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(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me. I lay down My life for My sheep!" John 10:14-15
Jesus is the loving Shepherd of His chosen flock. He knows His sheep--and loves them too. He knows . . .
their names,
their persons,
their abodes,
their needs,
their enemies,
and their desires.
Their names are engraved on His heart, and on the palms of His hands. He came into the world that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. He gave His life as a ransom price for them. He says, "I lay down My life for My sheep."
He gathers them by His Gospel and Spirit--and feeds and enfolds them in little flocks below. He gathers the lambs with His arm and carries them in His bosom, and gently leads those that are with young. He feeds them in green pastures, and causes them to lie down beside the still waters. He protects them from the roaring lion, the raging bear, and the devouring wolf! He says, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!"
Jesus . . .
restores them when they wander;
heals them when they are sick;
cleanses them when they are filthy;
changes their pasture whenever they need it;
watches over them every moment; and
guards them day and night, so that no one may harm them.
He leads them--and they follow Him . . .
knowing His voice,
loving His person, and
obeying His commands.
He is now engaged in preparing pasture for them above--where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary shall forever rest! He will come again and receive them unto Himself, that where He is--His sheep may be also.
He loves them too well to forget them, and is too concerned for them to neglect them. He never takes His eyes off them! This tender Shepherd listens to the bleating of the feeblest of His lambs--and sympathizes with the weakest of His flock. He has promised to feed them, and lead them to fountains of living waters--and to cause sorrow and sighing to flee away forever. His presence shall be with them, when they pass through the dark valley of the Shadow of Death, and His rod and His crook shall comfort them.
His strength shall be made perfect in the weakness of His lambs,
His wisdom shall shine in the way He conducts them, and
His love will be displayed in every part of His conduct towards them!
Lambs of Jesus! Listen to your Shepherd's voice, keep close to your Shepherd's side, and aim to honor your dear Shepherd's name!
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(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God--are children of God!" Romans 8:14
If we are sons of God--we shall be led by the Spirit of God. And if we are led by the Spirit of God--we shall be led in the paths of righteousness and holiness!
The sons of God do not, cannot--love sin, live in sin, or make light of sin! He who loves and lives in sin--is the child of Satan! "You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires!" John 8:44
The child will resemble its parent, and all God's children resemble Him--in His hatred to sin, and love to holiness. Let us not, therefore, imagine that we are the Lord's--if we live as the world lives . . .
in the lusts of the flesh,
in the lust of the eye,
and in the pride of life!
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One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit
(James Smith, "Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed" 1855)
We do believe the truths of God's Word--but we need to make them bear more upon our experience and practice. Our religion is too much in the head--and too little in the heart. Truth rather floats in the understanding--than sinks down into the soul. Our memory lets it slip--and nothing but frequent meditation on these things, will cause us to profit by them. The truths of God's Word are calculated and intended to benefit the Lord's people--but unless we exercise our minds upon them--we shall not be benefitted by them.
One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit, and digested by meditation--does us more good than volumes which just pass through the mind! We ought, therefore, to pray more over what we read--and look to the Holy Spirit, beseeching Him to unfold and apply the truth to us!
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"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need!" Hebrews 4:16
Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of the throne of grace! It is the only verdant, refreshing spot, in this earth's wide wilderness.
To have the sensible presence of God, the heart of a loving Father to confide in, who is able to do all and more than we require; to have Him always near, His hand ever stretched out to us--oh, the comfort!
This is my sweetest spot and chief comfort in this polluted world, where I carry all my cares and troubles, and am ever sure to receive a welcome in the face of a reconciled Father.
Oh, the loving heart of Christ! Although He knows our ten thousand infirmities, He does not turn a deaf ear to our poor supplications--but with His own blood, blots out all their imperfections!
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"That the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:10
Many 'lives of Christ' have been written--but in every Christian life, there should be a new one published. It is these lives which are needed: written not in handsomely bound volumes, with fine paper and gilt edges, and with attractive illustrations--but in men's daily lives.
It is important that we should understand how we are to manifest the life of Jesus in our own life. It is not enough to talk about Him. There are those who with silver tongue can speak of Jesus eloquently and winsomely--of whom it cannot be said, even in widest charity, that Jesus' life is relived in them.
We more gospels in the lives of Christians--others need to see something of Christ in our own life.
What was this life of Jesus, which is to be repeated in every Christian life? Its great central characteristic was love--love full of compassion--love serving even to the lowliest degree and at greatest cost--love which was patient, forgiving, thoughtful, gentle--love unto the uttermost, which went to a cross to save sinners!
When we think of being like Christ--we are apt to gather out a few gentle qualities, and let these make up our conception of Christlikeness. True, He was a kindly man, a patient, quiet man; He was thoughtful, compassionate, unselfish, loving. But we must not forget that the cross is the truest symbol of the life of Jesus.
