LET US LABOR TO REST

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest” (Heb. 4:11).

Seems to be a contradiction in terms, labor to rest; but in reality it is not. Let us eagerly strive and earnestly pursue to count all our works as “dung and filthy rags” and to “cease from our own works,” cease from trusting ourselves, cease from going about to establish our own righteousness (Rom. 10:3-4) and to rest, relax and trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who accomplished all righteousness and all salvation for us (Rom. 8:32; Col. 2:9-10; Phil. 3:7-9).

This is impossible for any sinner to do apart from almighty grace! However, when the Lord is pleased to reveal Himself unto us, it is the delight of faith (Heb. 12:2), the joy of hope (2 Thess. 2:16) and the burning desire of love to come to Christ and rest in Him (1 John 4:19). He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Oh Lord, give us grace to rest in thee!

The Fear of the Lord

One fire puts out another. Nothing so effectively kills the fear of man as a genuine abundance of the FEAR OF THE LORD! When the fear of men would tempt a servant of God to compromise or take the offense from the cross, the fear of the Lord gives him EVEN GREATER BOLDNESS. HTM

Lovest Thou Me?

This is the point on which a man’s relationship with God hinges. As simple as the question may sound, it is most searching. If a man has no love for Christ, he has no faith. If a man truly loves Christ, all is right; if not, all is wrong. HTM

A Heart Work

Worship, praise, prayer, and faith are all HEART WORK, not simply participating in ceremonies, rituals of religion, and the chanting of fundamental words and facts. “My son, give me thine HEART.” “The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN HEART and a contrite spirit.” HTM

Genuine Love

A genuine love for others is an evidence of redemption. It is not the CAUSE but the SIGN, for no one sincerely loves others except he is regenerated by the Spirit of God. The love of natural men is self-love. I verily believe that the two strongest evidence of true salvation are love and perseverance in faith. Oh, for a heart to love and a faith that will not fail.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin Articles 1985)

Herod Was Exceeding Glad

“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.”(Luke 23:8)

When Pilate tried to wash his guilty hands from his dealings with the Lord Jesus Christ, he sent the Lord to face judgment before Herod. Herod was a notorious guilty man. He had murdered John the Baptist to satisfy and please his family. But when he stood before the Lord Jesus Christ, he did not beg for mercy, nor did he repent of his sins, nor did he ask to have his guilt removed. He was just excited and curious to see something pleasing to the flesh, “He hoped to see a miracle done by Him.

Sadly, the same is true of so many guilty sinners today. When they hear of the Lord Jesus Christ, they do not see in Him a Saviour to remove the guilt of sin or a Redeemer to deliver from the power of sin to condemn. But they are only interested in some miracles to please the flesh or gratify their curiosity. Their end will be like that of Herod and Pilate. Our Lord said, “If you believe not that I AM, you will die in yours sins.” (John 8:24).

Oh may the Lord be pleased to cause us to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to grant us the miracle of faith in Him (John 6:29). To be blessed to see in Christ crucified all our salvation before God (Acts 4:12); to experience in our heart the miracle of the eternal redemption of our soul (Heb. 9:11-12); the miracle of complete forgiveness from all our sins (Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7); the miracle of righteousness imputed to us by His free grace (Rom. 4:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:21); the miracle of peace with God through Christ, through His blood (Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:20) and the miracle to rest in Christ alone as our All and in All ( Matt. 11:28; Col. 3:11).