"Let a righteous man strike me and it is a kindness; let him rebuke me and it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it." - Psalm 141:5
Who ever prays like that? Who ever prays such a thing? "Lord, let there be a godly person who will strike me and rebuke me; what a kindness and mercy that would be; please do it Lord, send them soon."
I can't say I've prayed that in a while. At least, not in that way.
What is David getting at, and what is he wanting in this prayer? He is wanting God's work in his soul to come unconditionally, no matter what it takes. He wants to grow, to mature, to go deeper, to be changed, to be helped and taught; he wants this sanctifying reality so much in his life that he goes to the extreme of saying, "Even if it means a righteous person really laying it on me to the point of it hurting-- if this will bring change in me, if it will be used to teach me, if it will sanctify me and help me, then I want it."
We usually want our growth within our comfort zone. We want to grow, but not at any cost. We want comfortable growth, easy growth, growth without people getting too close to us, without being rebuked, corrected, chastened, and challenged. We want to know God, but without the harder aspects it sometimes requires.
But the fact is, we can't have it both ways. We must have a heart like David's that says, "Lord, whatever it takes to work Your work in me, I want it; if it means a person working me over with correction and rebuke, then so be it; I would rather have Your grace working in me to bring about change with painful means than to be without the correction and go unchanged. Sanctification through smiting is much better than continuation in carnal comfort.
"Lord, send the godly ones to me with the hard stuff-- it will be a kindness, it will be like oil on my head."
- Mack Tomlinson
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
"I Love You More"
This is an encouraging testimony from our friend, recently widowed, Elizabeth McElroy, about God's faithfulness and loving encouragement.
Kent and I had a wonderful saying. It was a saying that perhaps some of you use to show your love for another. He or I would say to each other, “Love You,” as we exited the house, called each other on the phone, or when we left each other, of course always knowing we would be back together soon. It was our way of empowering each other towards good days, because we had the sense of knowing we would be back together at home or wherever we would meet. (NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED!!!!!) After one of us would say, “Love You,” the other one would turn right back around and say, “I love you more.” Then we started saying, “I love you more than all the mores in the whole universe,” and silly things like that, things that made us laugh, and sometimes split our sides.
Today as I left Union Station (a historical place) in KC, I noticed quite a large amount of the pavement was made up of bricks that had been laid.
In front of the station there are around 300 parking places, all marked with a number at the end. On the pavement there’s a number and above it are the names of people who clearly were remembered for being privileged or frequent travelers at the station!
As I looked at the bricks and was reading the names, there in the paving was a brick that said, “Love you more.” I saw it, couldn’t believe my eyes and then started walking away. But, the words drew me back to the brick again. Right then and there I knew there was no coincidence about this. It was one of the only bricks that did not have a name or something about the person on it. It was as if God was letting me know Kent knows I am OK, and He was letting me know Kent is doing just fine! It was God’s amazing gift to me today, just when I needed it, not a minute sooner, not a minute later. It was as if I was being told, now that all things had become quiet and I was listening, that God could speak.
Taste and see, God is so good, I ran to Him and He covered me!!
- Elizabeth McElroy
Kent and I had a wonderful saying. It was a saying that perhaps some of you use to show your love for another. He or I would say to each other, “Love You,” as we exited the house, called each other on the phone, or when we left each other, of course always knowing we would be back together soon. It was our way of empowering each other towards good days, because we had the sense of knowing we would be back together at home or wherever we would meet. (NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED!!!!!) After one of us would say, “Love You,” the other one would turn right back around and say, “I love you more.” Then we started saying, “I love you more than all the mores in the whole universe,” and silly things like that, things that made us laugh, and sometimes split our sides.
Today as I left Union Station (a historical place) in KC, I noticed quite a large amount of the pavement was made up of bricks that had been laid.
In front of the station there are around 300 parking places, all marked with a number at the end. On the pavement there’s a number and above it are the names of people who clearly were remembered for being privileged or frequent travelers at the station!
As I looked at the bricks and was reading the names, there in the paving was a brick that said, “Love you more.” I saw it, couldn’t believe my eyes and then started walking away. But, the words drew me back to the brick again. Right then and there I knew there was no coincidence about this. It was one of the only bricks that did not have a name or something about the person on it. It was as if God was letting me know Kent knows I am OK, and He was letting me know Kent is doing just fine! It was God’s amazing gift to me today, just when I needed it, not a minute sooner, not a minute later. It was as if I was being told, now that all things had become quiet and I was listening, that God could speak.
