May 14
3
Loved before time!
Jesus loved us before the world was.
He is no new lover of his people’s souls, but he
loved them before the day-star knew its place, and
before the planets began their mighty revolutions.
Every soul whom Jesus loves now,
he loved for ever and ever.
What a wondrous love was that —
infinite, unbounded, everlasting,
which led him to bear our sins, and suffer our penalties,
that he might redeem us from going down into the pit!
-Spurgeon
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The love of Jesus wins us. His glory charms us. His beauty attracts us. His sympathy soothes us. His gentleness subdues us. His faithfulness inspires us. He is the altogether lovely One! Jesus is all that is tender in love. Jesus is all that is wise in counsel. Jesus is all that is patient and kind. Jesus is all that is faithful in friendship. Jesus is all that is balmy, soothing, and healing. The heart of Jesus is ever loving towards His children. The disposition of Jesus is ever kind towards His children. The nature of Jesus is ever sympathizing towards His children.
Jesus is your Brother, your Friend, your Redeemer. As your Brother, He knows the needs of His brethren in adversity. As your Friend, He shows Himself friendly. As your Redeemer, He has redeemed your soul from sin and hell. Jesus has ascended up on high to take possession of heaven on your behalf, and to prepare a place for you! Upon His heart He wears your name as a precious pearl in the priestly breastplate. There is not a moment of your time, nor an event of your life, nor a circumstance of your daily history, nor a mental or spiritual emotion of yours, in which you are not borne upon the love, and remembered in the ceaseless intercession of Christ. The personal attractions of Jesus are all-inviting and irresistible! Octavius Winslow.
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If our acceptance with God depended on anything in ourselves, we would have to believe we might be children of God today and children of the devil tomorrow! What, then, is to keep us from sinking altogether into despair, without hope or help? Why, a knowledge of our acceptance “In the Beloved”, independent of everything in us – good or bad! “And you are complete in Him!” (Colossians 2:10) – J. C. Philpot
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“IT IS FINISHED!”
John 19:30
“Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” There is something very striking in this loud voice of Jesus. Not like one exhausted; not as one dispirited; but as a conqueror in the field of battle, retreating with His spoils. Jesus cried aloud, that all on earth, and all in heaven, and all in hell, might hear, “It is finished!” What is finished? Redemption-work is finished. And from that moment the empire of sin, death, hell, and the grace were vanquished…and that song was sung in heaven… “Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
– Robert Hawker 1753-1827
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CHRIST’S PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE
“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). The Lord promises His presence in public worship. If He is there, I want to be there every time. It is a sad day when someone can easily absent themselves from the place where He has promised His presence. Someone says, “I do not want to turn coming to church into bondage.” Since when is it bondage to always want to be where He has promised His presence? It is true that we all have ebbs and flows in our lives and sometimes are not even conscience of His presence in public worship. But whether we feel His presence or not, His presence is there every time two or three are gathered in His name. We don’t want to presume that or take it for granted, but this is still His promise, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” If He is there, I want to be there every time. That is not bondage. That is blessing! Todd Nibert.
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The beauty of Jerusalem is a picture of the beauty of the Church. God’s favor to it foreshadows His favor to His people in all ages.
Great indeed is the Lord. In His power, His love, His dealings, His every attribute, His greatness is unspeakable. In every faculty of mind and body, at every period of our time, His praise should be our glad employ. As Jerusalem stands preeminent above all the abodes of earth in charms of climate and loveliness of local beauty—as admiration proclaims Mount Zion to be the joy of the whole earth, so God’s people surpass in every excellency.
The Spirit had depicted the Church as all-glorious within, and as arrayed in clothing of wrought gold. Her inward beauty is the grace so plentifully bestowed by His hand. Her outward glory is the robe of righteousness with which she is invested by her Lord. Zion’s royal residents dwelt in security. If any foe frightened them, they fled to the Lord as a sure refuge, and were in safety.
Jerusalem was often threatened by mighty potentates, and with all their power; but vain were their assembled troops. They were compelled in shame and distress to seek security in flight.
Thus, also, the legions of darkness have encamped around God’s people. The arch-enemy, their malicious leader, has urged them forward. But the city of the righteous has been impregnable. Inglorious flight has dispersed all foes, and victory has signalized the Church.
Another image here depicts the utter ruin of the Church’s foes. How weak are ships to withstand the fury of the raging wind! It raises huge billows to overwhelm them. It dashes them resistless against the iron rocks. Thus weak are all adversaries against the might of God.
Many are the promises and predictions that God will uphold His people. Many realizations are before us to confirm our faith. We have every assurance that no destruction shall extinguish the true Church.
