|
The “The Voice Of The |
|
You Were Asked To Pray For: |
|
A Thought From C. H. Spurgeon:
"Observe and hear
all these words, which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and
with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and
right in the sight of the LORD thy God" Deuteronomy 12:28. Though salvation is not by the works of the law, yet the
blessings which are promised to obedience are not denied to the faithful
servants of God. The curses our LORD took away when He was made a curse for
us, but no clause of blessing has been abrogated.
No blessing can come to us or ours through dishonesty or double
dealing. The ways of worldly conformity and unholiness
cannot bring good to us or ours. It will go well with us when we go well
before God. If integrity does not make us prosper, knavery will not. That
which gives pleasure to God will bring pleasure to us. |
|
A Thought For The Week: High offices in the church "The leading priests and teachers of
religious law were actively plotting Jesus' murder." Luke 22:2 High offices in the church do not preserve the
holders of them from great blindness and sin. The first step in putting Christ to death, was taken by the religious teachers of the Jewish
nation. The very men who ought to have welcomed the
Messiah, were the men who conspired to kill Him. The very pastors
who ought to have rejoiced at the appearing of the Lamb of God, had the chief
hand in slaying Him! These were the very men who crucified the Lord of glory!
With all their boasted knowledge, they were far more ignorant than the few
Galilean fishermen who followed Christ! Let us beware of attaching an excessive importance
to ministers of religion because of their office. Ordination and office
confer no exemption from error. The greatest heresies have been sown, and the
greatest practical abuses introduced into the church by ordained men! We must test all teachers by the unerring rule of
the Word of God. It matters little who says a thing in religion. But it
matters greatly what it is that is said. Is it scriptural? Is it true? This is the only question. The lengths to which men
may go in religion, and yet be without grace, is far greater than we suppose. By: J.
C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858 |
|
"The consolation of believers" "As many as I love I rebuke and
chasten." Revelation 3:19 Are outward afflictions the ground of
dejection and trouble? How do our hearts fail and our spirits
sink, under the many smarting rods of God upon us! But our relief and
consolation under them all is in Christ Jesus; for the rod that afflicts us
is in the hand of Christ who loves us! His design in affliction is our
profit. Hebrews 12:10. That design of His for our good shall certainly be
accomplished—and after that no more afflictions forever! "God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes." Revel. 21:3. Thus two things are most
evident: 1. Nothing can comfort the soul
without Christ. He is the soul that animates all comforts; they would be dead
without him. Temporal enjoyments, riches, honors, health, relations, yield
not a drop of true comfort without Christ. Spiritual enjoyments, ministers,
ordinances, promises, are fountains sealed and springs shut up until Christ
opens them; a man may go comfortless in the midst of them all. 2. No troubles or afflictions can
deject the soul which Christ comforts. "As sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing." 2 Corin. 6:10. A believer may walk with a heart full
of comfort amidst all the troubles of the world. So that the conclusion
stands firm—that Christ, and Christ only, is the
consolation of believers. |
|
Another Thought From C. H. Spurgeon: The best man in the
church! Do not desire to be the principal man
in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man
who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother
who does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified. |