Look at the King in His beauty!

(David Harsha, “Wanderings of a Pilgrim”)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

“Your eyes will see the King in His beauty!” Isaiah 33:17

Contemplate your blessed Redeemer,
seated on His great white throne,
encircled with heavenly glory!

Look at the King in his beauty!

It is the sight of a glorified Savior that will make the Heaven of the believer!

Endeavor now, by the eye of faith, to behold the Lord Jesus in all His matchless beauty and excellence. Contemplate . . .
  His glorious character;
  His infinite mercy;
  His unparalleled condescension,
  and His boundless love.

There is enough in Jesus to employ the soul in rapturous meditation through a vast eternity!

His excellence, His goodness, and His love can never be fathomed!

O keep your eye fixed on this adorable Savior, while you sojourn in this valley of tears; and in a little while you shall see Him as He is–face to face, and ascribe to Him unceasing praise!

“Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16

HIM!

(Frank Hall)

“Oh that I knew where I might find HIM!” Job 23:3

Job’s cattle were taken from him.
His children were all killed.
His flesh was covered with terrible boils.
His wife treated him as a stranger.
Even young children despised him.

But Job did not exclaim, “Oh that I knew where I might find my donkeys, oxen, and sheep! Oh that my wife would have compassion on me! Oh that my children were restored to my care!” Though every earthly support had been stripped from him, Job did not groan after the earthly things that he had lost. Job longed after one thing only, the one thing needful – HIM!

“I miss my children and love my wife, but I can live without either. These boils are tormenting my flesh, but I’ll manage. I will survive without my servants, my cattle, and the respect of my companions – but I can’t survive without Him! Take what you will O Lord, but don’t take Him! Oh that I knew where I might find Him!”

The Universal Answer
The answer to every trouble, every question, and every difficulty in life is exactly the same – HIM! He is . . .
  the Solution to every problem,
  the Key that unlocks every door,
  the Sun that illuminates our path,
  the Light that dispels the darkness within,
  the Physician that heals our sin-sick, broken hearts,
  the Nurse that dresses the soldier’s wounds in bandages of grace,
  the Bed of Rest for the heavy laden sinner,
  the Way of Escape for those who are tempted and tried.

We bring upon ourselves needless misery and pain, when we lean on the arm of the flesh for support. We subject ourselves to unnecessary disappointment when we run to and fro seeking assistance from the helpless helpers of this world.

Free salvation and almighty strength are in Him!
Undying support and eternal satisfaction are in Him!
Heavenly comfort and divine consolation, along with legions of other nameless blessings are all in Him!

The answer to all of your problems, my troubled friend, is not within, but without! Do not run to family or friends for help – they are . . .
  wells without water,
  leaky cisterns,
  helpless helpers,
  and broken crutches.
They may help you with financial trouble, but not with soul trouble.

The solution to every problem is always the same – Him! Oh that you knew your need of Him!

The purpose of the Bible

(J. R. Miller, “Devotional Hours with the Bible” 1909)

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness — so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Paul has no uncertain word about the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Bible alone is the Word of God. Holy men wrote it as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. There are other good books in the world — but none like the Word of God.

We ought to read the Bible reverently — since God speaks to us in its pages.

We ought to believe it — for His Word must be absolutely true.

We should obey it — since what God commands must be right.

We may yield our whole life to its influence — to be guided and fashioned by it.

Scripture is profitable for teaching — that is, for instruction in all matters that concern life.

It is profitable for rebuking — it shows us our sins, our follies, our mistakes.

It is profitable for correcting — to bring us back from wrong ways to right ways.

It is profitable for training in righteousness — it gives us instruction for all true and beautiful living.

“So that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The purpose of the Bible is to make complete men of us. If we follow it in everything — it will show us the right way, it will reveal to us the perfect ideal of Christian character, it will inspire us to holy living.

The best way to overcome the world!

Thomas Chalmers

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

“Do not love the world or anything in the world.” 1 John 2:15

There are two ways in which a person may attempt to displace the love of the world from the heart:

1. By a demonstration of the world’s vanity, so that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it.

“When I surveyed all that I had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve–everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun!” Ecclesiastes 2:11

“This world is passing away along with its desires!” 1 John 2:17

2. By setting forth another object, even Christ, as more worthy of its attachment, so that the heart shall be prevailed upon to exchange an old affection for a new one.

