Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 04 October, 2023 A.D.

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." —I Corinthians 6:12 [KJV]

The constraints of love and jealousy of fear sweetly unite in the believing heart. Where the faith of Jesus prevails, love constrains. It holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are kept together under a banner or ensign displayed. What cheerfulness and activity of soul do we experience, when we can say with the church in the Canticles (Songs of Solomon), ch. 2, vs4. "Jesus' banner over me was love!" Then how sweetly do we judge and determine our conduct by the law of Christ, which is LOVE! 

This excites a godly fear lest we should allow ourselves a latitude in things in themselves indifferent, to the wounding and hurt of our souls or our fellow-soldiers. Though all things of an indifferent nature, which are innocent in themselves, are lawful to us; yet the cause and interest of our dear Saviour, and the good and edifying of His beloved members, should be ever near our hearts, and make us consider the expediency of them. How narrow is the path of duty! yet it is pleasant to the faithful soul. For Jesus hath strewed it with the fragrant fruits of peace, love, and comfort. 

Peace from God, and with our brethren; love to God and one another. While we walk according to this rule, we bring glory to God who hath called us by Jesus Christ to glory, and will also assuredly glorify us together with Himself. What circumspection becomes disciples in their daily walk, that they give none offence, neither to the Jew nor to the Gentile, nor to the church of God! The eyes, not only of God, angels, and devils, are upon us, but the eyes of men also, our brethren, and our opposers. Did the Rechabites wholly abstain from wine, because Jonadab commanded "Ye shall drink no wine?" Did the Lord honor their obedience in this indifferent thing with his approbation?—Jeremiah 35. 

How much more will Jesus honor His disciples, Who, with an eye to His glory, and His members' good, abstain from things that are not expedient! Thou freeman of the Lord, with a holy resolution assert thy dignity. I will not be brought under the power of any thing contrary to the love of Jesus. Happy is he who seeketh not to please himself, but to profit others. 

How then can those answer to the Lord Christ, to their own souls, and to their brethren, who can indulge themselves at card-tables, play-houses, etc. and say, "These are indifferent things; I see no harm in them!" Is this "following after the things which make for peace, and wherewith one may edify another?"—Romans 14:19. "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."—Romans 14:22.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

Comments

Godwill said…
So blessed. God richly bless you for sharing this blog. So inspiring, strengthening and edifying.
October 4, 2023 at 3:17 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Incoming GOOD NEWS!

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands   (17-19SEP21) Heads-Up   ---   Please find enclosed encouragement in   SO GREAT SALVATION   by the perfect and finished work of   our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor to save us  from our sins and from Hell: HOW GOD SAVES SINNERS In Genesis chapter six and seven we have the story of the flood and how God  saved Noah and his family from the horrendous destruction by putting them  into an Ark. We see the righteous judgment of God against sin and the mercy  of God revealed through Christ. The Ark of God is a worthy picture and  pattern of how the Lord is pleased to save sinners and justify them in Jesus  Christ. Here are five things to remember about how God saves sinners. 1). The grace of God , "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8) .  Noah did not earn, merit or deserve grace, he found God to be gracious. It  was the sovereign
Read more

3 LIES ABOUT GOD & 3 TRUTHS ABOUT GOD

 I want to share three lies about God I’ve recently seen tossed about on social media as truth by professed believers: (1) God can move in your life.......if you permit Him. (2) Christ can be Lord.......if you confess Him. (3) God can do anything ........except overcome a man’s will. Friends, if God doesn’t even have sovereignty over the human heart (without being granted permission, of course) who is serving who? Who really has all power in this universe? Many of you reading this post pray to God for the salvation of your loved ones. Yet you believe it is your loved one who has to grant God permission to save! God is left only to making their life miserable in the hopes they come to Him. Such foolishness! Such powerlessness! Truth #1 : God moves in the lives of His children without human permission . Truth #2 : Men do not make Christ Lord. He IS Lord. Your current opinion of Him no more changes His Lordship over you than if you declared a boiling lava pit to be a s
Read more