M&E Thursday

Thursday Morning, June 14

"Delight thyself also in the Lord."

Psalm 37:4

The teaching of these words must seem very surprising to those who are strangers to vital godliness, but to the sincere believer it is only the inculcation of a recognized truth. The life of the believer is here described as a delight in God, and we are thus certified of the great fact that true religion overflows with happiness and joy. Ungodly persons and mere professors never look upon religion as a joyful thing; to them it is service, duty, or necessity, but never pleasure or delight. If they attend to religion at all, it is either that they may gain thereby, or else because they dare not do otherwise. The thought of delight in religion is so strange to most men, that no two words in their language stand further apart than "holiness" and "delight." But believers who know Christ, understand that delight and faith are so blessedly united, that the gates of hell cannot prevail to separate them. They who love God with all their hearts, find that his ways are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are peace. Such joys, such brimful delights, such overflowing blessednesses, do the saints discover in their Lord, that so far from serving him from custom, they would follow him though all the world cast out his name as evil. We fear not God because of any compulsion; our faith is no fetter, our profession is no bondage, we are not dragged to holiness, nor driven to duty. No, our piety is our pleasure, our hope is our happiness, our duty is our delight.

Delight and true religion are as allied as root and flower; as indivisible as truth and certainty; they are, in fact, two precious jewels glittering side by side in a setting of gold.

"'Tis when we taste thy love, Our joys divinely grow, Unspeakable like those above, And heaven begins below."

 

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Evening, June 14

"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face ... because we have sinned against thee."

Daniel 9:8

A deep sense and clear sight of sin, its heinousness, and the punishment which it deserves, should make us lie low before the throne. We have sinned as Christians. Alas! that it should be so. Favoured as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful: privileged beyond most, we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. Who is there, although he may long have been engaged in the Christian warfare, that will not blush when he looks back upon the past? As for our days before we were regenerated, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love—light which has really penetrated our minds, and love in which we have rejoiced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with the sin of one of God's own elect ones, who has had communion with Christ and leaned his head upon Jesus' bosom. Look at David! Many will talk of his sin, but I pray you look at his repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans out its dolorous confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp! We have erred: let us, therefore, seek the spirit of penitence. Look, again, at Peter! We speak much of Peter's denying his Master. Remember, it is written, "He wept bitterly." Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears? Alas! these sins of ours, before and after conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for the sovereign mercy which has made us to differ, snatching us like brands from the burning. My soul, bow down under a sense of thy natural sinfulness, and worship thy God. Admire the grace which saves thee—the mercy which spares thee—the love which pardons thee!

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Arise, Shine!
  By Wesley L. Duewel

    It is time for all of us to begin to live evangelistically. Evangelism is something we must do with both our lives and our lips. Neither form of evangelism is complete without the other. No Christian is excused from either type of evangelistic responsibility. Whether man or woman, old or young, layman or clergyman – everyone must have a witnessing life and witnessing lips.

    The New Testament presents a pattern of clear-cut, comprehensive, and constant evangelism. Neither Christ nor the early church camouflaged their purpose. Evangelism must extend to every person in every nation. A salvation that delivers from every sin must be proclaimed.

    Every thought and motive must be brought into obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Spirit, soul, and body must be presented in a total consecration (1 Thes. 5:23). The church must be cleansed until it is without stain, wrinkle, or any other blemish (Eph. 5:27). There is no stopping place until we all attain the whole measure of the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). When Jesus returns, every believer will be presented perfect in Christ (Col. 1:28).

    In order to attain this purpose the life of every Christian must be definitely and ultimately evangelistic. Your eyes and mine must radiate an evangelist's love. Our lips must speak the Savior's praise and voice the Savior's invitation. Our hands must bless with a redemptive touch. Our feet must bring good tidings wherever we go. Our hearts must throb with a passion for the lordship of Christ and the salvation of people. The vision of Christ must become our vision; His passion for God's kingdom must become our passion. His will must have pre-eminence; His kingdom must be priority number one in our lives.

    This does not mean that every act can or should be directly and immediately evangelistic. We must live useful, practical lives. We must rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). We must teach, heal, and serve others. Jesus needs us, and people also need us.

    We should not make every conversation a sermon, or every act an attempt to convert. But the underlying motive and passion twenty-four hours a day in you and me should be that others may see and understand Christ. The constant prayer-breath of our soul should be that people seeing our good works may see not us but Christ. My all-pervading desire, your all-consuming passion, should be that all may know our wonderful Savior, too.

    When all of life is saturated with redemptive love, with the evangelist's passion, witnessing with our words will be as natural as breathing. The witness may be only a "God bless you"; it may be only a "I feel so happy today; Christ was so near in prayer this morning"; or "I am so sorry; I will remember this (or you) in prayer." But you will never hesitate to explain the reason for your joy, your faith, and your inner strength.

    There is an insidious danger in the "influence theory" of evangelism; that is in letting the life speak for itself without witnessing with the lips. But when life and lips witness together, all of life can be a seeking of God's kingdom first.

    "Arise, shine...See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you" (Isa. 60:1-2).

    If you rise and shine, then those about you "will come to your light."

    Taken from God's Power Is For You by Wesley L. Duewel. Copyright © 1997 by Wesley L. Duewel. Used by permission of the Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Dr. Duewel's books may be purchased by calling (317) 881-6751 Ext. 361.

http://www.heraldofhiscoming.com/other/home.htm

 

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