Man and the Sea

Man is more troublesome and unruly than the sea.  The sea respects its boundary and though it be but a belt of sand, it does not overleap the limit.  Mighty as it is, it hears the divine and when most raging with tempest, it respects the Word.   But self-willed man defies heaven and oppresses earth, neither is there any end to his rebellious rage.  The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity and thus renders an active as well as a passive obedience.  But man, restless beyond his sphere, sleeps within the lines of duty, indolent where he should be active.

Oh that our nature were but one thousandth part as much conformed to the will of God.  We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is!  "Lord, rule us for Thine own glory!"    (Spurgeon, Sept. 16 Eve.)

"Woe is me!"

"Woe is me!"  Psalm 120:5  As a Christian, you have to live in an ungodly world and it is of little use for you to cry "Woe is me".  Jesus did not pray that you be taken out of the world, and what He did not pray for, you need not desire.  The enemy is ever on the watch to detect inconsistency in your conduct; be therefore very holy.  The eyes of all are upon you, and more is expected from you than from other men.  Strive to give no occasion for blame.  (Spurgeon, Sept. 5 Morning)

His Power

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."   Ephesians 1:18-19

"...the exceeding greatness of His power..."
What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man and is due to his own betterness of disposition?  When we see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their own free will turn to Christ.  It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself!  All quickening power proceeds from the Holy Spirit.  C.H.S

"Bring Him To Me"

The next several posts will be excerpted from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, which can all be read in their entirety at spurgeon.org.  My first one is very near and dear to my heart for many reasons.  But I post it today in anticipation of finding out the gender of my first grandchild!   The excitement that grows in me only another grandparent can understand.  But also the passionate and fervent desire for the soul of that baby will be brought to Christ daily.  We pray and pray as though it depends on us but then in faithful submission trust and trust for it all depends on Him!

"Bring him unto to Me!"  Mark 9:19
Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them.  They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents.  They may be filled with the Spirit of God or possessed with the spirit of evil.  O, for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes!  Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it!!

When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts our breaking, we should remember the great Physician's words, "Bring him to me!"  NEVER must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe!!!  NO case is hopeless while Jesus lives!
AMEN

Sin

John MacArthur quoting Wesley's mom:  "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the delight for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin."

Grumblings

They cried out in the bondage of slavery.  God delivered them.  They cried out in fear, caught between the sea and their pursuing enemy.  God opened the sea, they walked through on dry ground, and He brought the waters down on the enemy.  They cried out for thirst.  God gave them sweet water.  They cried out for food...  All this crying out-grumbling-was in the midst of God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the walk through the sea, bitter water made sweet and the guidance of a daily cloud by day and fire by night.  God graciously supplied their needs!  John MacArthur says, "... an attitude of negativism characterizes the whole nation.  Their complaining so soon after benefitting from miracles done by the Lord on their behalf points only to their short-term memory and self-centeredness."  Moses said to them, "He [God] hears your grumblings against the LORD; and what are we [Moses and Aaron] that you grumble against us?"   He goes on to say, after telling them that bread and meat will be raining down from heaven and they will be full, "the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him.  And what are we?  Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD."

WOW!  I must say as a new believer, I was appalled at Israel's fickleness. However, as a thirty-five year veteran, I now stand along side them realizing my lack of praise and over-abundance of grumbling.  I know that as I read the book of Exodus today, I am just like them and it points to my own "short-term memory and self-centeredness".

Moses said to the fearful grumblers right before the miracle of the Red Sea, "Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today...  The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."    Stand by, see, keep silent!  All good advice to us in the midst of hard times!        Exodus 14:13-14; 16:7-8

"Bedrock of Faith"

To lament is to express passionate grief or sorrow.  The book of Lamentations does just that!  Jeremiah expresses the horrors and sadness of his devastated people and himself in this short book.  However, in the midst of all the passionate grief, he expresses hope.

In 3:22, he says, "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease; for His compassions never fail."  No matter how you feel and what sadness you remember, this is what you must know!
3:23, "Great is Your faithfulness."  John MacArthur says about this verse, "The bedrock of faith is the reality that God keeps all His promises."  And last, 5:19, "You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation." Again John MacArthur, "Jeremiah was consoled by the fact that God always sits on His sovereign throne ruling over the universe from heaven."

God's lovingkindness never ceases!  His compassions never fail!  His faithfulness is great!  He rules from His throne forever!  Think on these truths.  Believe them.  Live them out.  They are your "bedrock of faith" to carry you through to the end.  "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!!!"