Grace Gems

[nChrist]

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Tender kisses!

(Frank Hall)

"Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for Your love is better than wine." Song of Solomon 1:2

Of all the relationships that we as believers share with our blessed Savior, perhaps none is more intimate and comforting than that of marriage. Jesus has betrothed us to Himself in holy matrimony and covenant grace. We are  . . .
  His beloved bride,
  the apple of His eye,
  the darling of His heart;
and He is the gracious Husband of our immortal souls!
We are, by sovereign grace, forever one with Jesus our Husband!

Oh what a glorious privilege it is to be joined to Jesus in the blessed bond of marriage!
He loves me!
He cares for me!
He defends and protects me!
He provides for my every need!
He comforts, supports, and cherishes me!
I have His heart--and He has mine!
"I am my Beloved's--and my Beloved is mine!"
I belong to Him--and He belongs to me!

Oh that my Beloved would "kiss me with the kisses of His mouth," that He would . . .
  embrace my soul,
  draw me to Himself,
  caress my heart ever so gently with His merciful touch,
  and grant me sweet tokens of His love for me.

Oh how I long for Him to express His love and affection to me with the tender kisses of . . .
  sovereign love,
  free grace,
  immutable faithfulness,
  and undying compassion,
"for His love is better than wine!"

Wine makes glad the heart, but His love is better than the finest wine! His love . . .
  causes my broken heart to rejoice,
  renews my strength,
  brightens my vision,
  causes me to walk uprightly in the paths of righteousness, and
  moves my heart to take flight through the heavens with wings as an eagle.

Excess wine intoxicates men, and is forbidden by God. Too much wine will ruin a man. It alters the state of men's minds, seizes control of men, dulls their senses, and destroys their ability to exercise sound judgment and reason.

But Jesus' love is better than wine! It is not possible to overindulge in the intoxicating love of Jesus, nor is it forbidden. Indeed, the gospel encourages love to Jesus.
The wine of His love doesn't ruin men--it transforms them!
His love for us, invigorates our love for Him . . .
  intoxicating our hearts,
  seizing control of them,
  overpowering our wills and our senses,
  giving us sound reason, and spiritual judgment.

Oh blessed Lord, we beg you, give us this wine!
Fill our cups full!
Cause them to overflow!
Pour into our hearts the intoxicating love of Jesus the Lord!

The desire of a believer's soul can be summed up in one word, JESUS! "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside You!" Psalm 73:25

We desire Him . . .
  His person,
  His love,
  His glory,
  His grace,
  His will,
  His salvation,
  His righteousness,
  His way.
All we want is in Jesus!
All we need is in Jesus!
All we have is in Jesus!
Jesus is all--and Jesus is better!
Better than the treasures of kings!
Better than all earthly possessions!
Better than passing pleasures and prestige!
Indeed, He is better than all earthly delights combined!

If we don't have Jesus, then we have nothing!
If we have Him, then we have everything!

"Thou, O Christ, art all I want; more than all in thee I find!"

[nChrist]

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Why are we here? What is our purpose?

(Frank Hall)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Before there was a Milky Way--there was God!
Before there were galaxies, solar systems, constellations, and nebulae--there was God!
Before Mercury, Venus, and Mars were plugged into their sockets--there was God!
Before Polaris was fastened above the North Pole--there was God!
Before Orion the hunter had a belt, and Saturn had its rings--there was God; all alone, perfect and content, glorious in His solitary existence as the eternal I AM!

Before there was a sun, a moon, or an earth;
before there was grass to clothe the field, and flowers to adorn it;
before the mountains were brought forth, and the sea filled the depths;
before the eagle soared through the sky, and the fish swam through the sea;
before angels, devils, and men had their being--there was God alone!

If we would understand things aright, we must not begin with man, but with God, for He is the beginning of all things. To begin with man is folly, for man is but a creature--a production of the Creator. We must back up and begin where the Bible begins, with God!

God's people know, and have always known, what continues to baffle the minds of the scholars and scientists of our day, that "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Through faith, God's people understand the mystery of creation.