An artist was trying to improve on a dead mother's portrait. He wanted to take out the lines in her face. But the woman's son said it would not be a true portrait of his mother, if the lines were effaced. They told the story of the love, serving, and sacrifice--which made her what she was. The lines were themselves, the truest features in the whole portrait.
Just so, no picture of Jesus is true, which leaves out the marks of love's cost--the print of the nails, the memorials of His suffering.
It is not enough that we point others to a historic cross standing on Calvary, far back in the centuries; they must see the cross in our own life. When we speak to our neighbors of the pity of Jesus, His eager desire to save the lost, His giving of His life as a ransom--they must see all this in us. This is the manifesting of Jesus, for which we are sent into the world.
Jesus must enter our hearts, and live out His own blessed life in us.
"Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21
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A man had an eagle which had grown up among the barnyard hens. For a time the bird seemed content to be only a chicken. But one day it looked up into the sky, and something within the eagle, sleeping until now, awoke. Flapping its wings, it soared away toward the sun and never returned.
Just so, too many Christians, meant for the eagle-life--content themselves with a barnyard existence. Now and then they feel something stirring within them--but they are too indolent to make the effort necessary to take their place in the upper air and among the mountain crags. So they spend all their days down in the dust, among earthly things, never waking up to their God-given potentials.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ--set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above--not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2
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Do with your sin--as Joab did with Absalom. He took three spears and thrust them through the heart of Absalom! 2 Samuel 18:14. Just so, take these three spears--the Word of God, prayer, and mortification--and strike through the heart of your lusts, so that they die!
What is the end of all a Christian's duties, praying, and hearing--but to weaken and mortify lust! Why is this spiritual medicine taken--but to kill the child of sin! Sin will insinuate itself and plead for a reprieve--but show it no mercy!
Saul's sparing Agag lost him the kingdom--and your sparing sin will lose you the kingdom of Heaven. Do with your sin, what Samuel did to Agag, "He hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal." 1 Samuel 15:33
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"Little things make perfection." In nothing is this more true, than in character and conduct. There are many people who in great matters of principle, and in the cardinal virtues--are without fault; yet the luster of whose life is dimmed, by their countless little blemishes and flaws.
One man who is upright and steadfast, with the firmness of a rock--is hard to live with at home, because of his irritability or his despotic disposition.
Another is full of great benevolent and philanthropic schemes, doing good in many ways--yet those who know him most intimately, discover in him an almost utter lack of the sweet graces and amenities, which are the true adornment of a Christlike life.
It is in the little things, that most of our failures are made. Little faults thoroughly penetrate our characters.
Little sins ruin many a life.
There is a species of little white ants in Africa, which work desolation wherever they go. One may leave his chair at night and go to bed. In the morning the chair is there, apparently in good condition--but let him sit down on it, and it falls with him, in a heap on the floor! During the night, the white ants have eaten the inside out of the legs, seat and frame. Houses are in like manner destroyed. The timbers are bored through and through--until one day the building tumbles to the ground!
Just so, there are human lives which seem strong and right to men's eyes--but countless infinitesimal faults and sins, eat away their substance, until they fall at last in hopeless ruin!
There is no doubt that the largest part of the pain and heartache endured in the world, is caused by multitudinous little failures in lovingness--by little, needless hurts and unkindnesses--rather than by life's great and conspicuous sorrows.
It is not enough, therefore, that we seek to be true, honest and just, in all our life. We should learn all the lessons of love, so that in every disposition and temper and word, in every shade of expression--we shall be Christlike.
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The goal of living in this world, is ever to grow into more and more radiant and lovely Christ-like character--whatever our conditions or experiences may be.
We cannot escape temptations--but we are so to meet them and pass through them, as not to be hurt by them--to come out of them with new strength and new radiancy of soul.
We cannot escape trials and difficulties--but we are to live victoriously, never defeated, always overcoming.
We cannot find a path in which no sorrow shall come into our lives--but we are to live through the experience of sorrow, without being hurt by it.
Many people receive harm from the fires which pass over them. Many fall in temptation and lie in dust and defeat, not rising again. Many are soured and embittered by the difficulties, the irritations, the frictions, the cares of life. But the problem of Christian living, is to keep a sweet Christ-like spirit amid all that might embitter us--to pass through the fires, and not have the flames kindle upon us.
We live in the midst of the countless dangers through which we must pass in this world. Danger lurks in every shadow, and hides in every patch of sunshine. There are tempters all around us. Only by committing our lives day by day into the hands of Christ, can we be kept in safety amid the perils of this world. He is able to keep us from falling, to guard us from stumbling, and to set us before His presence without blemish, in exceeding joy!
