Aug 11
7
Bread or Poison?
Clay Curtis
Malachi 1:7: Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
The next time you are baking a fresh loaf of homemade bread, mix in rat poison. Do you think you could obtain life by eating it? Why not, there will be good bread in each bite? The problem is that the whole loaf is contaminated by the poison. We would not even call such mixture bread, we would call it poison.
There is no doubt that the Pharisees used the good food of the scriptures. The Judaizers in Galatia even used that good name of Christ Jesus the Bread. They added many good ingredients of true doctrine. Yet, insisting there is something the sinner can do to make himself more holy than Christ does, they denied that God put away the sin of his people according to his holy justice; that he by himself justified each child whom he saves in the person of his Son; they sprinkled in the poison of man’s free will contaminating the whole. The apostle Paul called it, “another gospel.” The Lord called it, “the leaven of the Pharisees.” Believers call it poison.
According to his word, a sinner can as soon expect life from eating rat poison as from eating such polluted bread. The Lord Jesus Christ saves in power, in righteousness and in truth or he does not save at all
The good Shepherd’s flock
(Henry Law, “Deuteronomy” 1858)
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know
them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27
The good Shepherd’s flock is widely
scattered. They wander far on hills, and
valleys, in every land, and every climate.
Some pant beneath a tropic sun.
Some shiver in perpetual snows.
A watchful eye sees all.
And in fit time each is approached.
Jesus Himself draws near.
He wins the heart.
He enters in.
He takes the throne.
He shows His smile.
He melts the rock.
He turns the enmity to love.
He sits a conqueror in a once rebel camp.
All given by the Father come to
Him, because He comes to them.
They follow, because He calls.
They run, because He draws.
He opens out His arms; and then they flee quickly to the shelter.
Are you Hungry?
Clay Curtis
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5: 6)
I read that during the days of the Great Depression in this country there was such a famine of bread that families had to go to soup kitchens or bread trucks and wait in long lines in awful conditions just to get enough food for one meal. They did not have a concern for what the kitchen looked like, or the bread truck, or those who served.
Never did they ever think of not going because the time did not suit them just right. It was not a concern how far they might have to travel or that they were required to go back time-after-time for each meal. No. None of those things mattered for one simple reason: they were hungry. The only thing that mattered was getting the bread.
So it is when God gives a hunger for Christ the Bread .
Keep this medicine next to your heart
(Thomas Watson, “The Lord’s Supper”)
“The people of Israel called the bread manna.
It was white like coriander seed and tasted
like wafers made with honey.” Exodus 16:31
The manna was a lively type and emblem of Christ,
for manna was sweet. It was a delicious food—and
was called angel’s food for its excellency. Psalm
78:25. So Christ, the sacramental manna, is sweet
to a believer’s soul. “His fruit was sweet to my taste,”
Song of Solomon 2:3. Everything of Christ is sweet.
His name is sweet. His virtue is sweet. This manna
sweetens the bitter waters of Marah.
Nay, Christ’s flesh excels manna. Manna was food—but
not medicine. If an Israelite had been sick, manna could
not have cured him. But this blessed manna is not only
for food—but for medicine! Christ has healing under His
wings, Malachi 4:2. He heals the blind eye, and the hard
heart. Keep this medicine next to your heart—and it
will heal you of all your spiritual distempers!
Also, manna was corruptible. It ceased when Israel came
to Canaan. But this blessed manna will never cease! The
saints will feed with infinite delight and soul satisfaction,
upon Christ—to all eternity! The joys of heaven would
cease—if this manna would cease.
Every crumb of this Bread of life is precious!
I asked the Lord, that I might grow
(John Newton)
I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know;
And seek more earnestly His face.
Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair!
I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining power,
Subdue my sins–and give me rest!
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part!
Yes more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe!
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds–and laid me low!
“Lord, why is this!” I trembling cried,
“Will you pursue your worm to death?”
“This is the way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”
“These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may seek your all in Me!”
“God’s people, whenever they are scorched by
afflictions as by hot sun-beams, may resort to
him, who is as a shadow of a great rock, and be
effectually sheltered, and sweetly refreshed.”
-Jonathan Edwards
“All is well that ends everlastingly well.”—Anon.
God takes care of poor weak Christians that are struggling with temptations and corruptions; Christ carries them in His arms. All Christ’s sheep are diseased, and therefore He will have a tender care of them (Isaiah 40:11). Richard Sibbes