Cristo Crucificado

-

Every true hearted Christian who tries to do good in the world. must make up his mind to be treated like his Master. He must never be surprised to find, that the self-righteous and the worldly-minded dislike his ways, The lawfulness of his proceedings will be constantly called in question. He will be regarded as meddlesome, disorderly, and self-conceited, a pestilent fellow, and a troubler of Israel (Acts 24:5; 1 Kings 18:17). Scripture-readers, district-visitors, lay-agents, and unordained missionaries, are specially liable to meet with such treatment. And worst of all they will often meet with enemies, where they ought to find friends. 

Let all who are attacked by the world for trying to do good, take comfort in the thought that they are only drinking of the cup which Christ drank, Their Master in heaven sympathizes with them. Let them work on patiently, and believe that, if they are faithful, their work will speak for itself. The world's opposition is sure to attend every really good work. If the servants of Christ are to cease from every movement which the world calls in question, they will soon come to an entire standstill. If we are to wait till the world approves our plans, and is satisfied with the propriety of our efforts, we shall never do anything on earth. ~J.C. Ryle

The lawfulness of this proceedings will be constantly called into question by those who love the letter of the law but know nothing of its Spirit. As the world hated the Light because it exposed their darkness, so shall it frown upon the man who carries that light into the market-square. The servant is not greater than his Lord; if they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they malign those of His household? It is a heavy cross to bear—to have one’s motives slandered and one's path obstructed by the very ones who profess a love for virtue. Yet, let the believer take heart: to be found an offense to the world for the sake of the Gospel is often the surest evidence of being in favor with Heaven. We must expect to be misunderstood, for we speak a language the natural man cannot discern, and we serve a King whose kingdom is not of this world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Public Reading of Scripture

-
Image
Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter. If you say, “But we did not know about this,” does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds? Proverbs 24:11-12   It is most appropriate to begin public proclamation with scripture. Only then does preaching follow after. People need to hear God's word, not my opinion. Always after reading am I assisted mightily in power and in spirit. I have, in the course of my meager experience, compiled different portions of scripture that present the gospel in a linear fashion, so that it forms a singular paragraph and a consistent train of thought. Reading it alone is equivalent to preaching. If you have been given the heart to take the gospel to the lost but are afraid of preaching, I highly encourage you to read scripture. Anyone who can read can do this. If you want to kill the flesh, reading sc...
Read more

The Lamb's Book of Life, And The Eternal Will Of God For The Security Of Those Who Have Been Graciously Called To Come & Believe

-
Image
A journal entry. One early morning of October. A study on my readings, on John 1:13, Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13:8, 17:8 and 21:27.  From eternity past, even before the beginning of the beginning, the Lamb wrote a book.    In this book were special names. Names He had elected, in His gracious sovereignty, to be His very own people. His divine, covenantal will, was to bless them with the continual light of His presence, and to bring them to Himself, there to dwell before Him in blissful glory, for all eternity. These names were written in tender affection, with great love, and with great zeal, amidst a great plan to reveal to them this love, through sacrifice. He had written these names down permanently, determined and precisely, without any intention to erase or blot them out. He had written them down from eternity, and there will they remain throughout all eternity. He who wrote them embodies eternity, for He is eternity, and whom He loves He loves with a love that kno...
Read more

The Fallibility of Ministers

-
Will not ecclesiastical rank and dignity confer infallibility? No—they will not! It matters nothing what a man is called. He may be a Preacher, Minister, or Deacon. He is still a fallible man! Neither the education, nor the anointing oil, nor the laying on of hands, can prevent a man making mistakes. Will not numbers confer infallibility? No—they will not! You may gather together princes by the score, and ministers by the hundred; but, when gathered together, they are still liable to err. You may call them a council, or an assembly, or a conference, or whatever you please. It matters nothing. Their conclusions are still the conclusions of fallible men. Their collective wisdom is still capable of making enormous mistakes. The example of the Apostle Peter at Antioch is one that does not stand alone. It is only a parallel of many a case that we find written for our learning, in Holy Scripture. Do we not remember Abraham, the father of the faithful, following the advice of Sarah, and takin...
Read more

When God Closes Doors

-
Image
It was but yesterday morning, whilst engaged in my most needful devotional exercise, that the Lord met me with such tender power. As I turned the sacred pages to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, and my eye fell upon the twentieth verse, I could not restrain the rising tide of emotion—and I broke down entirely before Him. For weeks, the only sorrow that truly burdened my spirit, since parting ways with the congregation where we sought fellowship, was not the fear of any man’s opinion, nor any worldly concern, but this single, earnest petition: "Am I still in the center of your will, Father?" In that very moment of distress, my God came near and greatly, yet oh, so gently, comforted my soul. The Lord’s own voice seemed to leap right out from the very pages, wrapping me in a perfect peace that brushed away all anxiety. The Master of the wind and waves had spoken directly to the tempest in my heart, gently whispering eternal, assuring words: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” ...
Read more

I Did Not Pray

-
God is sovereign. When my son ran away for three nights I did not pray that he might return home, but that God would teach him what he needed to learn from it. When my wife was laboring for 14 hours in the hospital with our first baby and I was left outside waiting and wondering I did not pray for a safe delivery, but that God would give me reason to abound with joy in trusting him though I see not. When I slid into adultery 19 years ago my wife prayed for me to return, but God patiently changed her selfish petition to one of surrender. 14 years was the LORD witness to her pleas and cries. And when finally the fullness of her time in the school of secret prayer came, God then delivered me. When I received an incurable wound in my body because of my sin I did not pray to be healed, but that it should remain with me unhealed all my life, and that it would serve to remind me that I have offended God severely, yet in His mercy He forgave me. When my wife was diagnosed with a bes...
Read more