Grace Gems

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When earth's wine gives out!

(J. R. Miller, "Come with Me" Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ, 1890)

"When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him: They have no more wine." John 2:3

This incident is a very fitting illustration of the failure of all this world's joys. The wine gave out at a wedding-feast. There was not enough of it to last through to the end of the feast. It is just so with all earth's pleasures. It comes in cups--not in fountains; and the supply is limited and soon exhausted. It is especially so with sin's pleasures. The prodigal soon ran out of money, and began to be in need. A poet compared the pleasures of sin to a snowflake on the river, "a moment white--then gone forever!"

But it is true in a sense also--of pure pleasures. Even the sweetness of human love is but a cupful which will not last forever. The joy which so fills us today, tomorrow is changed to sorrow. Amid the gladness of the marriage altar there is the knell of the end, in the words "until death do us part." One of every two friends must hold the other's hand in farewell at the edge of the valley of the shadow of death--and must stand by the other's grave, and walk alone for part of the way.

The best wine of earthly life and of love--will fail. If there were nothing better in this world--how sad it would be! But it is here that we see the glory of Christ's gospel. Jesus comes when earth's wine fails--and gives heaven's wine to supply the lack. How beautiful and how true is the picture here: the failing wine, and then Jesus coming with power and supplying the need! That is what He is doing continually. He takes lives which have drained their last drop of earthly gladness--and He satisfies them with spiritual good and blessing, so that they need nothing more.

When human joy fails--Jesus gives new joy, better than the world's, and in unfailing abundance. How sad it is for those who have not taken Christ into their lives, and who have nothing but the empty cup--when earth's wine gives out!

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The only refuge in sorrow

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"Being in anguish--He prayed more fervently." Luke 22:44

We see the Master at prayer in Gethsemane. It was here that He prepared for His Cross. We should notice that His refuge in His exceeding sorrow--was prayer; and that, as the sorrow deepened--the refuge still was prayer. Prayer is the only refuge in sorrow. The lesson from the garden prayer is that we should take all the hard things, the anguishes, the insufferable pains, the bitter griefs of our lives--to God in prayer. We may be sure, too, that God will answer. If He does not relieve us of the suffering, He will strengthen us so that we can keep it, and still go on trusting and singing.

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

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The BOOK you are writing

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"You ought to live holy and godly lives." 2 Peter 3:11

The only way to have a stainless and beautiful year at its close--is to keep the days, as they pass, all pure and sweet, with the loveliness of holy, useful living.

It is thus, in little days--that our years come to us. We have but the one small fragment to fill and beautify at a time.

The year is a book, and for each day--one fair white page is opened before us.

And we are artists, whose duty it is to put something beautiful on the page.

Or we are poets, and are to write some lovely thought, some radiant sentence, on each leaf as it lies open before us.

"That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:2

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Gather more worldly trinkets

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed! A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

Few people think of the danger of getting rich.

Most think that they become great--just in proportion as they gather wealth. Yet there never was a more fatal error!

A man is really measured by what he IS--not by what he HAS. We may find a shriveled soul in the midst of a great fortune; and a noble soul in the barest poverty.

A man's real "life" is what would be left of him--if everything he has were stripped off. His real 'worth' is his character, as it appears in God's sight.

We will make a great mistake if our goal in life--is simply to gather more worldly trinkets than our neighbor!

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The happiest homes in the world

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

Nothing is lovelier in life, than the spirit of contentment. Fretting mars the beauty of many a face. Discontent spoils all one's world. Out of whatever window he looks--the discontented person sees something that is not pleasing.

But a contented person sees only good everywhere. The happiest homes in the world are not those in which are the finest carpets, the costliest pictures, the most luxurious furniture--but those in which contented, joyful hearts dwell. A mind at peace, beautifies the plainest surroundings and even the hardest conditions.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

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How much did he leave?