Taste and see, God is so good, I ran to Him and He covered me!!
- Elizabeth McElroy
Jesus Shall be Satisfied
"He shall see His seed, He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." Isaiah 53:10-11
Jesus is now exalted to His throne in the highest heavens; and from there He takes a wide survey of the universe. He looks down upon our world and beholds kings in their grandeur, victorious generals with all their power, nobles and great men in all their pomp. But these are not the objects that please His eyes."He shall see His seed!" He sees one here and another there, bought with His blood, and born of His Spirit; and this is the most delightful sight our world can afford Him. Some of them may be oppressed with poverty, covered with rags or with famine; they may make no great figure in mortal eyes; but He loves to look at them! He esteems them as His children, and the fruits of His dying pangs!
The happiness of His exalted state consists, in a great degree, in the pleasure of seeing the designs of His death accomplished in the conversion and salvation of sinners!
His eyes are graciously fixed upon all of us today! And if there is one of His spiritual seed among us, He can distinguish them in the crowd. He sees you drinking in His Words with eager ears! He sees you at His table commemorating His love! He sees your hearts breaking with repentant sorrows, and melting at His cross!
But these are not the only children whom He delights to view; they are not all in such an abject, imperfect state. No! He sees a glorious company of them around His throne in heaven, arrived to maturity, enjoying their inheritance, and resembling their divine Parent!
How does His benevolent heart rejoice to look over the immense plains of heaven and see them all peopled with His seed! When He takes a view of this numerous offspring, sprung from His blood, and when He looks down to our world and sees so many infants in grace, gradually advancing to their adult age; when He sees some, perhaps every hour since He died upon Calvary, entering the gates of heaven, having finished their course of education upon earth; I say, when this prospect appears to Him on every hand, how does He rejoice!
"He shall see of the travail of His soul--and shall be satisfied!" If you put the sentiments of His benevolent heart into language, I think He would say, "Since My death has been so fruitful of such a glorious posterity, I am well satisfied. I desire no other reward for all My agonies for them. If this end is but answered--I am fully satisfied by My hanging on the tree for them!"
Suppose that He should this day appear to you in that suffering form--sweating great drops of blood, accused, insulted, bruised, scourged, nailed upon the cross! And suppose He should turn to you with a countenance full of love and pity, and drenched with blood and tears, and address you in such moving language as this:
"See, sinners--see what I suffer for you! See at what a dear rate I purchase your salvation! See how I love you! And now I have only this to ask of you in return: that you would forsake those murderous sins which thus torment Me; that you would love and serve Me; and receive that salvation which I am now purchasing with the blood of My heart! This I ask, with all the importunity of My last breath, of My bleeding wounds, and My expiring groans. Grant Me but this--and I am well satisfied! I shall think of all My sufferings as well bestowed."
Must not your heart melt away within you to hear such language as this? See the strength of the love of Jesus! If you are but saved, He does not begrudge His blood and life for you! Your salvation makes amends for all His sufferings! This He accounts His greatest joy, a joy more than equivalent to all the pains He endured for you! He has full satisfaction for all the sorrows you have caused Him!
But alas! for the person who is not saved, they will perish forever under the weight of His righteous vengeance, and He will rejoice over their damnation. He will glorify Himself in their destruction. The flames of hell will burn dreadfully bright when He will please Himself in the execution of His justice upon them.
"He shall see His seed! He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied!" Isaiah 53:10-11
- Samuel Davies
Jesus is now exalted to His throne in the highest heavens; and from there He takes a wide survey of the universe. He looks down upon our world and beholds kings in their grandeur, victorious generals with all their power, nobles and great men in all their pomp. But these are not the objects that please His eyes."He shall see His seed!" He sees one here and another there, bought with His blood, and born of His Spirit; and this is the most delightful sight our world can afford Him. Some of them may be oppressed with poverty, covered with rags or with famine; they may make no great figure in mortal eyes; but He loves to look at them! He esteems them as His children, and the fruits of His dying pangs!
The happiness of His exalted state consists, in a great degree, in the pleasure of seeing the designs of His death accomplished in the conversion and salvation of sinners!
His eyes are graciously fixed upon all of us today! And if there is one of His spiritual seed among us, He can distinguish them in the crowd. He sees you drinking in His Words with eager ears! He sees you at His table commemorating His love! He sees your hearts breaking with repentant sorrows, and melting at His cross!