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Much is said in commendation of books. But, as in other matters, there is need for wise discrimination in what one reads. Not all books are worth reading.
There are many which are utterly empty of anything that is noble or worthy. One might read them continually all one's life--and yet be no wiser and no better. A hundred of them do not contain a dozen sentences that it is worthwhile to keep in one's memory, or that can be of any help or cheer or strength in one's life.
Then, there are books which are most pernicious in their influence. There are all grades and degrees of evil in this class. Some of them carry a subtle poison in their atmosphere which is noxious to those who breathe it. We need to keep most careful watch over our heart, so that nothing shall ever tarnish its purity. Any corrupt thought, dallied with even for a moment, leaves a stain upon the mind which may never be effaced.
If we would keep the tender joy of our heart experiences unbroken, we must hold rigid watch over our reading, conscientiously excluding not only whatever is obviously impure--but all in which lurks even a suggestion of evil.
A writer says: "Never read a book which is not worth reading, for some noble end, beyond the short-lived pleasure of a little excitement."
When we think of the influence which our reading has upon our lives, we see at once the importance of selecting only books that are worthwhile. At the best, none of us can read one book in a thousand of those which are within our reach. Surely then, this one book ought to be the best in all the thousand.
Every year, a flood of really worthless publications is poured over the country. People go into ecstasies over trivial works which please or excite them for a day--and are then old and forgotten; while books in every way admirable, are passed by unnoticed.
No book is really worth reading, which does not either impart valuable knowledge; or set before us some ideal of beauty, strength, or nobility of character.
There are enough great books to occupy us during all our short and busy years. If we are wise, we will resolutely avoid all but the richest and the best.
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An honest heathen--or a fake Christian?
(George Swinnock)
He who seems to be righteous toward men, but is
impious towards God--is but an honest heathen!
He who seems to be pious towards God, but is
unrighteous toward men--is but a fake Christian!
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A race to the sepulcher!
(Thomas Sherman, "Divine Breathings; Or, a Pious Soul Thirsting after Christ")
"What is your life? You are a vapor that appears for a little while--and then vanishes!" James 4:14
To speak the truth, our life is but a lingering death!
The poet being asked what he did; answered insightfully, "I am dying, little by little!"
We do but begin to live indeed--when we begin to live to God; our life before, is but a race to the sepulcher! But when we live to God--then we are on our way to eternity!
Our life contains a thousand springs,
And dies, if one goes wrong!
Strange! that a harp of a thousand strings,
Should keep in tune, so long!
"What is your life? You are a vapor that appears for a little while--and then vanishes!" James 4:14
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"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God!" Hebrews 12:1-2
We must run with perseverance--or we shall never obtain. There may be many things we cannot understand, much that the flesh could perhaps wish otherwise--but let us endure unto the end, and all shall be made clear, and God's arrangements shall be proved best. Think not to have your reward on earth--do not draw back, because your good things are all yet to come.
Today is the cross--but tomorrow is the crown.
Today is the labor--but tomorrow are the wages.
Today is the sowing--but tomorrow is the harvest.
Today is the battle--but tomorrow is the rest.
Today is the weeping--but tomorrow is the joy.
And what is today, when compared to tomorrow?
Today is but seventy years--but tomorrow is eternity!
"Run in such a way as to get the prize!" 1 Corinthians 9:24
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"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth!" Proverbs 27:1
We are totally ignorant of the future!
It may be prosperous--or it may be adverse.
We may suffer much from sickness--or we may enjoy sound health.
We may meet with accidents--or we may be graciously preserved from them.
We may be losers by calamity or wicked men--or God may set a hedge about us, as He did about Job.
We may be bereaved of our children, other near relatives or dear friends--or we may be summoned by death to appear before God ourselves!
We do not know what our lot may be in future. We are profoundly ignorant of it. But all is arranged--and arranged by our good, gracious, and infinitely wise God. Nothing is left to 'chance'.
Whatever may happen in the future, into whatever circumstances we may be brought--we should exercise confidence in God, hope still in His mercy, and plead earnestly at His throne of grace, believing that He has . . .
ordered all things in His love,
arranged all in His infinite wisdom, and
will overrule all for our ultimate good!
"My times are in Your hands!" Psalm 31:15
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"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16
Oh, you who want unfailing comfort--I commend you to Christ! In Him alone, there is no failure.
Rich men are disappointed in their treasures.
Learned men are disappointed in their books.
Husbands are disappointed in their wives.
Wives are disappointed in their husbands.
Parents are disappointed in their children.
Statesmen are disappointed when, after many a struggle, they attain place and power. They find out, to their cost, that it is more pain than pleasure--that it is disappointment, annoyance, incessant trouble, worry, vanity, and frustration of spirit.
