Nov 14
29
How much religion, tradition, and ceremony can a man know and observe and yet not know God? Well, the Jews observed thousands of passovers yet never saw CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER. They slew thousands of lambs and never saw CHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD. They kept thousands of sabbaths and never knew the rest of CHRIST, OUR SABBATH. They ordained thousands of priests and never saw CHRIST, THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST. They actually carried the mercy-seat on their shoulders yet never came to CHRIST, OUR MERCY-SEAT. They ate the manna and drank from that Rock but never tasted the Bread and Water of life- CHRIST JESUS. Oh, Lord, open my eyes to see HIM who is “all and in all!” Pastor Henry Mahan
—
My friend, repentance is not an isolated act. If any man ever repented, he continues to repent. If he ever quits repenting, he never did repent. Faith is not an isolated act. Faith is a state of being. Faith is a condition. Faith is a product of a life principle which God puts in a sinner in regeneration. If a man ever believes in Christ he keeps on believing in Christ. If he ever stops believing in Christ, he never did believe in Christ. Pastor Henry Mahan
—
I asked the Lord, that I might grow
(John Newton)
I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know;
And seek more earnestly His face.
Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair!
I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining power,
Subdue my sins–and give me rest!
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part!
Yes more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe!
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds–and laid me low!
“Lord, why is this!” I trembling cried,
“Will you pursue your worm to death?”
“This is the way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”
“These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may seek your all in Me!”
—
Clothes And Shoes For Life
Tommy Robbins
“I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” Deuteronomy 29:5
This miracle wrought by God for the children of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness represents a far greater miracle of grace.
The forty years in the wilderness represents the believer’s life in this world.
Their ageless clothes represents the righteousness of Christ by and in which we adorned before God as He leads us to our predestinated abode.
The shoes upon their feet represents His sustaining grace in Providence as we walk by faith through this world of adversity.
Every day, for forty years, as they grew and persevered, their clothes and shoes remained new and suited for them. He has lovingly clothed His children with an everlasting righteousness – “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth” Psalms 119:142 and “shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15. – And His mercies are new every morning – “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
Our Lord in love, mercy and grace has provided for His people all that we will ever need for time and eternity in His blessed Son. We are kept by the power of God through faith in Christ Jesus as we journey through this valley of the shadow of death. We are clothed with the righteousness of Christ to one day stand in His glorious presence. My friends, nothing grows old in Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and for ever. That which is in Christ remains the same, yet is always new! – “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9. This verse speaks specifically of Christ and His redemptive work in its infinite purpose and perfection. The salvation of the Lord is as old as God Himself, yet will remain new and enjoyed by the elect for all eternity.
—
Not Orphans!
by James Smith, 1860
How exquisitely tender is the heart of Jesus! It always was so. He could never break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax. His heart overflows with love to poor sinners. How finely he displayed this, just as he was going to suffer for our sins. He exhorts his disciples to let nothing trouble them — but to exercise faith in him. He teaches them how to pray so as to succeed, by asking of the Father in his name. He directs them to keep his commandments, and promises them the Spirit of truth as a Comforter, to abide with them forever. And then he assures them of his own presence and love. “I will not leave you comfortless, or orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18. A believer cannot be an orphan — for Jesus is the father of the fatherless, and in him the fatherless finds mercy.
“I will not leave you orphans,” or without sympathy in suffering — this the orphan often fears. Jesus will ever pity and sympathize with his suffering people, and his sympathy will soothe and support them.
They shall not be left without provision in necessity — this the orphan fears too. But Jesus will ever provide for, and supply his people’s needs — for his eye sees them, and by opening his hand, he will supply them.
They shall not be left without protection in danger — this the orphan often dreads. But in every season of danger Jesus will be present, and out of every danger he will deliver.
Nor shall they be left without someone to love them, which is the bitterest ingredient in the orphan’s cup — for Jesus will love them, in sickness and health, in poverty and plenty, in life and in death.
O believer, however weak your faith, however trying your path; though relatives die, and friends forsake — you shall never be left an orphan!
Jesus will sympathize with you in all your sufferings,
he will provide for all your needs,
he will protect you from all your foes and dangers,
and he will love you with an everlasting love.
Fear not then, for Jesus has more than a father’s care, and more than a mother’s love — and he has pledged his word, that he will not leave you an orphan. Believe his word, trust his grace — and so you will live a happy life.
“I will come to you.” Jesus comes to us . . .
in his providence — to supply us;
in his ordinances — to refresh us;
in his word — to instruct us;
by his Spirit — to comfort us; and
he will soon come in person — to take us unto himself.
“I will come to you” . . .
to answer your prayers,
to defend your person,
to provide your supplies, and
to comfort you by . . .
relieving you in pain,
manifesting myself to you, and
assuring you of my love.
Precious Lord Jesus, will you thus then come to me? Will you thus prove the depth of your immortal love! O for grace to trust you, and to live daily under the conviction — that you will visit me, and be more and better than a father to me!
If Jesus comes to me, all will be well. His presence will give me . . .
light in darkness,
joy in sorrow,
strength in weakness,
and happiness in woe.
If Jesus visits me, if Jesus will be with me — then I can . . .
go anywhere,
carry any cross,
perform any duty, and
even glory in tribulation.
Jesus will be with me, he will come to me, for I have his word, and he is faithful; more, I have his heart, and he is immutable. Let me then, in my darkest path, in my deepest trials, in my saddest hours, exercise faith in this most precious promise, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.”
It anticipates all our fears, and removes them, for how can I fear — if Jesus will come unto me. It is intended to strengthen our faith, that we may be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It ensures our comfort — for left comfortless we cannot be. And it displays the wonderful tenderness of the love of Christ. He wishes us to be happy, and therefore he assures us beforehand, that he will be with us, and be a father unto us.
—
“And such were some of you–but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
Justification and sanctification are distinct blessings. The first springs out of, and is connected with, the finished work of the Son of God; the other springs out of, and is connected with, the work of the Holy Spirit on the soul. Sin has defiled our persons externally, as well as polluted our souls internally. We cannot, therefore, stand before God unless washed in the blood of the Lamb, and clothed in his spotless righteousness. This righteousness forms our title to heaven, as holiness constitutes our fitness. The former is our wedding robe, the latter our spiritual qualification. The hymn well draws this distinction–
“Tis he adorned my naked soul,
And made salvation mine;
Upon a poor, polluted worm
He makes his graces shine.
And, lest the shadow of a spot
Should on my soul be found,
He took the robe the Savior wrought,
And cast it all around.
The Spirit wrought my faith, and love,
And hope, and every grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
The robe of righteousness.”
Without these two qualifications, what entrance could there be into heaven, or what happiness there, could entrance be gained? For consider not only the infinite purity and holiness of God, but the blazing splendor of his immediate presence, the piercing ray of his deep-searching eye. Who or what can live in his presence but what is absolutely perfect without and within? But this the Church could not be, unless she were washed in the blood and clothed in the righteousness of God’s dear Son, and perfectly sanctified by the operations and indwelling of his Spirit. We therefore read–“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). J.C. Philpot.