But these are not the only children whom He delights to view; they are not all in such an abject, imperfect state. No! He sees a glorious company of them around His throne in heaven, arrived to maturity, enjoying their inheritance, and resembling their divine Parent!
How does His benevolent heart rejoice to look over the immense plains of heaven and see them all peopled with His seed! When He takes a view of this numerous offspring, sprung from His blood, and when He looks down to our world and sees so many infants in grace, gradually advancing to their adult age; when He sees some, perhaps every hour since He died upon Calvary, entering the gates of heaven, having finished their course of education upon earth; I say, when this prospect appears to Him on every hand, how does He rejoice!
"He shall see of the travail of His soul--and shall be satisfied!" If you put the sentiments of His benevolent heart into language, I think He would say, "Since My death has been so fruitful of such a glorious posterity, I am well satisfied. I desire no other reward for all My agonies for them. If this end is but answered--I am fully satisfied by My hanging on the tree for them!"
Suppose that He should this day appear to you in that suffering form--sweating great drops of blood, accused, insulted, bruised, scourged, nailed upon the cross! And suppose He should turn to you with a countenance full of love and pity, and drenched with blood and tears, and address you in such moving language as this:
"See, sinners--see what I suffer for you! See at what a dear rate I purchase your salvation! See how I love you! And now I have only this to ask of you in return: that you would forsake those murderous sins which thus torment Me; that you would love and serve Me; and receive that salvation which I am now purchasing with the blood of My heart! This I ask, with all the importunity of My last breath, of My bleeding wounds, and My expiring groans. Grant Me but this--and I am well satisfied! I shall think of all My sufferings as well bestowed."
Must not your heart melt away within you to hear such language as this? See the strength of the love of Jesus! If you are but saved, He does not begrudge His blood and life for you! Your salvation makes amends for all His sufferings! This He accounts His greatest joy, a joy more than equivalent to all the pains He endured for you! He has full satisfaction for all the sorrows you have caused Him!
But alas! for the person who is not saved, they will perish forever under the weight of His righteous vengeance, and He will rejoice over their damnation. He will glorify Himself in their destruction. The flames of hell will burn dreadfully bright when He will please Himself in the execution of His justice upon them.
"He shall see His seed! He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied!" Isaiah 53:10-11
- Samuel Davies
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thoughts on Plodding On as an Unknown Christian
In our church prayer meeting just last night, we were praying about the fact that it is not in the great exciting moments of conferences or big events in which the Christian faith is truly lived out, but rather in the daily grind, the mundane, the regular routine of getting up in the morning, saying, "In the name of Jesus, left leg, get out of bed! Right leg, you too!", then doing every day the simple, unexciting things you have been given to do-- dressing and going to work, seeing the same people every day in the same location within the same walls, and doing it over and over again. It's in changing diapers for the pleasure and honor of Christ. Or taking care of your home, your family, your health, your normal and routine life-- doing the little things faithfully and well. Living with regular and real faithfulness in your local church, loving the brethren and walking with them. It's not in attending conferences or doing something exciting, but in living out a normal life where you have been put, and doing that with joy and contentment--that is what glorifies Jesus Christ the most. God's glory will be seen the most through me when I get past thinking I might be a John Piper one day and just be me to the fullest extent. My impact will not be in my changing a nation single-handedly, but in living as a real Christian in front of my wife and children.
Is there exciting emotion in rising at 4:00 or 5:00 am and driving in the dark morning hours to a factory or on a freeway to a building to do menial tasks that no one seems to appreciate or notice? The fact is, most all of us will never be known for anything other than this-- what kind of person were we? what kind of life did we truly live day in and day out? were we faithful, kind, genuine, trustworthy, committed, dependable, real, and humble? Is fame or faithfulness more attractive to me?
I thought about a certain famous actor and how many people would probably choose to spend a day with that person if they could choose only one. Simply because they are famous. Then I thought about that same actor and remembered that they primary thing about his private life is that he is totally committed to a religious cult that deceives millions of people. So why would anyone in their right mind choose such a person as their number one pick? Simply because they're famous, no other reason.
The problem is this-- we still have in our minds a wrong view of true greatness. It is not the Brad Pitts, Tom Cruises, Oprahs, Joel Osteens, and Katie Courics of this world that have true greatness.
Its the mother no one knows about who really cares for here children month after month and gives the strength of her years to raising them.
Its the father who goes to work every day in a place no one has heard of and earns a living to provide.
