Greatest Privilege In The World

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, 

as though God were making his appeal through us. 

We implore you on Christ's behalf: 

Be reconciled to God. 

II Cor. 5: 20

 

It is a great privilege to evangelize; it is a wonderful thing to be able to tell others of the love of Christ, knowing that there is nothing that they need more urgently to know, and no knowledge in the world that can do them so much good.

-J. I. Packer

The Hospitality of the Table

Is it possible to live in this increasingly inhospitable world in a hospitable way? Is it possible to do something focused and intentional about what is wrong in our society without turning the wrongdoers into the enemy?

Gathering friends and family to the table for a meal is our most frequent act of hospitality. Coming to the table where Christ is the host is hospitality at its most complete, receiving the Christ and the entire creation and community of Christ in thanksgiving. When we leave that table, any table, we are blessed, predisposed to engage in a hospitable life.

 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away.  

You give them something to eat."  Matt 14:16

- Eugene Peterson  "The Pastor: A Memoir"

The Balanced Life in Christ

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  I Thess 1:3

We are not to suppose that Christian love can exist independently of faith. Paul did not intend to set up one grace in rivalry to the other. He did not mean that one man might have faith, another hope, and another love–and that the best of these, was the person who had love. The three graces are inseparably joined together. Where there is faith, there will always be love; and where there is love, there will be faith. Sun and light, fire and heat, ice and cold, are not more intimately united than faith and love!

-Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Stand Apart!

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  
I John 2:15

Dear Brethren, it is to be feared that many of us are not separated enough from the world. God intends the difference to be very marked; he would have the line between the church and the world drawn very clearly. I could wish to obliterate for ever the unhappy and artificial distinction which is constantly made between sacred and secular, for a world of mischief has come out of it. The truth is that a real Christian may be known by this, that to him everything secular is sacred, and the commonest matters are holiness unto the Lord. I do not believe in the religion which only lifts its head above water on Sunday, and confines itself to praying and preaching and carrying hymn books about...

--Spurgeon


http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11

The star of Jesus rises higher every hour; the twilight of Calvary brightens towards millennial day. He was despised and rejected of men, but now tens of thousands adore him; and, according to the omnipotent promise of the Father, to him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord. The Spirit of God is at work glorifying Jesus, and providence is bending all its forces to the same end. In heaven Jesus is exalted and extolled; in his church he is very high; and even in the world itself his name is a word of power already, and destined to be supreme in ages to come.

-Spurgeon

http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com

Speak the Truth

We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:23-24

We preach Christ the Son of God as very God of very God, and if they reject him it is not for us to pretend that it makes no difference, when in fact it makes all the difference in the world. We would not wish them to say more than they believe to be true, and they must not expect us to say less than we believe to be true. If Jesus be God, they must believe it, and must worship him as such, or else they cannot participate in the salvation which he has provided. I love the deity of Christ! I preach his humanity with all my might, and I rejoice that he is the son of man; but oh, he must be the Son of God too, or there is no peace for me.




-Charles Spurgeon


http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com

Dancing in the Minefields

Andrew Peterson - Dancing in the Minefields (Official Video) from andrewpeterson on GodTube.

Sanctified Suffering

Suffering is a part of the process by which the children of God are sanctified. They are chastened to wean them from the world, and make them partakers of God's holiness. The Captain of their salvation was made perfect through sufferings, and so are they. There never yet was a great saint who had not either great afflictions or great corruptions. Philip Melancthon said it well: "Where there are no cares, there will generally be no prayers."


~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Abundant Life!

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Religion is the human spirit, by the grace of God, seeking and finding an interpretation of experience that puts sense and worth, dignity, elevation, joy, and hope into life.

To exist is one thing; to live is another. Existence is comprised of the bare facts of life alone—the universe in which we live, our heritage and birth, our desires and their satisfactions, growth, age and death. All the facts that science can display before us comprise existence. But life is something more. Life is existence clothed in spiritual meanings; existence seen with a worthy purpose at the heart of it and hope ahead, existence informed by the spirit's insights and understandings, transfigured and glorified by the spirit's faiths and hopes. It follows, therefore, that while existence is given us to start with, life is a spiritual achievement.

It is not difficult, then, to see one vital significance of Jesus Christ: he has given us the most glorious interpretation of life's meaning that the sons of men have ever had. The fatherhood of God, the friendship of the Spirit, the sovereignty of righteousness, the law of love, the glory of service, the coming of the Kingdom, the eternal hope—there never was an interpretation of life to compare with that.