I ask you, "Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is God's purpose?" Can we even know the answer to these questions? Indeed we can.

The twenty four elders seated around God's throne in Heaven give us the answer in Revelation 4:10-11, "The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and for Your pleasure they exist and were created!"

You, me, angels, animals, plants, rocks, and all other things, exist and were created for one reason--the pleasure of the Creator. We were created according to His will and purpose, for His pleasure and glory.

God did not create the Heaven and the earth arbitrarily. He created them to be the stage upon which He would perform His eternal purpose of grace, and reveal all the wonders of His goodness and mercy toward His elect. It is upon the stage of time, that God displays His eternal purpose and shows forth His glory in the salvation of chosen sinners. He created this world for the salvation of His people, that they would be recovered from their sin by His almighty grace.

"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying: My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure!" Isaiah 46:9-10

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My shepherd!

(Frank Hall)

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want!" Psalm 23:1

The Lord Jesus is everything to my needy soul!

He is my majestic King, the imperial one who graciously rules my heart and my life with His sovereign scepter of righteousness.

He is my Prophet, the one who effectually teaches God's Word to my soul.

He is my great High Priest, my Mediator, the one who intercedes with God on my behalf.

And He is Jehovah-Rohi, the LORD my Shepherd! My glorious Shepherd is He who graciously forces my soul to lie down and rest in the green pastures of God's goodness and love. He ever leads my soul beside the still waters of satisfaction, peace, and prosperity.

When, in selfishness, carnality and sin, my flesh is smitten with desire for the poisonous fodder of this decaying world, and I wander from Him--He does not cast me off. Rather, He faithfully corrects my sin and graciously restores my soul to Himself. He perpetually leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. All this and more, my merciful Shepherd does for me freely by His grace! My Shepherd surpasses, in every way and at all times, all the would-be shepherds of this world.

Never slumbering, He protects me perfectly from all harm with His omnipotent hand of sovereign power! He feeds, sustains, and fills my hungering soul out of the abundance of His infinite store! Though . . .
  the way is rough and long,
  the path winding and narrow,
  the days dark and dismal,
  the valleys bleak and dreary--
He gently leads me in infinite mercy and unfailing wisdom, ever guiding me to that land above that abounds with milk and honey!

Brothers and sisters, our Shepherd will stop at nothing to bring every one of His beloved sheep home to Heaven. He says of Himself, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." Oh precious revelation of grace!

Sheep of His fold, I urge you to pause and consider the death of the good Shepherd! Behold with wonder the sacrifice of your Shepherd! He died--that you might live forever! He esteems us more precious than His own life! Oh blessed Shepherd, thank You for taking our sins to Yourself and putting them away by Your own precious blood. Children of God, let us ever sing with brother David, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want!"

Christ's sheep lack nothing for time and eternity--because He is their all sufficient Shepherd. "For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace!" The Lord our Shepherd will withhold no good thing from the sheep of His pasture. In Him we have all the fullness of God's free salvation, which can never be lost.

"We shall not want!" We receive the fullness of His grace in time, because we possessed that very same fullness in Him from the foundation of the world. We are the possessors of . . .
  everlasting life,
  perfect righteousness,
  eternal redemption,
  pardon from all our sin,
  impeccable holiness,
  unending peace, and
  unalterable acceptance with God our Father!

We lack nothing, because in Him we have all things. His boundless provision for our souls has no end. His provision is perfect, infinite, and everlasting. God help us to depend on Him . . .
  His fullness,
  His mercy,
  His grace,
  His power,
  His all-sufficiency as the Lord our Shepherd.

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ!"

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need!"

[nChrist]

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There is a perilous progress in sin!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"Blessed is the man who does not . . .
 walk in the counsel of the wicked,
 or stand in the way of sinners,
 or sit in the seat of mockers."
Psalm 1:1

There is a perilous progress in sin!

At first I content myself with walking in the counsel of the wicked. It is an occasional companionship. It is a meeting only now and again. For a little while I am with them, and then some better influence calls me away . . .
  a remembrance of my mother's prayers,
  a sentence in a letter from a friend,
  a verse of Scripture shot suddenly into my mind.