Its a teacher who prepares lesson plans regularly to teach and impact 20 kids, helping them to go to college, and living like the Saviour before their watching eyes.
Its the faithful deacon who does the many unseen things every week to serve the saints month after month and year after year, and in doing so, he is serving the Saviour and storing up riches in a heavenly kingdom.
Its the loving and committed pastor who prepares and preaches to ten or twenty people and sees it just as important as preaching to two thousand, because he does it for the eternal welfare of their souls and he does it unto Christ. He will never be on tv and doesn't want to be. He's not building a big kingdom and doesn't want to.
These are the real heroes, the really great ones.
Kevin DeYoung has hit the nail on the head when he says:
"Until we are content with being one of the million nameless, faceless church members and not the next globe-trotting rock star, we aren’t ready to be a part of the church. In the grand scheme of things, most of us are going to be more of an Ampliatus (Rom. 16:8 or Phlegon (v. 14) than an apostle Paul. And maybe that’s why so many Christians are getting tired of the church. We haven’t learned how to be part of the crowd. We haven’t learned to be ordinary. Our jobs are often mundane. Our devotional times often seem like a waste. Church services are often forgettable. That’s life. We drive to the same places, go through the same routines with the kids, buy the same groceries at the store, and share a bed with the same person every night. Church is often the same too — same doctrines, same basic order of worship, same preacher, same people. But in all the smallness and sameness, God works — like the smallest seed in the garden growing to unbelievable heights, like beloved Tychicus, that faithful minister, delivering the mail and apostolic greetings (Eph. 6:21). Life is usually pretty ordinary, just like following Jesus most days. Daily discipleship is not a new revolution each morning or an agent of global transformation every evening; it’s a long obedience in the same direction.
It’s possible the church needs to change. Certainly in some areas it does. But it’s also possible we’ve changed — and not for the better. It’s possible we no longer find joy in so great a salvation. It’s possible that our boredom has less to do with the church, its doctrines, or its poor leadership and more to do with our unwillingness to tolerate imperfection in others and our own coldness to the same old message about Christ’s death and resurrection. It’s possible we talk a lot about authentic community, but we aren’t willing to live in it."
I am thinking now of two men who I respect as much as any people I have ever known. One is a retired teach who has lived the Christian life in a deep, consistent, and rich way while teaching school daily for probably forty years. He has never really traveled that much, is not known outside the sphere of his own circle, has never written a book or been interviewed, and has never been on the conference circuit as a speaker. Yet his life has been a powerful force in the lives of many other Christians. Just because of the way he has lived his life while simply plodding on. His life has shown that the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power and in living it out quietly and irresistibly.
The other man was a simple, faith-filled preacher. He usually preached in churches of 100 or less, often in churches that had less than 30 people in them. He was never known outside his own little circle of churches and friendships. He never wrote a book and did not read many books outside the Bible. But he read the Bible through probably over 100 times in his lifetime. He prayed hours daily. He loved others and lived a simple, yet amazing life of faith, and saw God do amazing things that few get to see. The famous preachers today would never have heard his name. Yet he out-shined and out-lived them all. Just because he plodded on, not desiring to be somebody, but desiring to know Someone and truly live for Him.
It's those guys who I want to be like. There really is something to be said for plodding on in an unseen way, to the glory of God. The glory is not in being known or doing something "great" for which you will be remembered. The glory is in living for Jesus daily, consistently and to just keep plodding on, even if no one ever knows who you are.
- Mack Tomlinson
Is there exciting emotion in rising at 4:00 or 5:00 am and driving in the dark morning hours to a factory or on a freeway to a building to do menial tasks that no one seems to appreciate or notice? The fact is, most all of us will never be known for anything other than this-- what kind of person were we? what kind of life did we truly live day in and day out? were we faithful, kind, genuine, trustworthy, committed, dependable, real, and humble? Is fame or faithfulness more attractive to me?
I thought about a certain famous actor and how many people would probably choose to spend a day with that person if they could choose only one. Simply because they are famous. Then I thought about that same actor and remembered that they primary thing about his private life is that he is totally committed to a religious cult that deceives millions of people. So why would anyone in their right mind choose such a person as their number one pick? Simply because they're famous, no other reason.
The problem is this-- we still have in our minds a wrong view of true greatness. It is not the Brad Pitts, Tom Cruises, Oprahs, Joel Osteens, and Katie Courics of this world that have true greatness.
Its the mother no one knows about who really cares for here children month after month and gives the strength of her years to raising them.