The best way to overcome the world, is not with morality or self-discipline. Christians overcome the world by seeing the beauty and excellence of Christ. They overcome the world by seeing something more attractive than the world–the Lord Jesus Christ!

“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16

Boasting!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

“I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
 My soul will boast in the LORD.
 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together!” Psalm 34:1-3

A sense of gratitude to God for his mercies will ever abide in some measure on the soul of a true believer.

Ungodly men love to boast about themselves. There is no unsaved man who has not some imaginary excellencies whereof to brag. If they possess any natural endowment either of mind or body, they are forward to bring it into notice, and to arrogate some praise to themselves on account of it.

One values herself upon her beauty,
another boasts of his strength or courage,
another prides himself in his wealth,
another displays his wit, or mental acumen.

The godly, on the other hand, “boast in the Lord”. They know, by bitter experience, that in themselves dwells no good thing. They have done nothing, but what furnishes matter for the deepest humiliation. But they see in God multitudinous matters to excite their devoutest adoration. Whether they contemplate:
  the perfections of God’s nature,
  or the works of His hands,
  or the wonders of His providence,
  or the riches of His grace—
they are filled with wonder and astonishment; and, pouring contempt on all created excellencies, they exclaim, “Who is like You O God—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders!” Exodus 15:11
 
Yet the godly are not so free from pride, but that flattery sometimes finds access to their hearts, and proves a gratification to their gullible minds. But in their better seasons, when their airy dreams have vanished, and they obtain juster views of themselves—they most sincerely loath and abhor themselves, and desire that God alone should be exalted. Then, to be told of their own goodness is nauseous and unpalatable; but to hear the praises of their God and Savior—this is delightful to their souls!

None shall ever join the celestial choir above, whose hearts have not been tuned to sing God’s praise below!

“This is what the LORD says:
‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom,
 or the strong man boast of his strength,
 or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD!” Jeremiah 9:23-24

The children which faith bears

(Thomas Watson, “The Beatitudes” 1660)

“Those who have believed God might be careful
 to devote themselves to good works.” Titus 3:8

Grace does not lie as a sleepy habit in the soul,
but will put forth itself in vigorous and glorious
actings. Grace can no more be concealed, than
fire. Grace does not lie in the heart as a stone
in the earth–but as seed in the earth. It will
spring up into good works! “Our people must
also learn to devote themselves to good works.”
Titus 3:14

The lamp of faith must be filled with the oil of
charity. Faith alone justifies–but justifying faith
is never alone. You may as well separate weight
from lead, or heat from fire–as works from faith.

Good works, though they are not the causes of
salvation–yet they are evidences of salvation.
Though they are not the foundation–yet they
are the superstructure. Faith must not be built
upon works–but works must be built upon faith.
“You are married to Christ–that we should bring
forth fruit unto God.” Romans 7:4. Faith is the
grace which marries Christ, and good works
are the children which faith bears.

Works are distinct from faith–as the sap in the
vine is different from the clusters of fruit which
grow upon it.

Works are the touchstone of faith. “Show me
your faith by your works.” James 2:18

Works honor faith. These fruits adorn the ‘trees
of righteousness’. This queen–faith, has the
handmaids of good works waiting upon her.

Good works are more visible and conspicuous than faith.
Faith is a more hidden grace. It may lie hidden in the
heart and not be seen–but when works are joined with
it, now it shines forth in its native beauty! Though a
garden is ever so decked with flowers–yet they are not
seen until the light comes. So the heart of a Christian
may be enriched with faith–but it is like a flower in the
night. It is not seen until works come. When this light
shines before men, then faith appears in its orient colors!

He gives more grace

Annie Johnson Flint

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to this comforting hymn, as you READ the text below. Or you may want to WATCH the Video on YouTube)

He gives more grace as our burdens grow greater,

  He sends more strength as our labors increase.

To added afflictions He adds His mercy,

  To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
 

      When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

    When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;

  When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that your need shall exceed His provision,

  Our God ever yearns His resources to share.

Lean hard on the arm everlasting availing;

  The Father both you and your load will upbear.

His love has no limits His grace has no measure,

  His power no boundary known unto men;

    For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

      He gives and gives, and gives again!

“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another!” John 1:16