Another portion from Robert Hawker. Hopefully it will be a blessing to all who read it.
"Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law." -Psalm 119:136
Who is there of whom that may be said? Jesus, and Jesus only. He wept indeed over his beloved Jerusalem, for he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And the love he had to his redeemed, induced a bloody sweat through all the pores of his sacred body. But of every other may it not be said, "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's."
Did we truly love Zion, would not rivers of tears run down at the present languishing state of Zion? Did we feel the full sense of distinguishing grace, would not every heart mourn over the ruins of our common nature?
Think, my soul, what a mess of sin ascends as a cloud before the view of the Lord every day from a single heart of the desperately wicked transgressor? Think what an accumulation in a town, a province, an empire, the world! Might not rivers of waters run down at the contemplation? And worse, if possible! Think of the higher source of sorrow, in that the only possible remedy for this evil is slighted, and Christ, which is God's gracious ordinance for the recovery of our ruined nature, is so little esteemed among men.
Oh how might the people of God be supposed to have their very souls melted in the contemplation! This, this is indeed the condemnation; this is the soul-destroying sin; "that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil."
Oh for grace to mourn over a Christ-despising generation! Oh for the "Deliverer to arise out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Grace Given
I would like to share with you June 20th's evening portion from The Poor Man's Morning And Evening Portions. It is a collection of morning and evening devotions written by Robert Hawker.
"Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given."-Ephesians 3:8
My soul, hear what the great apostle to the gentiles speaks of himself. He calls himself "less than the least;" a thing most impossible in itself; but he doth it with a view to magnify the riches, the exceeding great riches of grace. And in the same moment that he view himself so low and abject, he is lost in amazement at beholding the exalted office to which he was called. So that Paul cries out, "Unto me," a poor, sinful, unworthy creature of the earth, "to me was this grace given!"
My soul, leave for a moment the view of the apostle, and make the subject personal, by looking to a renewed instance of that grace, most freely given, in a case far surpassing Paul in the greatness and undeservedness of it, as the imagination can conceive. Perhaps every sinner feels the same; this at least is certain, all may well feel the same. But the subject is not properly improved, either in the apostle's instance, or any other, unless there be connected with it the one great object of the whole, the promotion of the Redeemer's glory.
This was and is the first and ultimate design for which grace was given. "This people," saith Jehovah, speaking of the redeemed in Christ, " have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise," Isa. xliii. 21. And how do they shew forth the Lord's praise, but by the gifts of the Lord's grace? When Jesus calleth a poor sinner, and manifests himself to him, this is the display of his grace; for it is on such more especially, that he maketh his grace to shine.
It would have been no grace had we merited his favor. But because we merit nothing, yea, are justly entitled to punishment, and yet God gives mercy, grace, and favor; this is what illustrates the exceeding riches of his grace, and demonstrates God's love to be indeed the love of God which passeth knowledge, because it differs altogether from creature love.
And what tend yet more to display the riches of grace, that the glory of God in Christ, in following up the blessed plan of redemption, mat be great indeed, the crown of Jesus, as Mediator, depends upon bringing to glory the objects of his love, on whom he hath made that grace to shine. And who shall calculate the rich revenue of love, adoration, and praise, in glory, which Jesus will have, and be for ever receiving, from the millions of redeemed souls gathered from sin and Satan, by the alone sovereignty of his grace?
My soul, it is truly blessed thus to contemplate the person and work of Jesus, and the sweet effects of his grace. And what an addition to the subject it is, to say, with the apostle, each poor sinner for himself, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given!"
"Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given."-Ephesians 3:8
My soul, hear what the great apostle to the gentiles speaks of himself. He calls himself "less than the least;" a thing most impossible in itself; but he doth it with a view to magnify the riches, the exceeding great riches of grace. And in the same moment that he view himself so low and abject, he is lost in amazement at beholding the exalted office to which he was called. So that Paul cries out, "Unto me," a poor, sinful, unworthy creature of the earth, "to me was this grace given!"
My soul, leave for a moment the view of the apostle, and make the subject personal, by looking to a renewed instance of that grace, most freely given, in a case far surpassing Paul in the greatness and undeservedness of it, as the imagination can conceive. Perhaps every sinner feels the same; this at least is certain, all may well feel the same. But the subject is not properly improved, either in the apostle's instance, or any other, unless there be connected with it the one great object of the whole, the promotion of the Redeemer's glory.
This was and is the first and ultimate design for which grace was given. "This people," saith Jehovah, speaking of the redeemed in Christ, " have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise," Isa. xliii. 21. And how do they shew forth the Lord's praise, but by the gifts of the Lord's grace? When Jesus calleth a poor sinner, and manifests himself to him, this is the display of his grace; for it is on such more especially, that he maketh his grace to shine.
It would have been no grace had we merited his favor. But because we merit nothing, yea, are justly entitled to punishment, and yet God gives mercy, grace, and favor; this is what illustrates the exceeding riches of his grace, and demonstrates God's love to be indeed the love of God which passeth knowledge, because it differs altogether from creature love.
And what tend yet more to display the riches of grace, that the glory of God in Christ, in following up the blessed plan of redemption, mat be great indeed, the crown of Jesus, as Mediator, depends upon bringing to glory the objects of his love, on whom he hath made that grace to shine. And who shall calculate the rich revenue of love, adoration, and praise, in glory, which Jesus will have, and be for ever receiving, from the millions of redeemed souls gathered from sin and Satan, by the alone sovereignty of his grace?
My soul, it is truly blessed thus to contemplate the person and work of Jesus, and the sweet effects of his grace. And what an addition to the subject it is, to say, with the apostle, each poor sinner for himself, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given!"
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Be ye followers of God
Paul commands us in Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. William Hendriksen remarks that this means that we should imitate God as little children imitate. He remarks that children excel at imitation. This can best be found in the cases when children are loved the most. Children tend to behave and act like those people who show them the most love. This then leads one to ponder. How should we? What does it mean to imitate Christ? What would such a thing look like?
Throughout the Bible we are told to love one another as Christ has loved us. How did Christ love us? He humbled Himself by taking on a lower form. He suffered greatly for us. He did all this while we were still against Him.
So we are to love one another. We are to love our enemies. That the light of Christ would so shine through us causing men to glorify God our heavenly Father.
Throughout the Bible we are told to love one another as Christ has loved us. How did Christ love us? He humbled Himself by taking on a lower form. He suffered greatly for us. He did all this while we were still against Him.
So we are to love one another. We are to love our enemies. That the light of Christ would so shine through us causing men to glorify God our heavenly Father.
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