Its the father who goes to work every day in a place no one has heard of and earns a living to provide.
Its a teacher who prepares lesson plans regularly to teach and impact 20 kids, helping them to go to college, and living like the Saviour before their watching eyes.
Its the faithful deacon who does the many unseen things every week to serve the saints month after month and year after year, and in doing so, he is serving the Saviour and storing up riches in a heavenly kingdom.
Its the loving and committed pastor who prepares and preaches to ten or twenty people and sees it just as important as preaching to two thousand, because he does it for the eternal welfare of their souls and he does it unto Christ. He will never be on tv and doesn't want to be. He's not building a big kingdom and doesn't want to.
These are the real heroes, the really great ones.
Kevin DeYoung has hit the nail on the head when he says:
"Until we are content with being one of the million nameless, faceless church members and not the next globe-trotting rock star, we aren’t ready to be a part of the church. In the grand scheme of things, most of us are going to be more of an Ampliatus (Rom. 16:8 or Phlegon (v. 14) than an apostle Paul. And maybe that’s why so many Christians are getting tired of the church. We haven’t learned how to be part of the crowd. We haven’t learned to be ordinary. Our jobs are often mundane. Our devotional times often seem like a waste. Church services are often forgettable. That’s life. We drive to the same places, go through the same routines with the kids, buy the same groceries at the store, and share a bed with the same person every night. Church is often the same too — same doctrines, same basic order of worship, same preacher, same people. But in all the smallness and sameness, God works — like the smallest seed in the garden growing to unbelievable heights, like beloved Tychicus, that faithful minister, delivering the mail and apostolic greetings (Eph. 6:21). Life is usually pretty ordinary, just like following Jesus most days. Daily discipleship is not a new revolution each morning or an agent of global transformation every evening; it’s a long obedience in the same direction.
It’s possible the church needs to change. Certainly in some areas it does. But it’s also possible we’ve changed — and not for the better. It’s possible we no longer find joy in so great a salvation. It’s possible that our boredom has less to do with the church, its doctrines, or its poor leadership and more to do with our unwillingness to tolerate imperfection in others and our own coldness to the same old message about Christ’s death and resurrection. It’s possible we talk a lot about authentic community, but we aren’t willing to live in it."
I am thinking now of two men who I respect as much as any people I have ever known. One is a retired teach who has lived the Christian life in a deep, consistent, and rich way while teaching school daily for probably forty years. He has never really traveled that much, is not known outside the sphere of his own circle, has never written a book or been interviewed, and has never been on the conference circuit as a speaker. Yet his life has been a powerful force in the lives of many other Christians. Just because of the way he has lived his life while simply plodding on. His life has shown that the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power and in living it out quietly and irresistibly.
The other man was a simple, faith-filled preacher. He usually preached in churches of 100 or less, often in churches that had less than 30 people in them. He was never known outside his own little circle of churches and friendships. He never wrote a book and did not read many books outside the Bible. But he read the Bible through probably over 100 times in his lifetime. He prayed hours daily. He loved others and lived a simple, yet amazing life of faith, and saw God do amazing things that few get to see. The famous preachers today would never have heard his name. Yet he out-shined and out-lived them all. Just because he plodded on, not desiring to be somebody, but desiring to know Someone and truly live for Him.
It's those guys who I want to be like. There really is something to be said for plodding on in an unseen way, to the glory of God. The glory is not in being known or doing something "great" for which you will be remembered. The glory is in living for Jesus daily, consistently and to just keep plodding on, even if no one ever knows who you are.
- Mack Tomlinson
When David was Hurting- Part 2
When people find that they really want to be truthful or have to be truthful, they often preface their words with such phrases as "Well, to be totally honest . . " or "To tell you the truth . . . " or "Quite honestly . . . " or "Well, candidly, just between you and I . . . "
I believe it is just such an attitude that David, when he was hurting, brought to God in prayer. He didn't play religious games; he didn't try to impress God with somehow praying acceptable prayers; he became very real, very honest, and very transparent.
Hear again are some other honest words and confessions in the Psalms:
My eye is wasted from grief - 31:9
I have been forgotten like one who has died - 31:12
I hear the whispering of many - 31:13
They scheme together against me - 31:13
They plot to take my life - 31:13
Let me not be put to shame - 31:17
Day and night Your hand was heavy upon me - 32:4
My strength is dried up - 32:4
It's one thing to read David writing such things, but we must remember that he was actually saying these words out loud to God in prayer. When are we this honest with God and with ourselves?