-Harry Fosdick "Christianity and Progress"

The Trinity

THREE IN ONE, ONE IN THREE, GOD OF MY SALVATION,

Heavenly Father, Blessed Son, Eternal Spirit, I adore thee as one Being, one Essence, one God in three distinct Persons, for bringing sinners to thy knowledge and to thy kingdom.

O Father, thou hast loved me and sent Jesus to redeem me;

O Jesus, thou hast loved me and assumed my nature, shed thine own blood to wash away my sins, wrought righteousness to cover my unworthiness;

O Holy Spirit, thou hast loved me and entered my heart,  implanted there eternal life, revealed to me the glories of Jesus.

         Three Persons and one God, I bless and praise thee, for love so unmerited, 

    so unspeakable, so wondrous, so mighty to save the lost and raise them to glory.

O Father, I thank thee that in fullness of grace thou hast given me to Jesus, to be his sheep, jewel, portion;

O Jesus, I thank thee that in fullness of grace thou hast accepted, espoused, bound me;

O Holy Spirit, T thank thee that in fullness of grace thou hast exhibited Jesus as my salvation,   implanted faith within me, subdued my stubborn heart, made me one with him forever.

O Father, thou art enthroned to hear my prayers,

O Jesus, thy hand is outstretched to take my petitions,

O Holy Spirit, thou art willing to help my infirmities, to show me my need, to supply words, to pray within me, to strengthen me that I faint not in supplication.

O Triune God, who commandeth the universe, thou hast commanded me to ask for those things that concern thy kingdom and my soul.

Let me live and pray as one baptized into the threefold Name.

Growth!

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  II Tim 2:15

Would you like to possess more faith? Do you find believing so pleasant, that you would like to believe more? Then take heed that you are diligent in the use of every means of grace—diligent in your private communion with God—diligent in your daily watchfulness over time, temper, and tongue—diligent in your private Bible reading—diligent in your own private prayers. It is vain to expect spiritual prosperity, when we are careless about these things. Let those who will, call it excessively precise and legal to be particular about these things. I only reply, that there never was an eminent saint who neglected them.


-R.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Check The Box

The True Source of Leadership!

Until the twentieth century America was graced with a disproportionate number of simple but truly great men, but curiously, as the positive influences of a Biblical Christianity declined, so did our stock of notable leaders, whether in the Church or in the society at large.



--Frank Mitchell

The Surest Foundations

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  I Cor 6:19-20

Ever since God exhibited himself to us as a Father, we must be convicted of extreme ingratitude if we do not in turn exhibit ourselves as his sons. Ever since Christ purified us by the laver of his blood, and communicated this purification by baptism, it would ill become us to be defiled with new pollution. Ever since he ingrafted us into his body, we, who are his members, should anxiously beware of contracting any stain or taint. Ever since he who is our head ascended to heaven, it is befitting in us to withdraw our affections from the earth, and with our whole soul aspire to heaven. Ever since the Holy Spirit dedicated us as temples to the Lord, we should make it our endeavour to show forth the glory of God, and guard against being profaned by the defilement of sin. Ever since our soul and body were destined to heavenly incorruptibility and an unfading crown, we should earnestly strive to keep them pure and uncorrupted against the day of the Lord. These, I say, are the surest foundations of a well-regulated life, and you will search in vain for any thing resembling them among philosophers, who, in their commendation of virtue, never rise higher than the natural dignity of man.

--John Calvin

http://theoldguys.org

Love for the Father

The sacrifice of Christ is a sweet savor, because as such it was a great honor done to God’s majesty, holiness, and law, and a glorious expression of Christ’s respect to that majesty. That when he loved man, and so greatly desired his salvation, he had yet so great respect to that majesty and holiness of God, that he had rather die than that the salvation of man should be any injury or dishonor unto those attributes.





-Jonathan Edwards

When I Saw The Cross...

              I saw the cross of Jesus,

             When burdened with my sin,

              I sought the cross of Jesus,

              To give me peace within;

              I brought my soul to Jesus,

              He cleansed it in His blood;

              And in the cross of Jesus

              I found my peace with God.



-"I Saw the Cross of Jesus" by Frederic Whitfield

Give me humility in my maturity.

