Grace Gems

[nChrist]

The world's theology

(by James Montgomery Boice)

The world's theology is easy to define.
It is the view . . .
  that human beings are basically good,
  that no one is really lost,
  that belief in Jesus Christ is not necessary for salvation.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."
     Romans 1:22

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Progress in the divine life

(Octavius Winslow, "Help Heavenward")

Many sincere Christians deem that they make no
progress in the divine life, because they do not
attain all that they desire.

But one real view of Jesus,
one corruption subdued,
one temptation vanquished,
one worldly fetter broken,
one sunbeam of holy joy shining upon the soul--
is a victory achieved, a spiritual blessing possessed,
more momentous that the taking of a city, and
more enriching that the conquest of a world.

It may be through deep trial, in the face of
powerful opposition and beset by great weakness
--that the advanced step has been made.
Nevertheless, it has brought the heart nearer
to God, has transcribed some lineament of
Jesus on the soul, and is so much actual gain
in the believer's progress towards, and in his
fitness for heaven.

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Adorn the gospel

(John Flavel, "The Method of Grace")

"That they may adorn the doctrine of God
 our Savior in all things." Titus 2:10

Your duty is to adorn the gospel by your life.
The words signify to deck or adorn the gospel,
to make it attractive and lovely to the eyes of
beholders. When there is a beautiful harmony
and lovely proportion between Christ’s doctrine
and our practice--then do we walk suitably to
the Lord of glory.

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A jewel more worth than a thousand worlds!

(Thomas Brooks)

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved,
 and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

Christ is a jewel more worth than a thousand
worlds--as all know, who have Him.

Get Him--and get all; miss Him--and miss all.

Your life is short--and our duties are many. Yet your
assistance great--and your reward sure. Therefore
faint not--hold on and hold up, in ways of holiness,
and heaven shall make amends for all! "Be faithful
until death--and I will give you the crown of life!"
 Revelation 2:10

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[nChrist]

If we would be like our Master
 
(J. R. Miller, "Living Without Worry")

"Whoever claims to live in Him--must walk as
 Jesus did." 1 John 2:6

Every true Christian should desire to be Christlike in
character. It is not enough to be honest, and upright,
and true, and just. Christ had these strong qualities
--but He was also gentle, and kind, and loving, and
patient. If we would be like our Master--we must
have these traits of character also in us. When we pray
that the beauty of the Lord may be upon us, we must
ask for these finer features of His beauty--as well as
for the more rugged ones. We need His strength and
truth and faithfulness and justice--but we need His
love and tenderness as well. "Leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

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We have many foes!

(by Charles Spurgeon)

    In one sense the path to heaven is very safe--but in other respects, there is no road so dangerous! It is beset with many difficulties. One false step (and how easy it is to take that, if grace is absent), and down we go! What a slippery path is that which we have to tread!

    How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, "My feet were almost gone--my steps had well nigh slipped!" If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but in ourselves, how weak we are! In the best roads--we soon falter; in the smoothest paths--we quickly stumble. These feeble knees of ours, can scarcely support our tottering weight. A straw may trip us, and a pebble can wound us! We are mere children, tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith; our heavenly Father holds us by the arms--or we would soon go down! Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we bless our patient Father, who watches over us day by day!

    Think--how prone we are to sin, how apt to choose danger, how strong our tendency to cast ourselves down--and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, "Glory be to Him, who is able to keep us from falling."

    We have many foes who try to push us down. The road is rough--and we are weak! But in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and labor to trip us up, or hurl us down the nearest precipice! Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes--who are seeking to destroy us. Such an arm is engaged for our defense. He is faithful, who has promised, and He is able to keep us from falling--so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence, "To Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 1:24-25

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[nChrist]

The value of choice devotional reading

(J. R. Miller)

"Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a
 light on my path." Psalm 119:105

Nothing is more helpful and practical in
Christian living--than the habit of getting
a verse or phrase of Scripture into the mind
and heart in the morning. Its influence stays
through the day, weaving itself into all the
day's thoughts and words and experiences.

Every verse in the Bible is meant to help us
to live--and a good devotional book opens
up the precious teachings which are folded
up in Scripture.

A devotional book, which takes a Scripture
text, and so opens it for us in the morning--
that all day long it helps us to live, becoming
a true lamp for our feet, and a staff to lean
upon when the way is rough--is the very best
help we can possibly have. What we need in
a devotional book which will bless our lives--
is the application of the great teachings of
Scripture--to common, daily, practical life.

