MERCY NOT MERIT

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Matthew 11:25-26).

His mercy is not moved by any good in us, neither is it kept back by our undeserving; for neither our merit, nor our misery, can be said to have had any hand in disposing the purposes of His sovereign will towards us. That the Lord hath taken occasion from our misery, to magnify the abounding riches of his mercy, is true; but then his mercy was before our misery, and his own everlasting love the sole cause of our blessedness in Christ, therefore our Lord’s own words are most blessed in point: “Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight!” Robert Hawker

A Heart Of Thanksgiving

Psalm 40:5

I recently read that somewhere, years ago in New England, there was a day of fasting each month to mourn over the sins of the land. At last, some pub­lic official suggested that, instead of the day of mourning each month, they should appoint a feast and thank God for the mercies and blessings which He had given.

I was deeply convicted and strongly impressed by this article. Do we dwell on our troubles and trials so much that we forget to give thanks for our bless­ings? Instead of counting our blessings, we exag­gerate our misfortunes. Instead of praising God for many friends, our minds dwell on two or three conten­tious persons who wish us evil. Instead of talking about our years of good health, we discuss our hours of pain. Instead of rejoicing in our obedient and loving children, we complain about our prodigals. It is good to fast, mourn over sin, and to take our bur­dens to the Lord; but it is right to LEAVE THEM THERE!

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones." I plan to take this exhortation seriously and lift both my heart and voice to Him Who is the fountain of all mercies. His mercies far outweigh His chastisements. David said, "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered" (Psalm 40:5). John Newton once wrote, "Lord, if I have not loved Thee before, let me begin today." Today is a good day to love Him, thank Him, and praise Him. Let this be "The day of beginning again."

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1982)

CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

What sweet comfort this precious promise of God gives to the heart of the believer. Our Lord shall return with glorious splendor to receive us to Himself forever (John 14:1-3). Now, and in that blessed day we shall have absolute and eternal confidence to stand before the holy throne of God totally justified and complete in Christ (Col. 2:9-10). True saving faith has all confidence in Christ, not in self (Heb. 12:2). We say with the Apostle, "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3).

Believers not only have all confidence in Christ, but we also shall never be ashamed of His gospel now, nor before Him at His glorious coming (1John 3:2: 4:17). Every believer can boldly say with the Apostle, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16). Christ Jesus is not ashamed to love us (1John 4:10), to own us (Heb. 2:13), to die for us (Heb. 2:17) and to present us faultless before His holy throne (Jude1:24). "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11).

How could we ever be ashamed of Him? "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).