Gracious Lord, You know better than I know myself 

that I am growing older,  and will some day be old.

Keep me from getting talkative,

an particularly from the fatal habit of thinking

I must say something on ever subject

and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to try to

straighten out everybody's affairs.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody;

make me helpful, but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all

but you know that.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details,

and give me wings to get right to the point.

Seal my lips on my many aches and pains.

They are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them

is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pain.

Help me to endure them with patience.

Teach me the glorious lessons that occasionally

it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet;

I do not want to be one of the devil's imps.

Help me to extract all possible fun out of life.

There are so many funny things around us,

and I don't want to miss any of them.

I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen!

Learn To Listen To Your Conscience

Conscience is a most powerful part of our natural constitution. It cannot save our souls. It never leads a man to Christ. It is often blind, and ignorant, and misdirected. Yet conscience often raises a mighty testimony against sin in the sinner’s heart, and makes him feel that “it is an evil and a bitter thing” to depart from God. Young people ought especially to remember this, and, remembering it, to take heed to their ways. Let them not flatter themselves that all is right, when their sins are past, and done, and forgotten by the world. Let them know that conscience can bring up each sin before the eyes of their minds, and make it bite like a serpent.

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Peace is Costly...

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. Isa 59:16

Peace is costly. It is never procured accidentally or incidentally. Peace is always the product of the peacemaker.

To secure peace between God and man a cross had to be interposed. Man had flaunted God's good law and was in a state of rebellion against God.

Only God could make atonement. "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him" (Isa. 59:16). On Christ, God's beloved and sinless Son, fell "the iniquity of us all. . . The chastisement of our peace was upon him."

Christ's atonement did not suppress or merely appease God's wrath. His sacrifice provided cancellation of our guilt—at God's expense—while at the same time honoring His own law. On the basis of Calvary, God can now forgive sins and be just.

Too long mankind has sought for peace without a cross. Peter tried to turn Jesus from the cross. And Jesus' own people rejected His atoning forgiveness; it was simpler to crucify Him than to turn from their sin.

It is ever easy to gain popular enthusiasm for the cause of peace. The crowd with palm branches was not unusual for that day—nor for ours.

But on that day of triumphal entry Jesus wept. Nor was it a silent sobbing. As He looked over the sacred city with its temple and traditions, all of the compassion of His infinite mercy was released in a loud cry—"Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I. . . but ye would not."

Had that generation received Jesus, Jerusalem would not have been laid waste by the Romans. But the Jews could not see that obedience to Jesus would have saved them from national ruin. They continued to infuriate Rome and busied themselves with the tithe of "mint, anise, cummin" while passing over the "weightier matters of the law."

They spurned the cross and lost the peace.

God has paid the full price of peace—by Jesus' blood—for all men and all nations. The sinner could enjoy peace by ceasing his rebellion and cherishing the cross. Racial and economic rivalry would cease if men would only seek the Calvary road to peace.

In "this [our] day," do we discern the things that belong to peace?  Can we yet change course? Can we redeem our present opportunities?  Do we want peace, or do we just say we do?

-George E. Failing

Do not decieve yourself.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Rom 12:3

The Scriptures describe that joy in the Lord which accompanies the witness of his Spirit, as a humble joy: a joy that abases to the dust, that makes a pardoned sinner cry out. "I am vile! What am I or my father's house? Now mine eye seeth thee. I abhor myself in dust and ashes!" And wherever lowliness is there is meekness, patience, gentleness, long-suffering. There is a soft, yielding spirit: a mildness and sweetness, a tenderness of soul, which words cannot express.

But do these fruits attend that supposed testimony of the Spirit in a presumptuous man? Just the reverse. The more confident he is of the favor of God. the more is he lifted up: the more does he exalt himself: the more haughty and assuming is his whole behavior. The stronger witness he imagines himself to have, the more overbearing is he to all around him: the more incapable of receiving any reproof: the more impatient of contradiction. Instead of being more meek, and gentle, and teachable, more "swift to hear, and slow to speak.'* he is more slow to hear, and swift to speak: more unready to learn of any one: more fiery and vehement in his temper, and eager in his conversation. Yea. perhaps, there will sometimes appear a kind of fierceness in his air, his manner of speaking, his whole deportment, as if he were just going to take the matter out of Gods hands, and himself to "devour the adversaries."

John Wesleyan "The Witness of the Spirit"