But by and by I am found standing in the way of sinners. They have gained a greater power over me, and a completer fascination. I have learned to love them too well. I linger much longer in their society, and it is hard for me to tear myself from them. The poison is working, the leaven is spreading--my condition is more fixed and more hopeless by far!

And, at last, where do you see me? I am sitting in the seat of the scornful. I am at home among those who laugh at God and Christ and Heaven and Hell. You cannot see any difference between me and them. I have joined their ranks. I am one of their number. Their resorts are mine;
their sneers and sarcasms are mine;
their seared conscience and withered heart are mine!
Oh dreary ending of a dreary journey!

As I would escape that lowest depth of all--let me not look over the precipice, nor set my feet on the fatal slope.

Blessed is the man who says, "I will not!" to the first allurements of sin.

Blessed is the man who will not so much as walk in the Enchanted Ground.

[nChrist]

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The eye of faith!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Faith beholds invisible realities! It is the conviction of things not seen. It brings the great realities of the spiritual world within my reach:
  God, in His glory;
  Christ, in His beauty and love;
  sin, in its deformity;
  holiness, in its excellence;
  the solemn judgment to come;
  eternity, so blessed--or so sad.

Faith gives me a firm persuasion of these unseen realities. It invests them with a transforming influence over my heart. I look out, with the eye of faith, and I find myself in their midst.

[nChrist]

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The eyes of your heart!

(James Smith, "Food for the Soul" 1867)

"He has opened my eyes!" John 9:30

When Jesus opened my eyes . . .
  I saw what a vile sinner I was;
  I saw what fearful danger I was in; and
  I saw what a glorious Savior He was!

When I first saw His beauty--I thought I would never take my eyes off Him!

When I first tasted that He was gracious--I imagined I would never lose the relish!

When I first felt Him to be precious to my soul--it appeared to me that I would never value anything else!

Blessed Jesus, you have opened my eyes--or they would have been forever closed to my danger, Your loveliness, and Your salvation!

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know . . .
  the hope to which He has called you,
  the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and
  His incomparably great power for us who believe!"
Ephesians 1:18-19 

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Death will be gain indeed!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21

Death will not be gain to me--unless my life is lived for Christ!

It must be my passion to know Christ. Every day I ought to learn a little more of Him and His truths. Every day I ought to become somewhat more conversant with His will. In His school, it is impossible for me ever to finish my education, for . . .
  there is so much to learn,
  there are such mysteries to master,
  there are such heights to scale!

It must be my ambition to follow Christ.
Jesus going about doing good in the Galilean fields;
Jesus praying on the cold mountains;
Jesus bowing to the Father's will in the garden and on the cross--
He is to be my Pattern, my Model, whom I set deliberately before me!

It must be my joy to speak with Christ. I should always be lifting up my heart to Him. I should keep telling Him . . .
  my every thought,
  my every desire,
  my every need,
  my every problem,
  my every misgiving and fear.
Between friends so close and true--there must be no reservations, no secrets.

It must be my longing to serve Christ. Though I cannot do it in a conspicuous sphere--yet, up to the farthest verge and limit of my ability, I will labor for Him. And I rejoice to remember that mere show and public ministry count for nothing with Him--the humble and loving heart is everything!

And then, and then, death will be gain indeed! Then, when He calls me home--I shall go to Him with the gladness of a boy bounding home from school!

[nChrist]

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Surely I am with you all the days!

(Alexander Smellie, "On the Secret Place" 1907)

"Surely I am with you all the days, to the very end of the age!" Matthew 28:20

The path in front of me may be full of flowers--or full of thorns.
Or, as is more probable, flower and thorn may be mingled together.
The sky may be light--or dark.
The weather may be glorious summer--or bleakest winter.
But I go safely and happily, if the Lord Jesus, who can and will supply my every need, is with me all the days.

