Jan 20
10
SERVICE AND MEEKNESS
-Spurgeon, “Rest, Rest”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart…” Matthew 11:29
If I actively labor for Christ I can only find rest in the labor,
by possessing the meek spirit of my Lord.
For if I go forth to labor for Christ without a meek spirit,
I shall very soon find that there is no rest in it, for the yoke
will gall my shoulder.
Somebody will begin objecting that I do not perform my
work according to his liking.
If I am not meek I shall find my proud spirit rising at once,
and shall be for defending myself; I shall be irritated,
or I shall be discouraged and inclined to do no more,
because I am not appreciated as I should be.
A meek spirit is not apt to be angry, and does not soon take
offence. Therefore if others find fault, the meek spirit goes
working on, and is not offended– it will not hear the sharp
word, nor reply to the severe criticism.
If the meek spirit be grieved by some cutting censure and
suffers for a moment, it is always ready to forgive and blot
out the past, and go on again.
The meek spirit, in working, only seeks to do good to others;
it denies itself; it never expected to be well treated; it did not
aim at being honored; it never sought itself, but purposed only
to do good to others.
The meek spirit does not look to be exalted–
it is fully contented if it can exalt Christ and do
good to his chosen ones.
Your labor will become very easy if your spirits
are very meek. It is the proud spirit that gets tired
of doing good if it finds its labors not appreciated.
“Make me not the reproach of the foolish.” Psalm 39:8
J.C.Philpot
Who are these “foolish?” I think the best answer to this question is
given by our Lord himself, in the parable of the wise and foolish
virgins. “The foolish” were those who had oil in their lamps, but
none
in their vessels. By “the foolish” in the text, therefore, we may
understand those who have the light of knowledge in their heads, and the
lamp of profession in their hands, but no oil of grace in their hearts.
They are “foolish,” because they know neither God nor themselves,
neither sin nor salvation, neither the depth of the fall nor the
greatness of the remedy. They are “foolish,” as regards themselves,
in
thinking that light and knowledge will save them, without life and
grace; and they are “foolish,” as regards others, for lack of an
experimental acquaintance with the heart. They know nothing, therefore,
of the temptations of a child of God; how he is beset on every hand; how
Satan is ever thrusting at or enticing him; how his own heart is
continually prompting him to evil; and how snares are in every direction
laid for his feet. “The foolish” know nothing of these trials; they
are
Pharisees, who “make clean the outside of the cup and platter,” who
whitewash and adorn the sepulcher outside, while within it is “full of
dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
David knew well, and every child of God knows well, that if he were
allowed to slip, if he were allowed to say or do anything unbecoming,
these would be the very first to make him an open reproach. “The
foolish” can, and will, make no allowances for the least slip of tongue
or foot, for they themselves are ignorant of the weakness of the flesh,
the subtlety of Satan, the strength of sin, and the power of temptation.
Were he to stumble and fall, “the foolish” would be sure to point the
finger of scorn at him. In breathing forth, then, this petition, we may
well suppose him to say, “Lord, whatever temptations I may be called
upon to endure, whatever snares of Satan or lusts of the flesh may beset
my path behind and before, O keep me, keep me that I may not be ‘the
reproach of the foolish;’ that they may have nothing to take hold of, to
make me a bye-word, and through me to reproach your name, cause, and
truth.”
We dwell in the palm of God’s hand!
(Don Fortner)
“My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:15
“My times”. They change and vary from day to day, but they change
only
in accordance with His unchanging love. They vary, but only according to
the purpose of Him in whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning.
“My times”. That is to say . . .
my ups and my downs,
my health and my sickness,
my prosperity and my adversity,
my wealth and my poverty,
my happiness and my sorrow
—all of these are in the hands of my Lord and Redeemer, who arranges and
appoints the length of my days and the darkness of my nights according
to His wise and holy will.
“My times”. All of them, in the beginning of life, in the course of
life
and in the end of life, “are in Your hand”—and I am glad that it is
so.
The close of my life is no more at the disposal of fate, or chance, or
Satan than the beginning of my life. My life will not close until the
hand of my Father’s love closes it. I shall not die before my time, and
I shall not be forgotten and left on the stage of time too long.
Not only are we in the hand of the Lord, but everything that surrounds
us is in His hand. All the people, things and events which make up the
environment of our existence are in the hand of our God.