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." Proverbs 23:5

People are badly cheated in this world. They imagine that the things they can see are the real things--that the gold, lands, and stocks are the true treasures. So they toil for those things and gather them into their possession, piling up what they suppose to be wealth. Thus they live in pomp, with their fine houses, and all their brilliant show. But one day their supposed riches sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Or they may keep their wealth, perchance, and die at last in the midst of it, and have a great funeral; but they find that they cannot carry a penny of it with them. "How much did he leave?" was asked about a rich man who had died. "All of it!" was the answer.

If only people knew that there are things which will never fly away--they would no longer live for fleeting worldly wealth. They would pass by the glittering unrealities, to lay hold of the true riches. He who is rich toward God--is the truly wealthy man.

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Spiritual beauty!

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language." Colossians 3:8

All the precepts of the Bible are aimed towards the fashioning of spiritual beauty in every redeemed life. We are to put away . . .
  all that is sinful,
  all that is marring,
  every blot and blemish,
  every unholy desire, feeling, and affection,
  everything that would defile.
And we are to put on whatever is lovely and Christlike.

The one great work of Christ in Christian lives--is the fashioning of holiness in them. We are to grow away from our deformities, our faults and infirmities, our poor dwarfed, stunted life--and into spiritual beauty! The mark set before us is the likeness of Christ, which, at last, we shall attain! "We shall be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is!" 1 John 3:2

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Shun them as they would the plague!

(Arthur Pink)

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them!" 2 Timothy 3:5

There are a multitude of such today!

"Having a form of godliness." This means that they have a religious veneer. They bear the name of Christ, belong to some so-called evangelical church, and seek to create the impression that they are regenerate people. But like the foolish bridesmaids of Matthew 25, they "took their lamps--but took no oil with them." These professors are neither indwelt by the Holy Spirit, nor made partakers of the transforming grace of God.

It is said of them, secondly, "but denying its power." The reality of vital godliness is lacking, the beauties of holiness are not found in them. By their lips, they claim to be godly--but by their lives, they give the lie to it. "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good!" (Titus 1:16)

"Have nothing to do with them!" With such people, the children of God are to have nothing to do with--but are to shun them as they would the plague!

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Post-mortem kindnesses

(J. R. Miller)

Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your affection sealed and laid away--until your friends are dead. Fill their present days with tenderness. Speak your words of commendation, while their ears can hear them! The things you mean to say when they are dead and gone--say before they go! The flowers you mean to send for their coffins--send beforehand to brighten and sweeten their homes, before they leave them forever!

I have often said--and I know I speak for thousands of other weary, plodding toilers--that if my friends have vases laid away, filled with the perfumes of sympathy and affection, which they intend to break over my dead body--I would far rather they would bring them out now along my toilsome days and open them--when I can enjoy them and be refreshed by them!

Post-mortem kindnesses do not cheer the burdened spirit. Tears falling on the icy brow of death, make poor and too tardy atonement for coldness, neglect, and cruel selfishness in life's long, struggling years. Appreciation, after the heart is stilled in death--has no inspiration for the departed one; it comes too late, when it is pronounced only in funeral eulogies. Flowers piled on the coffin--cast no fragrance backward over weary days.

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What a family has He to bear with!

(Letters of John Newton)

"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion!" Numbers 14:18

What a family has He to bear with!

Those whom he has graciously saved, have secret idols in their hearts!

His friends hold a secret correspondence with His enemies!

His children repine against Him, and quarrel one with another!

His servants (ministers) serve themselves!

"But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness!" Psalm 86:1

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Overcoming the world

(Arthur Pink, "Faith as an Overcomer")

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4

One of the fruits of the new birth, is a faith which not only enables its possessor to overcome the sensual and sinful customs, and the carnal maxims and policies by which the profane world is regulated--but also the lying delusions and errors by which the professing world is fatally deceived.

The only thing which will or can "overcome the world" is a God-given--but self-exercised faith.

Faith overcomes the world firstly, by receiving into the heart God's infallible testimony of the world. He declares that "the world" is a corrupt, evanescent, hostile thing, which shall soon be destroyed by Him. His Holy Word teaches that the world is "evil" (Galatians 1:4); that "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father--but is of the world" (1 John 2:16); that "the whole world lies in wickedness" (1 John 5:19) and shall yet be "burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). As faith accepts God's verdict of the world, the mind is spiritually enlightened; and its possessor views it as a worthless, dangerous, and detestable thing!