Troubles should not detain from public ordinances. In the holy services we should be taught that our God is love. Not only are all His dealings full of lovingkindness, they are altogether righteous. To God’s people His love is righteous, and His righteousness is love. Therefore no fear should harass or disturb.
God’s people have indeed cause for constant joy. On every occasion He appears on their behalf. It is wisdom fully to contemplate the Church. Behold her type, the city upon Zion’s hill. Her fortifications render her impregnable. As her walls and towers protect her, so God defends His people with all His attributes and all His might. Let us realize, also, that we have covenant property in God. He is our own God, and never will cease to be so. While life lasts, He will lead in the way everlasting, and then receive us to be with Him forever. Henry Law.
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THE PRIVILEGES OF THE BELIEVER– Thomas Shaw B. Reade.
“All things are yours.” 1 Cor. 3:21
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” John 14:16
How inconceivably great is the goodness of God to his believing people! In his holy word, he assures them, that through his over-ruling Providence, all things shall work together for their good; that he loves them with an everlasting love; that they are dear to him as the apple of his eye; precious to him as the signet-ring on his right hand; that he will be to them as a little sanctuary in all countries where they shall come; that he will never leave them nor forsake them. He denounces a woe on all who offend them, and pronounces a blessing on all who give them only a cup of cold water for his name’s sake.
Oh! how great is the goodness of the Lord, which he has laid up for those who fear him, which he has wrought for those who trust in him, before the sons of men! All the promises of the New Covenant are primarily made to Christ, who merited every blessing by his obedience unto death; and they are secondarily made to every believer in Him, who, standing complete in his righteousness, becomes savingly interested in all the promises of God, both as respects this world and that which is to come. Amazing privilege!
Every believer in Jesus is an HEIR OF GOD through Christ! He inherits Him as his portion, in whom he lives and moves and has his being; by whom all things were made, and by whom all things consist. He inherits Him, who fills heaven and earth with His glory; who is the Fountain of all felicity; in whose presence is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore!
O! my soul, never can you thirst enough after this exalted privilege. In yourself, you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; in Christ, you are happy, and honorable, and rich, and glorious! In yourself, you have nothing but sin and misery; in Christ, you are clothed with the garment of salvation; renewed in the spirit of your mind; and filled with peace and joy. In yourself, you are an heir of hell; in Christ, O wonderful thought! you are an HEIR Of GOD. How bright, how dazzling, how surpassing the splendor of the mid-day sun, is this inconceivably great and glorious privilege to be an heir of God!
Give me, O Lord, the steady eye of faith, that as the eagle soars aloft, fixing its eye upon the sun, so I may rise in heart and affection above this lower world, looking unto Jesus the Sun of Righteousness. By faith, enable me to substantiate the things hoped for, and to realize the things not seen. By faith, may I daily anticipate that glorious period, when, aroused by the Archangel’s trumpet, my sleeping dust will leave its bed of clay, and with my enraptured soul, be made a blessed vessel in your courts above, there to be filled with your everlasting love!
“All things are yours.” Well might Paul say, “God is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us…. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Well might he say- “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” A heart penetrated with a sense of the love of God, will be overwhelmed at the view of such amazing mercy. What mind can conceive the fullness of this assurance; “All things are yours.” On what is this expansive declaration founded? “You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Oh! then, my soul, rejoice if grace has united you to the Savior. To every believer, to all the churches of the saints in every age, the Apostle writes; “All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
My soul enjoys a sweet repose,
Beneath the Savior’s sheltering grace;
A solace for its direst woes,
Amid the beamings of his face.
Detached from earth’s deceitful joys,
Allured by His attractive love,
I seek a world which never cloys,
A world of light and bliss above.
Instruct your servant, gracious Lord,
Your easy yoke with joy to bear;
Enlightened by your faithful word,
To shun each error’s fatal snare.
Oh! may I close each passing day,
With humble love, with holy fear;
Enjoy your presence on the way,
And ever find your succour near.
By faith, it is, that I am thine,
Powerful Savior, faithful Guide;
Oh! stoop upon your work to shine,
And never let my footsteps slide.
Come, Lord, with your Almighty grace,
Confirm my faith, my strength renew.
Until I shall win the heavenly race,
And gain the glorious prize in view.
Yes! Lord, your goodness, and your love,
Already hears and answers prayer
The Light descending from above,
My soul with holy comforts cheer.
How rich the favor- how divine,
Jesus is mine, and I am his;
All glory be forever thine,
You Fountain of eternal bliss.