Picture a lady who has a skin problem. She calls a friend in another city who is a determatologist just to get advice. "Describe to me your situation with your skin." 'Well, I've always had fair skin and I really want it to be better; I wash my face well every night and I like how it feels; I think it might be better now, but I just want it to improve and any imperfections be gone."
Then there's another lady. She calls the friend, who then asks, "What's the problem with your skin?" "Well, there is acne that has developed on my forehead for some reason; there is also extra dry and flaky skin all over both cheeks; then I have ugly wrinkles developing around my mouth, and also my nose develops redness and is extra tender most of the time."
Of these two, which one is going to get any real help from the expert? Only the second one. She was fully and specifically honest.
How will we get the kind of help from God's grace through prayer if we don't pray as David did?
If we are anything in prayer, let's be honest with the Lord Jesus when we pray. Let's tell the Father exactly what we are feeling and experiencing.
How about beginning in prayer by saying, "Lord, I'm here, and to be totally honest, . . . "
Full honesty and unlimited expression in prayer are the means to freedom, release, peace, help, a new and right perspective, and fresh faith & hope. Why did David always going on with God? Why was he able to always worship as he did? Why did he fully become the man he was? Because his heart was honest with God and he expressed it freely.
- Mack Tomlinson
I believe it is just such an attitude that David, when he was hurting, brought to God in prayer. He didn't play religious games; he didn't try to impress God with somehow praying acceptable prayers; he became very real, very honest, and very transparent.
Hear again are some other honest words and confessions in the Psalms:
My eye is wasted from grief - 31:9
I have been forgotten like one who has died - 31:12
I hear the whispering of many - 31:13
They scheme together against me - 31:13
They plot to take my life - 31:13
Let me not be put to shame - 31:17
Day and night Your hand was heavy upon me - 32:4
My strength is dried up - 32:4
It's one thing to read David writing such things, but we must remember that he was actually saying these words out loud to God in prayer. When are we this honest with God and with ourselves?
Picture a lady who has a skin problem. She calls a friend in another city who is a determatologist just to get advice. "Describe to me your situation with your skin." 'Well, I've always had fair skin and I really want it to be better; I wash my face well every night and I like how it feels; I think it might be better now, but I just want it to improve and any imperfections be gone."
Then there's another lady. She calls the friend, who then asks, "What's the problem with your skin?" "Well, there is acne that has developed on my forehead for some reason; there is also extra dry and flaky skin all over both cheeks; then I have ugly wrinkles developing around my mouth, and also my nose develops redness and is extra tender most of the time."
Of these two, which one is going to get any real help from the expert? Only the second one. She was fully and specifically honest.
How will we get the kind of help from God's grace through prayer if we don't pray as David did?
If we are anything in prayer, let's be honest with the Lord Jesus when we pray. Let's tell the Father exactly what we are feeling and experiencing.
How about beginning in prayer by saying, "Lord, I'm here, and to be totally honest, . . . "
Full honesty and unlimited expression in prayer are the means to freedom, release, peace, help, a new and right perspective, and fresh faith & hope. Why did David always going on with God? Why was he able to always worship as he did? Why did he fully become the man he was? Because his heart was honest with God and he expressed it freely.
- Mack Tomlinson
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Justice and Mercy
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other!" Psalm 85:10
The salvation of sinners by the substitutionary death of Christ gives the brightest display of the perfections of God, and particularly of those which belong to Him as the Supreme Ruler of the moral world.
Justice and mercy, duly tempered and exercised with wisdom, is a summary of those virtues which belong to a good ruler. Now these are most illustriously displayed in a happy union in Christ crucified.
Justice shines brighter in the cross than if every sin had been punished upon offenders without any mercy! Mercy shines brighter in the cross than if every sin had been pardoned, and every sinner made happy without any execution of justice.
Mercy appears in turning the divine heart with such a strong propensity upon the salvation of sinners! Justice appears in that when the heart of God was so much set upon it, yet He would not save them without a complete satisfaction to His justice.
Mercy appears in providing such a Savior! Justice appears in inflicting the punishment due to sin upon Him, without abatement; though He loved Him more than the whole universe of creatures!
Mercy appears in transferring the guilt from the sinner upon the Surety, and accepting a vicarious satisfaction! Justice appears in exacting the satisfaction, and not passing by sin, when it was imputed to the darling Son of God.
Mercy appears in pardoning and saving guilty sinners! Justice appears in punishing their sin!