Some of the days will be days of discipline--of the pruning knife and the cleansing fire. But when He is with me, the discipline is a blessing, and not a curse. It teaches me . . .
  to grasp His strong right hand with a tighter hold,
  to pray more earnestly,
  to find heights and depths of meaning in the promises of God,
  to feel for others who are in tribulation.
Mind and heart and character are bettered by the endurance of affliction.

Many of the days, too, will be days of monotony. They must be spent in little things--household labors, common concerns, unnoticed toil. I may long for a more striking and romantic experience. But when He is with me, I know that He makes my life like His own--the blessed life He lived among carpenters' tools, and village streets, and peasant people. The drudgery is a love-message--it is Jesus Christ in disguise!

Every day will be a day of temptation. In the home, in the business, in company, in loneliness--I shall encounter the devil's subtle snares. But let my Lord be with me, and temptation will but reveal the closeness and blessedness of the tie. It will be an instrument which He uses to impart more maturity to my graces--more courage, more patience, more trust.

Perhaps one of the days will be the day of death. But if He does not leave or forsake me, then death will be an ingredient in the training that fits me for the glorious inheritance! As John Bunyan pictures it--I must cross the 'River of Death' to reach the 'Celestial City'. Jesus did it Himself, and the disciple is not above the Master. His Everlasting Arms will sustain me in the flood; and, on the other side, I shall enter the 'Beautiful Gate' and see His face!

ALL the days He is with me--to the end, and through the end, and beyond the end forever and ever! Whether I live, therefore, or whether I die--I am His and He is mine!

[nChrist]

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Who makes you differ from another?

(Frank Hall)

"Who makes you differ from another?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

What made the difference . . .
  between Cain and Abel,
  between Esau and Jacob,
  between Judas and Peter?

What makes the difference . . .
  between believers, and unbelievers;
  between the righteous, and the wicked;
  between the elect, and the reprobate;
  between the godly, and the ungodly;
  between one who has saving knowledge of God, and a heathen infidel?

It is not "what," but "who." "WHO makes you differ from another?" It is the God of all grace who makes one man to differ from another!

Contrary to popular opinion, men do not make the difference in salvation--God does.
He loves some, but hates others.
He chooses some, but passes by others.
He blesses some, and curses others.
He saves some, but destroys others.

This is God's sovereign right as God. "Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:21.

God always does with men as He pleases. Who are men to reply against God? "Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it: Why have you made me thus?" Romans 9:20.

Will not the all wise God do what is best, just, and good? How dare fickle ignorant men call the most high God into question! "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter: What are you making?" Isaiah 45:9.

"Why do you strive against Him? For He gives not account of His matters." Job 33:13.
It is we who must answer to Him--not He to us.
He is on the throne--and we are but His footstool.
He is the Potter--and we are the clay.
He is the Creator--and we are His creatures.
He is God--and we are not.

The God of all grace made the difference between His people and the reprobate from eternity. Before the foundation of the world, God the Father justly elected some of humanity to salvation--and passed by all the rest.

The Lord Jesus made the difference between His church and the world, at Calvary where He laid down His life, poured out His blood, and effectually redeemed all whom the Father elected to salvation.

The sovereign Spirit makes the difference between the souls of His people and the souls of the ungodly in regeneration, effectually calling chosen redeemed sinners to life and faith in Christ.

The triune God does this, not because His people are better, more deserving, or more worthy of salvation--but because He will, because He is pleased to do so.

In all things God makes the difference, not us. There is no difference between God's saints and the wicked by nature, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. The only difference is the difference that God makes by His distinguishing grace. We, as God's elect, have . . .
  nothing to boast of,
  nothing to be proud of, and
  no reason to look down on others as being inferior to us.
We were born just like everyone else--dead in trespasses and sins. By nature we lived in rebellion against God, just like everyone else. We walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, living to fulfill the lusts of our flesh, and were by nature children of wrath even as others. We have nothing to brag about--but much to be thankful for!

In sovereign grace . . .
  He loved us,
  He chose us,
  He blessed us,
  He set His affection on us,
  and He saved us.