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Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption

(Robert Traill)

"But from Him you are in Christ Jesus--who for us became
 wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification,
 and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30

Wisdom outside of Christ--is damning folly!

Righteousness outside of Christ--is guilt and condemnation!

Sanctification outside of Christ--is filth and sin!

Redemption outside of Christ--is bondage and slavery!

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[nChrist]

Murmuring, dissatisfaction, discontent

(J. C. Ryle, "Be Content" 1885)

    "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with such things as you have, because God has said--Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

    These words are very simple. A little child might easily understand them. They contain no high doctrine; they involve no deep metaphysical question; and yet, as simple as they are--the duty which these words enjoin on us, is of highest practical importance to all Christians.

    Contentment is one of the rarest graces. Like all precious things--it is most uncommon. To practice contentment, is very hard. To talk of contentment in the day of health and prosperity is easy enough; but to be content in the midst of poverty, sickness, trouble, disappointments, and losses--is a state of mind to which very few can attain!

    The fallen angels had heaven itself to dwell in, and the immediate presence and favor of God--but they were not content. Adam and Eve had the garden of Eden to live in, with a free grant of everything in it excepting one tree--but they were not content. Ahab had his throne and kingdom, but so long as Naboth's vineyard was not his--he was not content. Haman was the chief favorite of the Persian king--but so long as Mordecai sat at the gate--he was not content.

    It is just the same everywhere in the present day. Murmuring, dissatisfaction, discontent with what we have, meet us at every turn. To say, with Jacob, "I have enough," seems flatly contrary to the grain of human nature. To say, "I want more," seems the mother tongue of every child of Adam.

    Paul's direction ought to come with power to all our consciences: "Be content with such things as you have," not with such things as you once used to have--not with such things as you hope to have--but with such things as you now have. With such things, whatever they may be--we are to be content. With such a dwelling, such a family, such health, such income, such work, such circumstances as we now have--we are to be content.

    Ah! reader, if you would be truly happy--seek it where alone it can be found. Seek it not in money, seek it not in pleasure, nor in friends, nor in learning. Seek it in having a will in perfect harmony with the will of God. Seek it in studying to be content.

    You may say, that is fine talking--but how can we be always content in such a world? I answer, that you need to cast away your pride, and know your deserts, in order to be thankful in any condition. If men really knew that they deserve nothing, and are debtors to God's mercy every day--they would soon cease to complain.

    Let me tell you why there is so little contentment in the world. The simple answer is, because there is so little grace, and true godliness. Few know their own sin; few feel their desert; and so few are content with such things as they have. Humility, self-knowledge, a clear sight of our own utter vileness and corruption; these are the true roots of contentment.

    Let me tell you--what you should do, if you would be content. You must know your own heart, seek God for your portion, take Christ for your Savior, and use God's Word for your daily food. Contentment must be learned at the feet of Jesus Christ. He who has God for his friend, and heaven for his home--can wait for his good things, and be content with little here below.

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[nChrist]

This wretched state of sin and temptation

(Letters of John Newton)

    "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death!" Romans 7:24

    Though we can fall of ourselves--we cannot rise without God's help! Indeed, every sin, in its own nature, has a tendency towards a final apostasy! By our repeated slips and falls into sin, we gain a more emphatic conviction of our own vileness and depravity; and we experimentally learn and feel our own weakness.

    In His own time, Jesus returns to convince, humble, pardon, comfort and renew the soul. We begin at length to learn that we are nothing, have nothing, call do nothing--but sin! And thus we are gradually prepared to live more outside of ourselves--and to derive all our sufficiency of every kind from Jesus, the fountain of all grace. We learn to tread more warily; to trust less to our own strength; to have lower thoughts of ourselves, and higher thoughts of Jesus!

    This wretched state of sin and temptation, makes the thoughts of death and eternity desirable. Then this conflict shall cease! Then I shall sin and wander no more, shall see Him as he is, and be like Him forever!

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Exercises of sin and grace

(Letters of John Newton)

    Alas, how vain is man! What a contradiction is a believer to himself!

    If I were to describe him from the Scriptural portrait--I would say that he is one whose heart is athirst for God, for His glory, and for His presence; that his affections are fixed upon an unseen Savior; that his treasures, and consequently his thoughts, are on eternal realities, far beyond the bounds of sense. Having experienced much God's forgiveness, he is full of mercy and forgiveness to all around. Having been often deceived by his own heart, he dares trust it no more--but lives by faith in the Son of God--for wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and derives from Him grace upon grace; sensible that without Him--he has not sufficiency even to think a good thought! In short--he is dead to the world, to sin, to self; but alive to God, and lively in His service. Prayer is his breath, the Word of God is his food, and Christ is more precious to him than the light of the sun. Such is a believer--in his judgment and prevailing desires.

