To
be the LORD's own people is a choice blessing, but to know that we are
such is a comfortable blessing.
It is one thing to hope that God is with
us and another thing to know that He is so.
Faith saves us, but
assurance satisfies us.
We take God to be our God when we believe in
Him...
But we get the joy of Him when we know that He is ours and that we
are His.
No believer should be content with hoping and trusting...
He
should ask the LORD to lead him on to full assurance, so that matters of
hope may become matters of certainty.
It is when we enjoy covenant
blessings and see our LORD Jesus
raised up for us as a plant of renown that we come to a clear knowledge
of the favor of God toward us.
Not by law, but by grace do we learn
that we are the LORD's people.
Let us always turn our eyes in the
direction of free grace.
Assurance of faith can never come by the works
of the law.
It is an evangelical virtue and can only reach us in a
gospel way.
Let us not look within.
Let us look to the LORD alone.
As we
see Jesus we shall see our salvation.
LORD, send us such a flood-tide of Thy love that we shall be washed beyond the mire of doubt and fear.
~Charles Spurgeon~
Our heavenly Father seeks our instruction, not our destruction.
His
contention with us has a kind intention toward us.
He will not be always
in arms against us.
We think the LORD is long in His chastisements, but
that is because we are short in our patience.
His compassion endureth
forever, but not His contention.
The night may drag its weary length
along, but it must in the end give place to cheerful day.
As contention
is only for a season, so the wrath which leads to it is only for a small
moment.
The LORD loves His chosen too well to be always angry with
them.
If He were to deal with us always as He does sometimes, we should
faint outright and go down hopelessly to the gates of death.
Courage,
dear heart!
The LORD will soon end His chiding.
Bear up, for the LORD
will bear you up and bear you through.
He who made you knows how frail
you are and how little you can bear.
He will handle tenderly that which
He has fashioned so delicately.
Therefore, be not afraid because of the
painful present, for it hastens to a happy future.
He that smote you
will heal you; His little wrath shall be followed by great mercies.
~Charles Spurgeon~
Many pleasing things the LORD may withhold but "no good thing."
He is
the best judge of what is good for us.
Some things are assuredly good,
and these we may have for the asking through Jesus Christ our LORD.
Holiness
is a good thing, and this He will work in us freely.
Victory over evil
tendencies, strong tempers, and evil habits He will gladly grant, and we
ought not to remain without it.
Full assurance He will bestow, and near communion
with Himself, and access into all truth, and boldness with prevalence
at the mercy seat.
If we have not these, it is from want of faith to
receive and not from any unwillingness of God to give.
A calm, a
heavenly frame, great patience, and fervent love-all these will He give
to holy diligence.
But note well that we must "walk uprightly."
There must be no cross purposes and crooked dealings; no hypocrisy nor
deceit.
If we walk foully God cannot give us favors, for that would be a
premium upon sin.
The way of uprightness is the way of heavenly
wealth-wealth so large as to include every good thing.
What a promise to plead in prayer!
Let us get to our knees.
~Charles Spurgeon~
