Thursday, August 26, 2010

Covenant


"They delight to contemplate the antiquity of that covenant, remembering that before the day-star knew its place, or planets ran their round, the interests of the saints were made secure in Christ Jesus. It is peculiarly pleasing to them to remember the sureness of the covenant,...

More especially it is the pleasure of God’s people to contemplate the graciousness of this covenant. They see that the law was made void because it was a covenant of works and depended upon merit, but this they perceive to be enduring because grace is the basis, grace the condition, grace the strain, grace the bulwark, grace the foundation, grace the topstone. The covenant is a treasury of wealth, a granary of food, a fountain of life, a store-house of salvation, a charter of peace, and a haven of joy."

C.H.Spurgeon, Morning and Evening : August 26th

Antiquity = the earliest times. Before that time, before time, we were set into covenant with Christ.
Perspective = A Viewing Lense.
Covenant = A blood agreement between 2 people, in relation to God, He sets the stipulations not us.
Grace = Christ's recompense imputed without merit.


When think about being in Christ, chosen, pursued, loved by the God who hung the planets, I have to laugh at the absurdity of my minor worries and the humor in the wringing of my hands. Perspective of WHO it is that loves me and WHO it is that keeps me.

Really it is not about me,it is about Him. He who holds and directs all of creation, history, and brings the bride - His Glorious Church, universal to Himself. Why? for His Glory.


The collateral grace of His Glory rains efficacious love. Astounding.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Living Sermons

"Cheerful holiness is the most forcible of sermons, but the Lord must give it to you." CH Spurgeon - Morning and Evening.

"Thou Lord hast made me glad through Thy work" Ps. 92:4

His redemption and love is His work and that ALONE is enough to make us glad. Can I really say, that His efficaious love is enough to make me glad?

We just returned with our team from a trip into the ME. We had a wonderful trip. The team was not only a blessing but ever so blessed - exceeding so. We all enjoyed our time together and time with the local believers and friends. Relationships were deepened and we had some great conversations. Many of us were amazed and sometimes dismayed at the stories we heard from those who joyfully undertook hardship for Christ's sake -The loss of family, friends, home and fortune. It was indeed, as one team member stated, "an honor just to stand next to them". The teacher trainers were the students of those schooled in a life of persecution.

This morning, as we read Spurgeon, I was again reminded of brothers and sisters who exemplify cheerful holiness.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18