    But was I to describe him from his actual experience, especially at some times--how different would the picture be!

    Though he knows that communion with God is his highest privilege, he too seldom finds it so; on the contrary, if duty, conscience, and necessity did not compel him--he would leave the throne of grace unvisited from day to day!

    He takes up the Bible, conscious that it is the fountain of life and true comfort; yet perhaps, while he is making the reflection, he feels a secret distaste, which prompts him to lay it down, and give his preference to a newspaper!

    He needs not to be told of the vanity and uncertainty of the world, and all beneath the sun; and yet he is almost as much elated or cast down by a trifle--as those who have their only portion in this world!

    He believes that all things shall work together for his good, and that the most high God appoints, adjusts, and overrules all of his concerns; yet he feels the risings of fear, anxiety, and displeasure, as though the contrary was true!

    He owns himself to be ignorant, and liable to be deceived by a thousand fallacies; yet he is easily betrayed into flattering views of himself, and self-conceit! He feels himself to be an unprofitable, unfaithful, unthankful servant--and therefore blushes to harbor a thought of desiring the esteem and commendations of men--yet he cannot suppress it!

    By these exercises of sin and grace--the Lord teaches us more truly to know and feel the utter depravity and corruption of our whole nature--that we are indeed defiled in every part! His method of salvation is hereby exceedingly endeared to us! We see that it is and must be of grace, wholly of grace; and that the Lord Jesus Christ, and His perfect righteousness, is and must be--our all in all.

    God's power likewise, in maintaining His own work, notwithstanding our infirmities, temptations, and enemies--is hereby displayed in the clearest light; His strength is manifested in our weakness!

    Satan likewise, is more remarkably disappointed and put to shame--when he finds bounds set to his rage and wiles, beyond which he cannot pass; and that those in whom he finds so much evil to work upon, and over whom he so often prevails for a season--escape at last out of his hands!
    He casts them down--but they are raised again!
    He wounds them--but they are healed!
    He obtains his desire to sift them as wheat--but the prayer of their great Advocate prevails for the maintenance of their faith!

    Further, by what believers feel in themselves--they learn by degrees how to warn, pity, and bear with others. A soft, patient, and compassionate spirit, and a readiness and skill in comforting those who are cast down--is not perhaps attainable in any other way!

    I believe that nothing more habitually reconciles a child of God to the thought of death, than the wearisomeness of this warfare with sin and temptation. Death is unwelcome to human nature. But the Christian knows that not until death--will the conflict cease! Then we shall sin no more! The flesh, with all its attendant evils, will be laid in the grave. Then the soul, which has been partaker of a new and heavenly birth, shall be freed from every encumbrance, and stand perfect in the Redeemer's righteousness before God in eternal glory! When we see Jesus, we shall be transformed into His image--and be done with sin and sorrow forever!

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By the grace of God I am what I am!

(Letters of John Newton)

"By the grace of God I am what I am!"
1 Corinthians 15:10

    As believers, we are often affected with a sense of God's distinguishing mercy to us. We are debtors, great debtors to the sovereign grace of God, which alone makes us to differ from the perishing world around us!

    Yet it does not yet appear what we shall be. We cannot form a just conception of the misery from which we are redeemed, much less of the price paid for our redemption! How little do we know of the Redeemer's surpassing excellency, and of the unutterable agonies He endured, when His soul was made an offering for sin, and it pleased the Father to bruise Him--that by His stripes we might be healed! These things will strike us in quite another manner--when we view them from the light of eternity!

    May the cheering contemplation of the glorious hope set before us--support and animate us to improve our short interval on earth, and fill us with a holy  ambition of shining as lights in this evil world, to the praise and glory of His grace--who has called us out of darkness, into His glorious light!

    Encompassed as we are with snares, temptations, and infirmities, it is possible (by His promised assistance) to live in some good measure above the world--above the influence of its cares, its smiles, or its frowns. Our citizenship is in heaven--we are not at home--but only reside here on earth for a season, to fulfill our appointed service. The Lord, whom we serve, has promised that He will guide us by His wisdom, strengthen us by His power, and comfort us with the light of His countenance, which is better than life. Every temporal blessing we receive from Him, is a token of His favor, and a pledge of that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which He has reserved for us in heaven. Oh! to hear Him say at last, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!" will be rich amends for all that we can lose, suffer, or endure, for His sake!