But no one was ever disappointed in Christ!
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!" John 6:68
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"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 need." Philippians 4:12
The humble man is the contented man; if his estate is low, his heart is lower than his estate, therefore he is content. If his esteem in the world is low--he who is little in his own eyes will not be much troubled to be little in the eyes of others. He has a lower opinion of himself, than others can have of him.
The humble man studies his own unworthiness. He cries out with Paul, that he is the chief of sinners, therefore does not murmur--but admire.
A little will content him! He does not complain that his comforts are small. He thinks it is mercy that he is out of Hell, therefore he is contented. He knows that the worst piece which God carves out for him here on earth--is better than he deserves.
A proud man is never contented--he has a high opinion of himself. Therefore under small blessings, he is disdainful; and under small crosses, he is impatient.
The humble man is the contented man; if his cross is light--he reckons it the inventory of his mercies; if his cross is heavy--yet he takes it up in humble submission. Where humility is laid for the foundation, contentment will be the superstructure.
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"Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!" Job 15:16
The unconverted live in sin--they sin all the time. It is their trade--they work hard at it. They love it, and are greedy for iniquity. They "dig up evil." They "fill up their sin ALWAYS." They "ALWAYS resist the Holy Spirit." Never for an hour, do they love God supremely. Unregenerate men sin always--they do nothing but sin against God!
All the unconverted do nothing but sin. If for a while they seem to reform--they soon return to their wickedness, as the dog to his vomit; or the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.
Neither mercies,
nor judgments,
nor promises,
nor threatenings,
nor hopes,
nor fears
--without the grace of Christ--will or can ever cure the love of sin, or arrest the practice of sin.
"The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7
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"He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick" Matthew 12:20
We have but one life, and it must be lived for God. But we need preparation for usefulness. We need a thorough breaking down, a thorough emptying, a thorough bruising. God cannot trust us with success, until we are thus laid low. We are not fit to receive it; nor would He get the glory. Therefore He sends sore and heavy trials in order to make us vessels fit for the Master's use.
Oftentimes we see that the heaviest trials, are forerunners of our greatest usefulness. When we are entirely prostrated and crushed--then it is safe for God to grant us success, for then He gets all the glory.
And oh, what wonders has God often done by bruised reeds! Yes, it is the bruised reed which is most often the instrument in His hand for working His mighty signs and wonders.
What consolation is this! Suffering is stripped of half its bitterness, if it thus brings with it a double portion of the Spirit, and fits for double usefulness on earth.
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Shall we complain? Shall we repine? Shall we murmur?
"The Lord gave--and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21
So spoke the patriarch Job, when stripped of all his property and bereaved of all his children in one day. Reduced at once from affluence--to poverty; from the highest elevation--to the lowest point of human suffering--he exclaimed, "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"
Such language befits us; for all that we have is from the goodness of God; it is from His free favor--and not because we have a right to it. All claim upon God was forfeited by sin; therefore all that we receive, is a proof of His kindness. All we that have--He gave to us; or rather, lent to us. And whatever He has lent to us--He may recall--may recall at any time, and in any way which pleases Him. There is nothing upon which we can lay our hand and say, "This is absolutely mine!" All is lent to us by a gracious God--lent us to enjoy, improve, and return to its proper Owner.
Shall we complain? Shall we repine? Shall we murmur if God takes from us any one thing which He has lent to us, especially when He leaves us with so much?
"The Lord gave--and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!"
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Astonished, bewildered, and overpowered!
(Octavius Winslow, "From Grace to Glory" 1864)
The unregenerate man does not worship the God of the Bible. Worshiping a god of his own imagination, he rears his altar to "THE UNKNOWN GOD." Divesting the God of Scripture of His divine perfections . . .
His holiness,
His justice,
His truth,
His power
His wrath--
he completely undeifies Him, robbing Him of His glory.
But when he is born again, lo! the God of the Bible bursts upon his new-found vision and his wondering gaze, as a 'newly revealed God'.
Clothed with new attributes,
arrayed with new perfections,
bathed with new glory,
standing in a new relation--
the new creature falls down at His feet in adoring admiration and love, exclaiming, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You! Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes!" Never did . . .
the being of God, appear so true,
the perfections of God, appear so glorious,
the character of God, appear so great,
the government of God, appear so holy,
the relation of God, appear so endearing--as now!
Born into a new world, the GOD of the new creation unveils to the eye as infinitely, ineffably lovely!
Like a being born and grown up in a dark mine, and brought to the earth's surface to gaze upon the sun in its noontide effulgence--the new created soul is astonished, bewildered, and overpowered by the splendor, glory, and greatness of the being, character, and perfections of Jehovah!
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