Christ calls men to carry a cross!
(A.W. Tozer)
"Then Jesus said to His disciples: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever!" 1 John 2:15,17
Any appeal to the public in the name of Christ which rises no higher than an invitation to tranquility--must be recognized as mere humanism, with a few words of Jesus thrown in to make it appear Christian.
Christ calls men to carry a cross--but we call them to have fun in His name.
Christ calls them to forsake the world--but we assure them that if they but accept Jesus, the world is their playground.
Christ calls them to suffer--but we call them to enjoy all the bourgeois comforts modern civilization affords.
Christ calls them to holiness--but we call them to a cheap and tawdry happiness.
We can afford to suffer now--we will have a long eternity to enjoy ourselves. And our enjoyment will be valid and pure, for it will come in the right way and at the right time.
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Look at that cold creeping worm!
(Thomas Guthrie)
Look at that cold creeping worm! The playful child shudders from its touch!
Yet in a few weeks, and with merry laugh and flying feet, that same child over flowery meadow, is hunting an insect that never lights upon the ground, but flitting in painted beauty from flower to flower--drinks nectar from their cups, and sleeps the summer night away in the bosom of their perfumes.
If that is the same boy--this is also the same creature. The change most wonderful!
Yet this is but a dull, earthly emblem of the divine transformation wrought in those who are converted by God!
Fallen though he is, man is capable of undergoing a more wondrous change than the insect when, no longer a worm, no longer crawling on the ground, no longer feeding on garbage--it leaves its shell to spend its happy days in sport, flitting from flower to flower; its food their juices and its bed their leaves.
The spiritual change which we call conversion, is not a mere reform. It is a mighty revolution--a revolution greater than the tomes of profane history. Conversion changes the heart, the habits, and the eternal destiny of an immortal being!Conversion does not bestow new faculties. Yet our affections, our temperament, our will, our judgment partake of this great and holy change. Thus, the understanding is enlightened; the will is renewed; and our whole temperament is sweetened and sanctified by the Spirit of God.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
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What doctrine is more emptying, humbling, and therefore sanctifying!
(Octavius Winslow)
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . ." 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
What doctrine is more emptying, humbling, and therefore sanctifying, than predestination? It lays the axe at the root of all human boasting!
(Octavius Winslow)
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . ." 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
What doctrine is more emptying, humbling, and therefore sanctifying, than predestination? It lays the axe at the root of all human boasting!
In the light of this truth, the most holy believer sees that there is no difference between him and the vilest sinner that crawls the earth--but what the sovereign grace of God has made!
"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
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Therefore it is that He withers our gourds and breaks our cisterns!
(Mary Winslow)
How poor and unsatisfying are all things here below--even the best and the loveliest! Oh, to walk more intimately with Him, to live above the world, and hold the creature with a looser hand--taking God's Word as our guiding light and our unfailing spring of comfort!
God has eternally provided such a magnificent and holy Heaven for us above, that He is jealous lest we should set our hearts too fondly and closely upon the attractions of earth. Therefore it is that He withers our gourds and breaks our cisterns--only to dislodge us here, and lead us to seek those things which are above, where Christ our treasure is.
Let us keep our eye and our hearts upon our blessed eternal home. Earth is but a stage erected as our passage to the glorious place which Jesus has gone to prepare for us. What a place must that be, which infinite power and love has engaged to provide! Oh, let us not lose sight of Heaven for a moment.
How prone are we to allow our minds and hearts (treacherous hearts!) to become entangled with the baubles of this dying world. No wonder Christ exhorted us to watch and pray. Heaven is our home--our happy home. We are but strangers and pilgrims here on earth. Try and realize it. Let us keep ourselves ready to enter with Him to the marriage supper of the Lamb. In a little while we shall see Him--not as the "Man of sorrows"--but the "King in His beauty!" Then let us fight against this poor world and all its false attractions, for it is passing away.
Dearest Jesus! help Your pilgrims to live more like pilgrims, above a poor dying world, and more in full view of the glory that awaits them when they shall see You face to face!
(Mary Winslow)
How poor and unsatisfying are all things here below--even the best and the loveliest! Oh, to walk more intimately with Him, to live above the world, and hold the creature with a looser hand--taking God's Word as our guiding light and our unfailing spring of comfort!
God has eternally provided such a magnificent and holy Heaven for us above, that He is jealous lest we should set our hearts too fondly and closely upon the attractions of earth. Therefore it is that He withers our gourds and breaks our cisterns--only to dislodge us here, and lead us to seek those things which are above, where Christ our treasure is.
Let us keep our eye and our hearts upon our blessed eternal home. Earth is but a stage erected as our passage to the glorious place which Jesus has gone to prepare for us. What a place must that be, which infinite power and love has engaged to provide! Oh, let us not lose sight of Heaven for a moment.