    "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined--what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

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[nChrist]

Do not be afraid

(Letters of John Newton)

    How wonderful is Christ's administration in His kingdom of grace! He is present with all His creatures--but in a special manner with His own people--each of whom are monuments of His saving power. For He finds them all in a state of rebellion and enmity--and makes them His willing people! >From the moment that He reveals His love to them--He espouses their cause, and takes all their concerns into His own hands. He is near and attentive to every one of them--as if there were only that one!

    This high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, before whom the angels veil their faces--condescends to hold communion with those whom men despise. He passes by the kings and the princes--to manifest Himself to a humble soul in a mud-walled cottage! He . . .
      comforts them when in trouble,
      strengthens them when weak,
      makes their beds in sickness,
      revives them when fainting, and
      upholds them when falling!

    He so wisely and effectually manages for them, that, though they are persecuted and tempted, though their enemies are many and mighty--nothing is able to separate them from His love!

    We shall find Him, in all situations--to be our sun, shield, and exceeding great reward! He says to all of His children, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you! I have called you by name--you are Mine! When you go through deep waters and great trouble--I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty--you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression--you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!" Isaiah 43:1-3.

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Seriously engaged about trifles

(Letters of John Newton)

    "This world is fading away, along with everything it craves!" 1 John 2:17

    God's own people are so shamefully inconsistent with themselves, and with their acknowledged principles.

    In the midst of the hurries and changes of this unsettled state--we glide along swiftly towards an unchangeable world. We shall soon have as little connection with the scenes we are now passing through--as we have with what happened before the Flood! All which appears great and interesting in the present life, abstracted from its influence upon our internal character, and our everlasting destiny--will soon be as unreal as a dream of the night!

    This we know and confess. But though our judgments are convinced, it is seldom that our hearts are duly affected by the thought. And while I find it easy to write in this moralizing strain--I feel myself disposed to be seriously engaged about trifles--and trifling in the most serious concerns--as if I believed the very contrary!

    "This world and all it contains, is passing away!" 1 Corinthians 7:31

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This is the God whom we adore!

(Letters of John Newton)

    "I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:5-6

    God rules all! And though He is concealed by a veil of second causes from common eyes, so that they can perceive only the means, instruments, and contingencies by which He works, and therefore think He does nothing; yet, in reality, He does all according to His own counsel and pleasure, in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.

    Who can enumerate all the beings and events, which are incessantly before His eye, adjusted by His wisdom, dependent on His will, and regulated by His power! If we consider the heavens, the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars which He has ordained; if we call in the assistance of astronomers to help us in forming a conception of the number, distances, magnitudes, and motions of the heavenly bodies--the more we search, the more we shall be confirmed, that these are but a small portion of His ways! He calls them all by their names, upholds them by His power, and without His continual energy upholding them--they would rush into confusion, or sink into nothing! They are all dependent upon His power, and obedient to His command.

    To come nearer home, and to speak of what seems more suited to our scanty apprehensions--still we may be lost in wonder. With respect to mankind, He reigns with uncontrolled dominion over every kingdom, family, and individual. Before this blessed and only Potentate, all the nations of the earth are but as the dust upon the balance, and the small drop of a bucket--and might be thought (if compared with the immensity of His works) scarcely worthy of His notice! Yet here He presides, pervades, provides, protects, and rules! All changes, successes, and disappointments--all that is memorable in the annals of history, all the rising and falls of empires, all the turns in human life--take place according to His plan!

    In Him His creatures live, move, and have their being. From Him is their food and preservation. The eyes of all are upon Him--what He gives they gather--and can gather no more! And at His word they sink into the dust! There is not a worm which crawls upon the ground, or a flower which grows in the pathless wilderness, or a shell upon the sea-shore--but bears the impress of His wisdom, power, and goodness! He preserves man and beast, sustains the young lion in the forest, feeds the birds of the air, which have neither storehouse or barn, and adorns the insects and the flowers of the field with a beauty and elegance beyond all that can be found in the courts of kings!

    All things serve Him, and are in His hands--as clay in the hands of the potter. Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!

    This is the God whom we adore! This is He who invites us to lean upon His almighty arm, and promises to guide us with His unerring eye!

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