today, may hate us tomorrow but as Jesus ever lives, so Jesus ever loves.  In His covenant engagements, perfect sin-atoning work, tender sympathy, constant care, prevalent intercession, precious Word, and unvarying love there is an ocean of consolation! 

Jesus is our Substitute, restoring that which sin took away; our Surety, paying all the debts we would contract; our Shepherd, taking charge of our persons to nourish them, to preserve them, and to set them before His Father's face forever! His obedience is our righteousness. His blood is our ransom price.  His death is our life. There is consolation in Christ's tender and constant care, which extends to all our circumstances, to all that concerns us, even to the very hairs of our heads! 

He cares for our needs, to supply them; our holy desires, to grant them; our eternal salvation, to secure it. There is always consolation in Christ. Whatever may be our outward circumstances, and they may be very trying in poverty and pain, under losses and crosses, however tempted or tried there is still consolation in Christ! 

Creatures may prove crosses, ordinances may be like wells without water, providence may frown, the meal barrel may be empty, and the brook may dry up but there is still consolation in Christ. Though harassed with doubts, tormented with fears, tortured with temptations, shrouded in darkness, and drinking the wine of astonishment there is still consolation in Christ.

All within may be discouraging, disheartening, and depressing: our evidence may be lost, our fears may be great, our convictions may be painful, and our terrors may be dreadful but there is still consolation in Christ. Our immediate prospects may be dark all going out, and nothing coming in; all losses, and no gains; disease may be working in our body; old age may be creeping upon us; our business may be failing; claims upon us may be increasing; our families may be increasingly trying but there is still consolation in Christ! 

Yes, though the crops fail, though provisions give out, though resources are cut off, and poverty stares us in the face, let things be as bad as they may, and threaten to be ever so much worse there is still consolation in Christ! Yes, when all without us is dark, and all within us dreary; when friends are removed, and enemies increase; when with Jacob we are ready to look around and before us, and say, "All these things are against me!" There is still consolation in Christ! 

As there is always consolation in Christ, we should learn to know and love Christ, to know and love Him well, to know and love Him experimentally, to know and love Him in His person, offices, and work, to know and love Him in His relations, characters, and love, to know and love Him as our unchanging source of supply, comfort, and peace! We should trust Christ at all times and in all circumstances. However, our experiences may vary He is ever the same! 

His Word is like the great mountains! His heart is an ocean of love! His faithfulness reaches to the very Heavens! He is our strength, and we must look to Him to strengthen us. He is our wisdom, and we must look to Him to counsel us. He is our righteousness, and we must look to Him to justify us. He is all in all to us, and therefore we must look to Him for all, go to Him with all, and expect Him to bring us through all.

[James Smith]

2 Corinthians 1:5 ...  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

"Acsah"

That word of Acsah ( עַכְסָה), "also" is the commonest of words in the hungering and thirsting heart, and on the praying lips of the Christian. God has done much for me. He has given me a south land, where the sun shines, where the fields are broad and rich, where grape-vines and olive trees and fig trees may flourish and yield their harvests. But I am not yet at the end of my needs or of His resources. He must give me springs of water also to quicken and revive everything. I have not attained. I am not fully satisfied. As liberal as He has been, He is not wearied in bestowing, nor is His treasury depleted! 

I shall come to Him over and over with new entreaties and new desires. He will return to me over and over with new endowments and new love. Suppose that I am forgiven I would have Him also add to His forgiveness, the peace and assurance which it should beget. Suppose that I am justified in His sight by the infinite meritoriousness of my Lord Jesus Christ I would also know now what it is to be sanctified and made holy by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Suppose that I am His redeemed and adopted child, dwelling in the atmosphere of His favor I would also be His consecrated servant and commissioned ambassador, employed to advance His Kingdom. Suppose that He has given me the south land of His mercifulness and grace He must also give me the springs of water, that through the whole of the encircling year I may bear much fruit to His glory. 

Lord, give me springs of water also! 

[Alexander Smellie]

Judges 1:15 ... And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. ❤

Thank God for Hiding the Future!

There is no more gracious provision for our happiness, than what is contained in that brief saying of Scripture, "You do not know what will happen tomorrow!" James 4:14 

If we knew in full, in this grief-stricken world, all that would befall us in the future  how sad would existence be! It would leave even prosperity without a note of gladness; for the certainty of losing our blessings, would rob us of all their enjoyment while we retained them. And thus moments of unbounded pleasure, would be clouded with the dark characters of anticipated sorrow. How would the mother's joy be marred, as the object of her tender solicitude and affection was sporting by her side, or as she hung over the infant cradle if she could pry with certainty into the future, and read the mournful sequel of that little history the lingering sickness, the early grave, the blighted hopes, the desolated household, the broken heart. 

To know the future, would convert the few brief years of possession of her blessing, into consecutive hours of agony the consciousness and foreknowledge that every moment was drawing nearer the fatal one sitting by Time's sand-glass and marking grain by grain, as they dropped and fell, until the last grain of the diminishing heap announced, "The long-dreaded hour has arrived!" But, thank God that the future is veiled! The storm and coming wreck are concealed, in order that the calm of the present waveless sea may be enjoyed. Yes, we again say, thank God for hiding the future, and allowing us only to be conversant with the joys and sorrows of today. 

[John MacDuff] 

James 4:14 ... Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

A Minister's Confession

 O God,

I know that I often do Your work without
Your power, and sin by my dead, heartless, blind service,
my lack of inward light, love, delight,
my mind, heart, tongue moving without Your help.

I see my sinful heart in seeking the praise of others.
This is my vileness to seek my own glory. It is my
deceit to preach and pray in order to generate
admiration; whereas I should consider myself
more vile than any man in my own eyes.

Help me to rejoice in my infirmities and to
acknowledge my deficiencies before others.

Keep me from high thoughts of myself or my work,
for I am nothing but sin and weakness. In me no
good dwells, and my best works are tainted with
sin. Humble me to the dust before You. Root and
tear out the poisonous weed of pride, and show
me my utter nothingness. Keep me sensible of
my sinnership. Sink me deeper into penitence
and self-abhorrence.

Break the 'Dagon' of pride in pieces before
the ark of Your presence!

Demolish the 'Babel' of self-importance
and scatter it to the wind!

Level to the ground my 'Jericho walls'
of a haughty, rebel heart!

Then grace, free grace, will be my experience and
message. This is my ministry, my life, my prayer,
my end. Grant me grace that I shall not fail.

[A Puritan Prayer]

Our Only Hope!!

No matter who becomes the president in America, Jesus is King.

Revelation 19:16 ... And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. ❤

Long to Soar!!

Do not I love You, Oh my Lord? 

Behold my heart and see, 

And turn each cursed idol out, 

That dares to rival Thee! 

 You know I love You, dearest Lord, 

But oh, I long to soar, 

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,

 And learn to love You more! 

 [Philip Doddridge]

Psalm 55:6 ... And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