How prone are we to allow our minds and hearts (treacherous hearts!) to become entangled with the baubles of this dying world. No wonder Christ exhorted us to watch and pray. Heaven is our home--our happy home. We are but strangers and pilgrims here on earth. Try and realize it. Let us keep ourselves ready to enter with Him to the marriage supper of the Lamb. In a little while we shall see Him--not as the "Man of sorrows"--but the "King in His beauty!" Then let us fight against this poor world and all its false attractions, for it is passing away.
Dearest Jesus! help Your pilgrims to live more like pilgrims, above a poor dying world, and more in full view of the glory that awaits them when they shall see You face to face!
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The most suitable good!
(Thomas Doolittle, "Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!")
A thing is desirable, because it is suitable. The suitableness of the object allures our desires and love.
Suitableness is the ground of love. A thing might be good in itself, yet, if we apprehend no suitableness in it to us--then the love of our hearts is not upon it. Therefore, in pain and sickness, a man judges ease and health to be better for him than gold and silver--because they are more suitable. A man in hunger and thirst, esteems bread and water to be better than honors and pleasures--because they are more suitable.
Love to Christ is grounded on the soul discerning the suitableness of Christ unto him. He says,
"Food is not more suitable to a hungry man,
nor medicine to a sick man,
nor clothing to a naked man--
than Christ is to me, a poor, sinful, and lost man--an undone, perishing, and damned man! For . . .
I am naked--and He will give clothe me with His perfect righteousness,
I am blind--and He will restore my spiritual sight,
I am enslaved to sin and Satan--and He will give me liberty,
I am lost--and He will save me,
I am guilty--and He will pardon me,
I am polluted--and He will cleanse me,
I am an enemy to God--and He will reconcile me,
I am ignorant--and He will teach me,
I am indebted--and He will be my Surety,
I am poor--and He will make me wealthy to all eternity,
I am a stranger to God--and He bring me into acquaintance with Him,
I am unfit for Heaven--and He will make me fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.
Love to Christ includes a discovery of Christ unto the soul, as the most suitable good.
In poverty, Christ will be my riches.
In disgrace, Christ will be my honor.
In bonds and imprisonment, Christ will be my liberty.
In pain, Christ will be my comfort.
In death, Christ will be my life.
In the loss of all things, Christ will be better to me than the enjoyment of all these things!
Though I have riches--yet I might be damned.
But if I have Christ--then I shall be saved!
Though men admire me--yet God might loathe me.
But if I have Christ--then the Lord will love me!
Though I prosper in the world, in all my pomp--I might be walking in the way to everlasting misery!
But if I have Christ--He will lead me in the paths unto eternal glory!
Look, O my soul, look around about you, and you shall find none so suitable to you, as the lovely Savior. Then He alone shall have my best love. Is there none for me like Him? Then I will fix my love on Him!
(Thomas Doolittle, "Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!")
A thing is desirable, because it is suitable. The suitableness of the object allures our desires and love.
Suitableness is the ground of love. A thing might be good in itself, yet, if we apprehend no suitableness in it to us--then the love of our hearts is not upon it. Therefore, in pain and sickness, a man judges ease and health to be better for him than gold and silver--because they are more suitable. A man in hunger and thirst, esteems bread and water to be better than honors and pleasures--because they are more suitable.
Love to Christ is grounded on the soul discerning the suitableness of Christ unto him. He says,
"Food is not more suitable to a hungry man,
nor medicine to a sick man,
nor clothing to a naked man--
than Christ is to me, a poor, sinful, and lost man--an undone, perishing, and damned man! For . . .
I am naked--and He will give clothe me with His perfect righteousness,
I am blind--and He will restore my spiritual sight,
I am enslaved to sin and Satan--and He will give me liberty,
I am lost--and He will save me,
I am guilty--and He will pardon me,
I am polluted--and He will cleanse me,
I am an enemy to God--and He will reconcile me,
I am ignorant--and He will teach me,
I am indebted--and He will be my Surety,
I am poor--and He will make me wealthy to all eternity,
I am a stranger to God--and He bring me into acquaintance with Him,
I am unfit for Heaven--and He will make me fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.
Love to Christ includes a discovery of Christ unto the soul, as the most suitable good.
In poverty, Christ will be my riches.
In disgrace, Christ will be my honor.
In bonds and imprisonment, Christ will be my liberty.
In pain, Christ will be my comfort.
In death, Christ will be my life.
In the loss of all things, Christ will be better to me than the enjoyment of all these things!
Though I have riches--yet I might be damned.
But if I have Christ--then I shall be saved!
Though men admire me--yet God might loathe me.
But if I have Christ--then the Lord will love me!
Though I prosper in the world, in all my pomp--I might be walking in the way to everlasting misery!
But if I have Christ--He will lead me in the paths unto eternal glory!
Look, O my soul, look around about you, and you shall find none so suitable to you, as the lovely Savior. Then He alone shall have my best love. Is there none for me like Him? Then I will fix my love on Him!
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