In distinguishing mercy our Savior . . .
  was born for us,
  lived for us,
  suffered for us,
  bled for us, and
  reigns for us.

In discriminating love He . . .
  sought us out,
  chased us down,
  subdued our hearts,
  gave us spiritual life, and
  blessed us with the gift of everlasting salvation!

Thank God for His sovereign, discriminating grace!

[nChrist]

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An all-sufficient Savior--and a needy sinner!

(Frank Hall)

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved!" Psalm 55:22

Why are we so determined to carry our own burdens, when we have proved countless times that we are utterly insufficient for the task? Is it not due to our sinful flesh, carnal pride, and foolish self-sufficiency? We often mope about in sadness and depression with heavy hearts--because we foolishly, ignorantly, and obstinately refuse to cast our burden on the LORD.

The Lord Jesus has proven Himself fully capable and willing to carry our heaviest burdens. The heaviest load that has ever been carried was carried by Him, for "the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all!" Isaiah 53:6. It was the tremendous weight of our sins made His--which laid Him low in the garden of Gethsemane, and pressed His blood through the pores of His skin. In infinite mercy and grace, He bore our sins, our guilt, and our shame in His own body on the cruel tree, and was made a curse for us--that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. He not only carried our sins to Calvary's cross, He took them away forever by the sacrifice of Himself. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us!" Psalm 103:12

Children of God, let us forever cease from fleshly self-dependence--and cast every burden on our mighty Savior. It doesn't matter what the burden is, or how heavy the load is--the Lord Jesus is ready, able, and willing to bear it for us. We need not bear it even for a moment. It is our glorious right and God-given privilege as the beloved children of God, to cast every care and every burden on our Savior.

Are your struggling to carry a burden of guilt and sin? Struggle no longer and stumble no more. Cast your sin and guilt on Him! He will . . .
  sustain you,
  forgive you,
  receive you, and
  embrace you!

Are your responsibilities stressful and overwhelming your soul? Do not neglect them, but do not presume that you are sufficient to do anything on your own.
Cast them on Him,
seek His grace,
depend on His mighty arm
--and He will sustain you!

Is your heart laid low with heavy cares and secret troubles? Cast them all on Christ!

In love, grace, and wisdom, your Savior gave you these cares and troubles--not to see how far you could carry them on your own--but to bring you to the end of yourself. He gave you these cares to show you your inability, your weakness, and your need of Him--that you would cease from your carnal self-confidence and find your all in Him--full salvation, infinite strength, unceasing aid, everlasting sufficiency, and perfect help.

His power and grace are sufficient for us in all things . . .
  in every trial,
  in every circumstance,
  and in every temptation.
He will sustain us to the end. He will never allow His righteous ones to be moved. He loves them with an everlasting immutable love! They will never be utterly forsaken or cast down. He . . .
  keeps them,
  protects them,
  helps them,
  preserves them,
  provides for their souls, and
  sustains them freely forever by His almighty grace!

No two things fit more perfectly together, than an all-sufficient Savior--and a needy sinner!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you!" 1 Peter 5:6-7

[nChrist]

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Three words to ponder!

(David Murray)

"They crucified Him!" Mark 15:24

Three words full of Hell--and full of Heaven.

Three words full of horror--and full of hope.

Three words full of damnation--and full of salvation.

Three words full of sin--and full of pardon.

Three words full of darkness--and full of light.

Three words full of death--and full of life.

Three words full of hate--and full of love.

Three words to ponder.

Ponder the "they."

Ponder the "Him."

Ponder what they DID to Him.

"They CRUCIFIED Him!"

The three worst words ever written!

The three best words ever written!

[nChrist]

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Better than life!

(James Smith, "The Pastor's Evening Visit")

"Your loving-kindness is better than life!" Psalm 63:3

Life is existence. Here it means existence under the most favorable circumstances: as life in ease, honor, plenty--life surrounded by all that is desirable.

But what then, is God's loving-kindness?
It is His love displaying itself in . . .
  kind words,
  kind acts,
  kind discoveries of His divine excellencies;
  feasting the soul with spiritual delights.

