Monday, December 30, 2013

"We Know That GOD Causes All Things To Work Together For Good."

The description of the godly man
(J.R. Miller, "Evening Thoughts" 1907)

"Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked, or stand
in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat
of mockers. But his delight is in the law
of the LORD, and on HIS law he meditates
day and night. He is like a tree planted by
streams of water, which yields its fruit 
in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:1-3

In this Psalm, the description of 
the godly  man is first negative:
  There are certain things he never does.
  There are places in which he is never seen.
  He does not make wicked men his advisers.
  He is not seen with those who are evil.
  No one ever sees him among mockers.
Thus the godly man is known by 
what he does not do.

Then there are certain things 
that the godly man does:
He loves GOD'S word, 
reads it, and feeds upon it.
He is careful to live where his 
life may be nourished by 
the streams of grace.

As a result, he is like a tree in 
his beauty and in his fruitfulness. 
Fruit is the test of Christian character.
Then the godly man's life does not 
wither in heat or drought. It is perennial, 
and lives in all kinds of weather.

Another feature of his life is that 
everything he does prospers--
not always in worldly things--
but even in his losses and trials, 
he is still blessed. For, 

"We know that GOD causes all things 
to work together for good to those who 
love GOD, to those who are called 
according to HIS purpose!" Romans 8:28

       ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

GraceGems has published J.A. James' insightful article,
"Pastoral Claims Stated".

No comments: