The Response To God's Goodness
What is the response to the discovery of God's goodness? Is it not first of all thanksgiving and then the worshiping of Christ. James the apostle said that every good and perfect gift comes from God. What other response could there be, being acceptable to God, except total trust in the one who loved us, and gave Himself for us?
Signs Of Readiness
What does it mean to be ready to meet the Lord? There is first an attention to the things of God, leading up to that blessed meeting. With regard to communion, the one who is ready to meet Christ, is the one who guards his worship of the Lamb, and daily seeks Him. To be ready is far more than not having unconfessed sins. It is looking down the road for some glimpse of Him coming, of Him calling, of Him speaking.
Loving God
What does it mean to love God? Only God can answer that question, and He has...in His word. The meaning of love begins with God, in Christ, from before the foundation of the world, when the Divine Redeemer put in motion in history a story so unique, and extraordinary, that only one man would be able to save all of mankind. That man was Christ Jesus, God in the flesh, who has died for us all, that we should live. True love comes in knowing Christ first, then receiving by the Spirit this love for God, and for others.
Justice, Judgment, and Mercy
There is an exquisite balance in Christ with respect to justice, judgment, and mercy. That which will determine the application of each of these three aspects of Christ's nature, and character, is the absolute truth, His holiness, and love. There is not one attribute of God that is not in some measure blended with all attributes. That which will determine the unveiling of these attributes is God's wisdom, and grace. Only He can determine the proper application of all, for He alone knows all things visible and invisible.
The Throne, The Temple, And The Quiet Place
In the believer's approach to God, we are presented in Scripture by the vision of a throne of grace, an temple which reveals to us God's ways, and the certainly of quiet communion with the Father, the Son, by the Spirit. Called unto communion, each picture represents great truths which enrich such fellowship with Christ.
The King And The Shepherd
It is one thing to be declared the Great Shepherd. It is quite another to be called the King. On the one hand the Shepherd speaks to us of His generous and gentle care of His sheep. On the other hand, as King, he envelopes the sheep, or His servants and children, as those who are in His kingdom, beneficiaries of His eternal Life and blessings.
The Greatness Of The Little
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He has chosen the little things of the world through and by which to show forth His power and glory. He delights to that which is worthy of His name, bypassing the standards of men concerning greatness.
Having The Mind Of Christ
Having the mind of Christ means to derive all from Him by faith, trusting Him for the grace to think His thoughts after Him, as revealed in His word. As He is the Giver of the words of our mouths, so He gives the thoughts of our hearts, as we trust Him, and meditate in His word. His truth becomes our own when we take it, believe and obey it.
Christ The Great Physician
Christ is our Healer, the Great Physician who alone can heal the soul in a world of affliction, sorrow, and suffering. He is also the healer of our bodies, that One who responds to the believing heart, according to His will.
Christ Our Keeper In Peace
Jesus Christ is the believer's peace. He becomes this in the experience in a consistent way when we "take" His peace as our own, trusting Him to give us His peace as we walk in communion with His. It is as Marston put it: "I take Thee for my peace O Lord, My heart to keep and fill, Thine own great calm amid earth's storms, shall keep me always still."