If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
World-bordering is perilous for our souls in this age. It exposes us unnecessarily to the enemy. We are only safe as we take our place definitely outside everything here,
as dead to it.
When our minds are really set upon things above, with the risen Christ as our sole object, we are proof against the seductions of the world and the devil.
A position of compromise, once accepted, lays us open to trouble at every turn.
W. W. Fereday
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But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20
The life and happiness of the Christian is learning about Christ.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
To be associated with Christ where He is, we must follow the road He went through death.
Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 1 Peter 1:21
Hunt's Sayings
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And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of
offence toward God, and toward men.
Acts 24:16
They tell us that times have changed, that we live in a new moral climate and must learn to live with it. I also have a conscience and must live with it.
Paul lived in an evil day and the spiritual climate was bad. He wrestled with principalities and powers of the world of darkness. He was most concerned to have a good conscience.
He is a foolish man who comes to terms with this world at the expense of his soul. We have to live
with ourselves and, while everybody is majoring on how to get along with the times,
let us remember that we are not thermometers to register the
prevailing temperature but thermostats to change it.
All the Days - Vance Havner
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I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6,7
There are many men today who tell you they preach “another good news”. Do not believe them. It may be different, but it is not “another good news.” There is only one “good news” sent to us by God and that is ”Christ died for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Everything else that calls itself “good news” is false. It is counterfeit. It is not THE “good news” at all. Paul reminds them that it is God Himself who had called them, and He called them ”in grace” not “in law,” or “to law.”
They had quite forgotten their calling. If it is not God Himself who has called them, and if it is not in grace alone then it is not the true “good news” but only a false imitation, for there “is not another”. G. C. Willis — Beautiful Grace
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For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
Psalm 48:14
One day Fanny Crosby received a direct answer to her prayer. She desperately needed five dollars and had no idea where she could obtain it. She followed her usual custom and began to pray about the matter. A few minutes later a stranger appeared at her door with the exact amount. “I have no way of accounting for this.”
She said, “except to believe that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money. My first thought was that it is so wonderful the way the Lord leads me. I immediately wrote this poem.”
The hymn was first published in 1875. No one knows the importance of guided steps as much as a blind person like Fanny Crosby, who lost her sight at six weeks of age.
All the way, my Saviour leads me, what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, what e’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Saviour leads me, cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me, lo! a spring of joy I see.
All the way my Saviour leads me, oh the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised, in my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages; Jesus led me all the way.
Fanny Crosby
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“The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:28
The cross! the cross, oh, that’s our gain,
Because on that the Lamb was slain:
‘Twas there the Lord was crucified,
‘Twas there for us the Saviour died.
What wondrous cause could move Thy heart
To take on Thee our curse and smart,
Well knowing we should ever be
So cold, so negligent of Thee?
The cause was love — we sink with shame
Before our blessèd Jesus’s name,
That He should bleed and suffer thus,
Because He loved and pitied us.
Miss C. Taylor, 1742
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“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12
We commit: He undertakes. And what He undertakes He carries through. We may have to wait to see the fulfilment of our hope. We may be disappointed again and again. But Love will find a way to fulfill the promise of love.
Amy Carmichael
“2 Timothy 1:12” is a glorious word, and so is Hebrews 10:35: “Cast not therefore away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Amy Carmichael
I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,
Nor why unworthy, as I am He claimed me for His own.
I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His word wrought peace within my heart.
I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days before His face I see.
I know not when my Lord may come at night or noon-day fare,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him, or meet Him in the air.
But I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.
El Nathan
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And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17
This word will stand by us in any storm. If by the grace of God we do the right thing, whatever the trials of the time be, we shall be kept in peace. And that peace will abide, for ”When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29)
“None have a right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer will not spoil the crop,“ wrote Samuel Rutherford. The seed of joy is sown for us, and the seed of God is imperishable. Amy Carmichael — Whispers of His Power
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Father I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:2)
We will see His glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) These words seem to open the door of the Father’s house, and let us look in and have a glimpse of the glory that awaits us there. These words seem to take our hearts from earth to heaven. But the time for the glory has not yet come, though we are heirs already, and in Christ we have already obtained an inheritance. (Ephesians 1:11).
The Father’s house is our home. (John 14:2) “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house. (Psalm 65:4) Thatday is yet before us, but even now down here how many of God’s children have found comfort in the Father’s house. Everywhere, true Christians turn to John 14 for cheer and encouragement. And soon our Lord’s prayer will be answered (John 17:2). We will see His glory. G. C. Willis - Galatians
And is it so—I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory, (thought beyond all thought)!
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!
O Jesus, Lord, who loved me like to Thee?
Fruit of Thy work, with Thee, to, there to see
Thy glory, Lord while endless ages roll,
Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul.
Yet it must be: Thy love had not its rest
Were Thy redeemed not with Thee fully blest.
That love that gives not as the world, but shares
All it posses with its loved coheirs.
