Sunday, June 16, 2013

GOD'S Presence, And HIS Grace-- All Undeserved By Me!

In the day of adversity, consider!
(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"In the day of adversity, consider!
Ecclesiastes 7:14

In your adversity, consider:
  That you deserve it all!

  That, had you nothing but adversity,
it only were your due!
  That every moment free from
trouble, is a mercy!
  That had the full curse
been poured on you--
your life would be nothing
but sorrow and vexation!

Consider that GOD afflicts 
you for your profit--
to bring your sins to mind,
and lead you to the Cross.

Believer, GOD chastens you in love,
to make you a partaker of HIS holiness.
(Hebrews 12:10.)
How often have you forgotten HIM!

But HE never forgets you--
and thus HE chastens you.

Consider, 
how much you live for the world--
how little you live for the LORD!

Consider how earthly, sensual,
and devilish is your nature!

Consider your thoughts--how vain!
Consider your service--how unprofitable!
Consider, then, GOD'S love in chastening you.

Are you in sickness--
then consider your many
days of former health--
all undeserved by you!

Consider your many helps in trouble,
GOD'S presence, and HIS grace--
all undeserved by you!

In sleepless nights, consider
how many nights you have slept
soundly and sweetly--
all undeserved by you!

Consider HIM, who gives
you songs in the night--
all undeserved by you!

In poverty, consider how all your
former needs have been supplied--
food, clothing, lodging, and
so many comforts--
all undeserved by you!

Have you incurred the loss
of sight or hearing; loss of limbs,
or power of using them? Consider,
then, your former powers; how much
enjoyment you have had in seeing,
hearing, moving, handling--
all undeserved by you!

O tried believer, consider, then,
that your afflictions are light--
and they are but for a moment.
They are all ordered in divine
wisdom, tenderness, and love!

Consider JESUS!

what sufferings HE endured--
all for unworthy you!

Then faint not, nor be weary, but
consider your "eternal weight of glory"--
glory "that far outweighs" all your woes--
glory, all undeserved by you!

"Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day. For our light and momentary 
troubles are achieving for us an eternal
glory that far outweighs them all!
So we fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal!"
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

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GraceGems has published J.C. Ryle's challenging article,
"Are you regenerate?"

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