Mercy appears in justifying them though destitute of all personal merit and righteousness! Justice appears in justifying them only and entirely on account of the merit and righteousness of Christ!
Mercy appears in providing a Savior of such infinite dignity! Justice appears in refusing satisfaction from an inferior person!
Mercy appears in forgiving sin! Justice appears in not forgiving so much as one sin without a sufficient atonement!
Mercy, rich, free mercy--towards the sinner! Justice, strict, inexorable justice--towards the Surety!
In short, mercy and justice, as it were, walk hand in hand through every step of this amazing scheme of salvation by the substitutionary atonement of Christ!
God pardons and saves the sinner and yet condemns and punishes his sin!
Though innumerable multitudes of rebels are pardoned, yet not one of them is pardoned until their rebellion is punished according to its demerit in the person of the Surety!
The precept of the divine law, which they had broken was perfectly obeyed. The penalty which they had incurred was fully endured and paid, indeed not by themselves, but by their divine substitute. Hence the divine law is magnified, and made honorable, and the rights of government are preserved sacred and inviolable, and yet the sinful rebels are set free, and advanced to the highest honors and blessedness!
God brings the greatest good out of the greatest evil!
God pardons and saves the sinner and yet condemns and punishes his sin!
God gives the brightest display of His justice in the freest exercise of His mercy!
God gives the richest discovery of His mercy in the most rigorous execution of His justice!
God magnifies His law in justifying those who had broken it!
God reveals the utmost hatred against sin in showing the highest love to the sinner!
What an astonishing God-like scheme is this! What a stupendous display of the infinite wisdom of God!
- Samuel Davies
The salvation of sinners by the substitutionary death of Christ gives the brightest display of the perfections of God, and particularly of those which belong to Him as the Supreme Ruler of the moral world.
Justice and mercy, duly tempered and exercised with wisdom, is a summary of those virtues which belong to a good ruler. Now these are most illustriously displayed in a happy union in Christ crucified.
Justice shines brighter in the cross than if every sin had been punished upon offenders without any mercy! Mercy shines brighter in the cross than if every sin had been pardoned, and every sinner made happy without any execution of justice.
Mercy appears in turning the divine heart with such a strong propensity upon the salvation of sinners! Justice appears in that when the heart of God was so much set upon it, yet He would not save them without a complete satisfaction to His justice.
Mercy appears in providing such a Savior! Justice appears in inflicting the punishment due to sin upon Him, without abatement; though He loved Him more than the whole universe of creatures!
Mercy appears in transferring the guilt from the sinner upon the Surety, and accepting a vicarious satisfaction! Justice appears in exacting the satisfaction, and not passing by sin, when it was imputed to the darling Son of God.
Mercy appears in pardoning and saving guilty sinners! Justice appears in punishing their sin!
Mercy appears in justifying them though destitute of all personal merit and righteousness! Justice appears in justifying them only and entirely on account of the merit and righteousness of Christ!
Mercy appears in providing a Savior of such infinite dignity! Justice appears in refusing satisfaction from an inferior person!
Mercy appears in forgiving sin! Justice appears in not forgiving so much as one sin without a sufficient atonement!
Mercy, rich, free mercy--towards the sinner! Justice, strict, inexorable justice--towards the Surety!
In short, mercy and justice, as it were, walk hand in hand through every step of this amazing scheme of salvation by the substitutionary atonement of Christ!
God pardons and saves the sinner and yet condemns and punishes his sin!
Though innumerable multitudes of rebels are pardoned, yet not one of them is pardoned until their rebellion is punished according to its demerit in the person of the Surety!
The precept of the divine law, which they had broken was perfectly obeyed. The penalty which they had incurred was fully endured and paid, indeed not by themselves, but by their divine substitute. Hence the divine law is magnified, and made honorable, and the rights of government are preserved sacred and inviolable, and yet the sinful rebels are set free, and advanced to the highest honors and blessedness!
God brings the greatest good out of the greatest evil!
God pardons and saves the sinner and yet condemns and punishes his sin!
God gives the brightest display of His justice in the freest exercise of His mercy!
God gives the richest discovery of His mercy in the most rigorous execution of His justice!
God magnifies His law in justifying those who had broken it!
God reveals the utmost hatred against sin in showing the highest love to the sinner!
What an astonishing God-like scheme is this! What a stupendous display of the infinite wisdom of God!