God's loving-kindness is better than life, for . . .
  it bestows greater blessings,
  it confers higher honors,
  it imparts sweeter pleasures,
  it raises higher expectations,
  and it throws around us greater security.

It is better, for . . .
  it is more lasting;
  it is more suited to the nature of the soul;
  it is truly glorious.

It is . . .
  unmixed good,
  unfading pleasure,
  inexhaustible wealth!

Well then may the psalmist prefer it to life, and well may he say, "My lips shall praise You" for my present enjoyment of it, and for the prospect of eternally enjoying it!

Do you value life? Do you prefer God's loving-kindness better than life?

[nChrist]

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The fathomless mystery of the Cross!

(Alexander Smellie, "On the Secret Place" 1907)

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land!" Matthew 27:45

With bowed head and an adoring heart, I draw near to the crucifixion-darkness of Christ's suffering and my salvation. I think of the fathomless mystery of the Cross!

On Calvary, I am within the clouds of God's eternal purpose. The beginning of His grace in Jesus Christ, is beyond my reach. He loved me from eternity--before the foundations of the earth were laid! How can I comprehend it, this everlastingness of redemption? Yet it should be my joy to ponder it. If He has cared for me from eternity past--I may be assured of His sustaining me through an incalculable future.

But on Calvary, too, I am within the clouds of God's immeasurable sorrow. There are secrets of unfathomable anguish here, with which I dare not meddle. This is a midnight blackness before which the angels must veil their faces with their wings. "God--forsaken by God!" Luther exclaimed, "who can understand it?" I tread softly--the place is holy ground. Yes--but happy ground, since He has redeemed me. My Savior was made a curse for me--that I might be a child forever within His heavenly home!

On Calvary, moreover, I am within the clouds of God's ineffable wisdom. The Cross of Jesus has been the central theme in the study of the profoundest Christian thinkers--and none of them has exhausted the theme. It is God's most wondrous work--God's last word. I can never explain it fully. But I perceive that it glorifies both the inflexible holiness of my Judge--and the unfathomable love of my Father! This I am sure of, that it gives me an unveiling of His many-sided attributes and perfections, such as I cannot gain anywhere else.

Shrouded in the darkness--Christ gained new beauty, new worth, new dominion. It was in crucifixion-darkness, that His glory shone most brightly forth. Now He was invested with the Calvary-attraction which draws me to Him.

May the thick crucifixion-darkness be an ever-opening secret between Him and me. Out of the shadows, may the beams of divine hope and love pour into my soul. Jesus sacrificed for my sins--may He be all my salvation and all my desire!

[nChrist]

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Our present sufferings

(Thomas Brooks)

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word!" Psalm 119:67

"It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn Your decrees." Psalm 119:71

"I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness YOU have afflicted me!" Psalm 119:75

Afflictions are called by some "the mother of virtue."

Manasseh's chain was more profitable to him than his crown.

Luther could not understand some Scriptures, until he was in affliction.

Oh, how sweet is . . .
  a harbor after a long storm, and
  a sunshiny day after a dark and tempestuous night,
  and a warm spring after a sharp winter!
Just so, the miseries and difficulties that a Christian meets with in this world--will exceedingly sweeten the glory of the eternal world!

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us!" Romans 8:18

[nChrist]

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The very best place to get the transformed, transfigured life!

(J.R. Miller, "The Shining Light" 1911)

We need to remember that this world is not so much a place for doing Christian ministries--as for developing Christly character.

Household life is not primarily a sphere for cooking, keeping things tidy, sweeping and dusting, nursing and training of children, hospitable entertainment of friends, and the thousand things that must be done each day. It is a sphere for transforming women's souls into radiant Christly beauty!

The shop, the mill, the factory, the store, the office, the farm--are not primarily places for making machines, selling goods, weaving cloths, building engines, and growing crops. They are, first of all, places for making Christly men, and building holy character.

Right in the midst of what some people call drudgery--is the very best place to get the transformed, transfigured life!

"God who has saved us and called us to a holy life" 2 Timothy 1:9