Child of God, this should bring comfort and joy to your heart.
We dwell in the palm of God’s hand!
We are absolutely at His disposal.
Everything that concerns us is arranged by His hand.
May the Lord graciously enable us to enter into the peaceful realization
of His good providence!
“Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Walk in the Spirit!
(Charles Spurgeon)
“Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
“Walk in the Spirit (let your steps be guided by the Spirit,) and you
will not gratify the evil desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Rich would the blessings of this day be, if we were filled with the Holy
Spirit. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul, would be
impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace;
and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit’s
gracious presence.
As sacred oil—He anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the
priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his duties aright.
As the only truly purifying water—He cleanses us from the power of sin
and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the
Lord’s good pleasure.
As the holy light—He reveals the Lord Jesus to us, and guides us in the
way of righteousness. Enlightened by His pure celestial ray, we are no
longer walk in darkness—but in the light of Scripture truth.
As purifying fire—He both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated
nature ablaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to
offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God.
As heavenly dew—He removes our barrenness and nourishes our lives. O
that He would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning
dew would be a sweet commencement for the day.
As the heavenly Dove, with wings of peaceful love—He broods over the
souls of believers; and as a Comforter He dispels the cares and doubts
which mar the peace of His beloved ones. He descends upon His chosen
people, and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial
spirit by which they cry Abba, Father!
As the wind—He brings the breath of spiritual life to men. He performs
the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated
and sustained.
O that we might feel the Spirit’s presence and influence this day and
every day!
Don Fortner: “God does not permit things to happen. He purposed all that
comes to pass in time, before time began (Romans 11:36; Isaiah 45:7).
And all that He ordained from eternity and performs in time, is good.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Spirit; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior.” Titus 3:5, 6
Octavious Winslow
The conversion of a sinner to God is a convincing and precious evidence
that Jesus is alive. In the regeneration wrought in the soul by the Holy
Spirit, the life of Jesus is imparted. He breathes into the soul morally
dead the breath of life, and it becomes a living soul. Until, in the
exercise of His distinct office, this Divine Person of the adorable
Trinity convinces of sin, quickens and brings the soul to Christ for
acceptance, risen with Christ though that soul mystically is, it yet
remains totally dead to, and insensible of, its great privilege—an utter
stranger to that new life which springs from oneness with the “second
Adam.” The new nature which the Eternal Spirit now imparts is nothing
less than the creation of the life of Christ in the soul; yes, even more
than this, it is the bringing of Christ Himself into the soul to dwell
there the “hope of glory” through time, and glory itself, through
eternity.
Here, then, is an evidence that Jesus is alive, to a renewed mind the
most convincing and precious. Thus quickened by the Eternal Spirit,
believers become temples of Christ. Jesus lives in them. “I in them.”
“Know you not that Christ is in you?” “Christ lives in me.”
“Christ in
you the hope of glory.” Thus every believer is a living witness that
Jesus is alive, because he bears about with him the very life of Jesus.
By the indwelling of the Spirit, and realized by faith, Christ abides in
the believer, and the believer abides in Christ. “I in them, and you in
me, that they may be made perfect in one; that they also may be one in
us.”
We have already stated that this glorious entrance of Christ within the
soul transpires at the period of the new birth. What, then, is every new
conversion, every fresh trophy of redeeming grace, but a new
manifestation to the universe of the life of Jesus? I see the sinner
pursuing his mad career of folly, rebellion, and guilt. Suddenly he is
arrested, I see him bowed to the earth, his heart broken with sorrow,
his spirit crushed beneath the burden of sin. He smites upon his breast;
acknowledges his transgression, confesses his iniquity, deplores it in
the dust. Presently I see him lift his eye, and rest it upon a bleeding
Savior; he gazes, wonders, believes, adores—is saved! By whom is this
miracle of grace wrought?—The Spirit has descended to testify that Jesus
is alive. That newly-converted soul, so lately dead in sins, but now
quickened with Christ—that sinner but recently dwelling among the tombs,
whom no human power could tame, now sitting at the feet of Jesus,
clothed and in his right mind—demonstrates that Christ is in heaven, and
is alive, for evermore. Oh, it is the heaven-descending life of Jesus.
Show me, then, a soul just passed from death unto life, and I will show
you an evidence that Jesus is alive at the right hand of God.