- Samuel Davies
Sin's Great Exposure - The Cross of Christ
"Christ died for the ungodly!" Romans 5:6
In the cross of Christ, God's hatred to sin is manifested in the most striking light! The evil of sin is exposed in the most dreadful colors! Now it appears, that such is the divine hatred against all sin, that God can by no means forgive sin, without punishment; and that all the infinite benevolence of His nature towards His creatures cannot prevail upon Him to pardon the least sin without an adequate satisfaction.
Nay, now it appears that when so malignant and abominable a thing is but imputed to His dear Son, His co-equal, His darling, His favorite, that even He could not escape unpunished, but was made a monument of vindictive justice, to all worlds!
What can more strongly expose the evil of sin than the cross of Christ? Sin is such an intolerably malignant and abominable thing, that even a God of infinite mercy and grace--cannot let the least instance of it pass unpunished!
It was not a small thing that could arm God's justice against the Son of His love. Though He was perfectly innocent in Himself, yet when He was made sin for us, God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up unto death--the shameful, tormenting, and accursed death of the cross!
Who is it that hangs there, writhing in the agonies of death, His hands and feet pierced with nails, His side with a spear, His face bruised with blows, and drenched with tears and blood, His heart melting like wax, His whole frame racked and disjointed; forsaken by His friends, and even by His Father, tempted by devils, and insulted by men? Who is this amazing spectacle of woe and torture? It is Jesus, the eternal Word of God, His Elect, in whom His soul delights, His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased!
And what has He done? He did no wickedness; He knew no sin, but was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. And WHY then, all these dreadful sufferings from heaven, earth, and hell? Why, He only stood in the law-place of sinners; He only received their sin by imputation. And you see what it has brought upon Him! You see how low it has reduced Him! What a horrid evil must that be which has such tremendous consequences, even upon the Darling of heaven!
Oh! what still more dreadful havoc would sin have made if it had been punished upon the sinner himself in his own person! Surely all the various miseries which have been inflicted upon our guilty world in all ages, and even all the punishments of hell do not so loudly proclaim the terrible desert and malignity of sin as the cross of Christ!
The infinite malignity of sin, and God's hatred to it, appear nowhere in so striking and dreadful a light as in the cross of Christ! Let a reasonable creature take but one serious view of that cross, and surely he must ever after tremble at the thought of the least sin!
- Samuel Davies
In the cross of Christ, God's hatred to sin is manifested in the most striking light! The evil of sin is exposed in the most dreadful colors! Now it appears, that such is the divine hatred against all sin, that God can by no means forgive sin, without punishment; and that all the infinite benevolence of His nature towards His creatures cannot prevail upon Him to pardon the least sin without an adequate satisfaction.
Nay, now it appears that when so malignant and abominable a thing is but imputed to His dear Son, His co-equal, His darling, His favorite, that even He could not escape unpunished, but was made a monument of vindictive justice, to all worlds!
What can more strongly expose the evil of sin than the cross of Christ? Sin is such an intolerably malignant and abominable thing, that even a God of infinite mercy and grace--cannot let the least instance of it pass unpunished!
It was not a small thing that could arm God's justice against the Son of His love. Though He was perfectly innocent in Himself, yet when He was made sin for us, God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up unto death--the shameful, tormenting, and accursed death of the cross!
Who is it that hangs there, writhing in the agonies of death, His hands and feet pierced with nails, His side with a spear, His face bruised with blows, and drenched with tears and blood, His heart melting like wax, His whole frame racked and disjointed; forsaken by His friends, and even by His Father, tempted by devils, and insulted by men? Who is this amazing spectacle of woe and torture? It is Jesus, the eternal Word of God, His Elect, in whom His soul delights, His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased!
And what has He done? He did no wickedness; He knew no sin, but was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. And WHY then, all these dreadful sufferings from heaven, earth, and hell? Why, He only stood in the law-place of sinners; He only received their sin by imputation. And you see what it has brought upon Him! You see how low it has reduced Him! What a horrid evil must that be which has such tremendous consequences, even upon the Darling of heaven!
Oh! what still more dreadful havoc would sin have made if it had been punished upon the sinner himself in his own person! Surely all the various miseries which have been inflicted upon our guilty world in all ages, and even all the punishments of hell do not so loudly proclaim the terrible desert and malignity of sin as the cross of Christ!
The infinite malignity of sin, and God's hatred to it, appear nowhere in so striking and dreadful a light as in the cross of Christ! Let a reasonable creature take but one serious view of that cross, and surely he must ever after tremble at the thought of the least sin!
- Samuel Davies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)