Faith overcomes the world secondly, by obeying the Divine commands concerning it. God has bidden us, "Do not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2); "Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:15); and warns us that "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world, becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4). By heeding the Divine precepts, its magic spell over the heart is broken.

Faith overcomes the world thirdly, by occupying the soul with more glorious, soul-delighting and satisfying objects. The more the substance of the heavenly world engages the heart--the less hold will the shadows of this earthly world have upon it. "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).

Faith overcomes the world fourthly, by drawing out the heart unto Christ. As it was by fleeing to Him for refuge, that the soul was first delivered from the power and thraldom of this world--so it is throughout the Christian life. The more we cultivate real communion with Christ--the less attraction will the baubles of this world have for us! The strength of temptation lies entirely in the bent of our affections, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). While Christ is beheld as "the chief among ten thousand" (Song 5:10) and as "altogether lovely" (Song 5:16) --the things which charm the poor worldling, will repel us.

The world gains the victory over the unregenerate by captivating their affections and capturing their wills. But the Christian overcomes the world, because his affections are set upon Christ and his will yielded to Him.

Here--then, we have a sure criterion by which we may determine our Christian progress or spiritual growth. If the things of this world have a decreasing power over me--then my faith is becoming stronger. If I am holding more lightly the things most prized by the ungodly--then I must be increasing in an experimental and soul-satisfying knowledge of Christ. If I am less cast down when some of the riches and comforts of this world are taken from me--then that is evidence they have less hold upon me.

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It is finished!

(J. C. Ryle)

"It is finished!" John 19:30

Let us turn from the story of the crucifixion, every time we read it--with hearts full of praise.

Let us praise God for the confidence it gives us, as to the ground of our hope of pardon. Our sins may be many and great--but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all!

Let us praise God for the view it given us of the love of our Father in heaven. He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all--will surely with Him give us all things!

Not least, let us praise God for the view it gives us of the sympathy of Jesus with all His believing people. He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows what suffering is. Jesus is just the Savior that an infirm body, with a weak heart, in an evil world, requires!

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The grace of gentleness

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me--for I am gentle and humble in heart." Matthew 11:29

There are some Christians who seem never to have learned love's secret of gentleness. There is nothing that this sad, sorrowing, sinning world needs--more than gentleness; like that of Him of whom it is written, that He would not break a bruised reed. We need to pray for the grace of gentleness that we may walk softly among men, never hurting another life by harsh word or ungentle act.

"We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." 1 Thessalonians 2:7

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

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A mixed condition

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity, or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

The condition of God's people in this life is a mixed condition.
In this life they have . . .
  their rejoicing times--and their mourning times,
  their laughing times--and their weeping times,
  their singing times--and their sorrowing times, etc.

It is true, in heaven there is . . .
  all joy--and no sorrow,
  all gladness--and no sadness.

And in hell there is . . .
  all sorrow--and no joy,
  all grief--and no gladness,
  all howling--and no singing,
  all madness--and no mirth.

But in this present life it is otherwise, for if there would be nothing but joy--many would look for no other heaven. And if there should be nothing but sorrow--most would look for no other hell.

If men should have nothing but joy--how sadly would they be puffed up! And if they should have nothing but sorrow--how easily would they be cast down! But now, by a divine hand, our sorrows being mixed with our joys--our hearts come to be the more effectually weaned from the vanities of this life, and to long more earnestly after the pure and unmixed joys in the world of glory!

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I live now more as a little helpless infant

(Letters of Mary Winslow)

"The world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever!" 1 John 2:17

May you be unceasingly led to see, that this world is not worthy of one anxious thought! It is all passing away, and we shall soon stand before the great white throne!

Realize more and more your glorious inheritance, and do not covet the poor trifles of time and sense.

Time is short!

You have much to do for God in a little space.

Eternity will be quite long enough to rest!

I am near my eternal home. Jesus is very precious, and His presence is sensibly with me. I live now more as a little helpless infant upon Christ, than ever I did in my long life.