Nor I alone; Thy loved ones all, complete
In glory, round Thee there with joy shall meet,
All like Thee, for Thy glory like Thee, Lord,
Object supreme of all, by all adored. J. N. Darby
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How an old harper dotes on his harp! How he fondles and caresses it, as a child resting on his bosom! His life is bound up in it. But, see him tuning it. He grasps it firmly, strikes a chord with a sharp, quick blow; and while it quivers as if in pain, he leans over intently to catch the first note that rises. The note, as he feared, is false and harsh.
He strains the chord with the torturing thumb-screw; and though it seems ready to snap with the tension, he strikes it again, bending down to listen softly as before, till at length you see a smile on his face as the first true tone trembles upward.
So it may be that God is dealing with you. Loving you better than any harper loves his harp, He finds you a massive jarring discords. He wrings your heart strings with some torturing anguish; he bends over you tenderly, striking and listening; and, hearing only a harsh murmur, strikes you again, while His heart bleeds for you, anxiously waiting for that strain--"Not my will, but Thine be done"--which is melody sweet to His ear. Nor will He cease to strike until your chastened soul shall blend with all the pure and infinite harmony of His own choosing. Selected.
Oh, the sweetness that dwells in a harp of many strings,
While each, all vocal with love in a tuneful harmony rings!
But, oh, the wail and the discord, when one and another is rent,
Tensionless, broken and lost, from the cherished instrument.
For rapture of love linked with the pain or fear of loss,
And the hand that takes the crown, must ache with many a cross;
Yet he who hath never a conflict, hath never a victor's palm,
And only the toilers know the sweetness of rest and calm.
Streams in the Desert
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God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.
2 Samuel 12:23
Having anointed both Saul and David--the man of the people's choice, and the man
after God's own heart, Samuel's public work was finished. Henceforward
he lived in quiet retirement at Ramah.
But one thus constrained to live in quietness has not necessarily ceased to be of value to
his brethren. The ministry of intercession is open to all who have the heart for it.
To this ministry Samuel devoted himself until his life's end.
Aged brethren, crippled brethren, imprisoned brethren, take courage!
Although you can no longer run the Lord's errands, you can
still serve the people of God at the throne of grace.
Paul in his Roman prison ceased not to give thanks for his Ephesian brethren, making mention of them in his prayers (Ephesians 1:16); the Philippians also he
remembered in every prayer for them making request with joy
(Philippians 1:4); for the Colossians too he prayed
regularly, and doubtless also for saints in other
places, both known and unknown.
Epaphras, when deprived of his liberty, laboured fervently for his brethren that they
might "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12).
W.W. Fereday - God's Emergency Man
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Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9
The word used here is ek-luo,'I loose,' or,' I unloose,' as, for example,
a bow-string: letting it become slack.
When I was a boy my father took me down to a wagon shop (I suppose there are no such things now) and there he got a piece of nice,well seasoned ash; and from this he made me a beautiful bow.
The good piece of ash alone could not make the bow, there had to be a strong cord, tied from end to end of the wood, and tightened till the
wood was well bent, and the cord was taut. Then with a good
straight arrow, what a joy it was to any boy!
But suppose the cord got slack, and loose, what then? The bow is useless in spite of having such a good piece of ash to make it. One secret
of a good bow is having a good tight bow-string.
Notice that in the Gospels it is our body that faints, and in Hebrews it is our mind. Note again Galatians 6:9 quoted above. I suppose it might be
both body and mind that faint. But in all these cases we grow
slack, like the bow-string: and a slack bow-string
is no use to its master.
Hid Treasures - G. C. Willis
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The mixing of good and evil is like a stream flowing with polluted water. Shall I drink of this water that may poison me? I cannot, but this stream is absorbed by the river into which it flows.
The river is a great waterway receiving water from the muddiest of streams and bearing them to the sea. So it is with the ways of God; His ways make use of the most unlikely elements to feed the vast sea of His counsels.
The sea engulfs and deposits in its depths--in other words, judges--every impure element so that nothing but pure water rises from the sea to the sky to which the sun draws it.
This is the work of the sea and the sun and not our work. God is sovereign; He alone may use evil, but I have no option but to withdraw from evil.
Meditations on 2 Samuel - Dr. H. L. Rossier
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plain to him that understandeth, and
right to them that find knowledge.
Proverbs 8:8-9
This is faith's answer to the caviler who prates of contradictions and errors in the inspired Word of God. Modesty alone might suggest the thought that the fault might be in
the reader--not in the Word.
But man's vanity and pride will not book such a conclusion.
Yet so it shall soon be proven to be; for "one jot or one tittle
(the smallest letter or vowel point) shall in no
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
(Matthew 5:18) How soon difficulties
vanish when faith is in exercise!
Seemingly insuperable objections are swept away in a moment when the light of heaven shines into the soul and on the page
of Scripture. Jesus, in resurrection, opened
both the scriptures and the understanding
of the two with whom He (Jesus)
walked to Emmaus.
It is this double enlightenment that causes difficulties to vanish
like mist before the rays of the sun.
"They are all plain to him that understandeth."
Proverbs 8:9 for "The secret of the Lord
is with them that fear Him."
Psalm 25:14.
Proverbs - H. A. Ironside
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