Pity

"With pitiless pity He refuses to make peace with any evil thing in my nature, in my habit, in my life." GCM 


This is one blessed  reason life can seem so difficult. Christ, as our friend, is relentless in shining His light of holiness  in us. And as long as we cooperate with Him He will persist in forming me a Christ-like character.


My life may go on hardly, internally wrestling between natures, because I am stubborn, unable or unwilling to let go of that which I am asked.  But I also perceive that as one wrestling match ends another is about to begin. And on it goes for I am being made like Christ through the trial of life experienced day-to-day.

Thoughts on judging

FB Meyer in Our Daily Walk rightly clarifies the verse in Mathew: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged."
-OUR LORD evidently does not, in these words, condemn that honest judgment which, for our own safety and for the good of society, we are compelled to form of men and women with whom we come in contact. Such judgments are inevitable. But He condemns that censorious and uncharitable judgment which is always finding fault, always neglecting the good and dwelling on the bad, always spreading unfavourable and inaccurate reports, which are often founded on very superficial and insufficient grounds.

A difference is appreciated between righteous and unrighteous judgment. That is a necessary understanding if the Church would return and yield to Divine Government. This reckless relativistic society in which we live is a sad testimony to the misuse of this verse in which it is wrongly thought to say "you cannot judge anything or anybody...that is not loving."

I am admonished  to evaluate my inner thoughts in regards to unrighteous judgement and I would make every thought captive and obedient to Christ. But our Lord, by Who He is, has already set the terms for righteous judgement and has written it throughout the Old and New Covenant. I cannot change that. I can yield to it or be broken by it.

-Christ gives us the infallible test. He suggests that in every age there will be those who care for the fleece more than for the flock, and who come into the fold under a most winsome and bewitching guise. Beware of such people, and judge them, not by their doctrine, but by their fruits. The Devil is the most orthodox theologian in the world: "I know Thee, who Thou art, the Holy One of God." "By their fruits ye shall know them." You cannot judge what a man is by hearing him repeat a creed; but as you observe his character, his disposition, his behaviour; not in public, but in private; not for a day, but for a year, you can come to an almost certain judgment as to whether God or self be the ruling consideration of the inner being.

And Morgan teaches of Malachi who holds accountable the priests of his day who says of them (2:17) "You have wearied the Lord with your words. Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them; or. Where is the God of judgment?" What did they mean? "Our God is a God of love; there is no judgment. That man you say is evil, is good, if you only knew it. God delights in him." That is beyond weariness and snuffing; that is treason of the very worst form. That is a countenancing and an excusing of sin. That is an attempt to gloss evil and treat it lightly, as of no importance. When man begins to excuse sin, and to say that it does not matter so much, that God delights in them that do evil, that there is no judgment; then he is committing high treason.

This is a solemn topic, therefore let us not trivialize the things of God and be guilty of diminishing His Government.

For Preaching the Word

Henry H Halley (Halley's Bible Handbook) has made a simple but deeply concerning comment which is not altogether startling- regrettably. "New Testament epistles were written to be READ IN THE CHURCHES [sic], a practice now generally overlooked".
I really don't need to say anymore. How would your congregation respond if the preacher read from the Bible for 1/2 hr or more? I really wonder, and part of me would believe that God would release His Spirit and a reverent quietness and gratitude would be the attitude of the moment. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17)

But truly, listen to the sermons of yesteryear's men of God and hear the Word of God not only read but unfolding right before you. Not so much today.
My challenge to you is to spend some time with godly preachers who spoke and really taught God's Word. See if you are not moved and so to desire a more pure preaching of God's Word.

C. H. Spurgeon
D. L Moody
A. W Tozer
G. Campbell Morgan
Jonathan Edwards
More...

Book of Hebrews

Vicki and I are beginning a study and meditation of the book of Hebrews. The study may move along in herks and jerks but I hope to share some learnings and admonitions we receive along the way. We are not using a study guide, rather we are using resources and references we own. We are excited to explore the book that contains the the "hall of faith." Men and women who acted on the word of God and who did not look back but exemplify what it means to trust and obey (see my previous post on obeying).

Faith does not end when we die!
Heb 11:13  "In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth..." 
Rather "the life of faith runs on into the paradise of God" (GC Morgan).
We will continuing "faithing" in eternity and that thought thrills me. God, calling us to obey (an act of faith), is really saying "go ahead, I dare you to believe me, to trust me and see what comes of it!"

What say you?