Supremely precious
(John Fawcett, "Christ Precious")
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"Yes, HE is very precious to you
who believe." 1 Peter 2:7
If CHRIST is truly precious to us,
we shall prefer HIM above every other
object; HE will have the chief place
in our affections.
The love which a Christian has to his
SAVIOR penetrates and possesses his heart.
This distinguishes it from the pretended
love of hypocrites, which is only in word,
or in some external actions, while their
hearts are full of sinful self-love;
so that it may be said of them,
"This people honor ME with their lips,
but their hearts are far from ME."
We may possibly delight in some objects
of an inferior nature, as they contribute
to our health, our ease, or our comfort.
Our homes, our food, and our other
temporal enjoyments are dear to us,
because they minister to our comfort
and convenience in the present life.
But true love for CHRIST does not
allow any other object to hold
the chief place in the heart.
This chief place is for JESUS, whom
we ought to love with supreme ardor.
The choicest affections of our souls
ought to be supremely fixed upon HIM.
As it is impossible for any man
to love an unknown object--
so it cannot be expected that CHRIST
should be supremely precious unto
us, unless we know HIM to be excellent
and desirable, beyond whatever may
be compared with HIM.
We shall not esteem HIM above all things,
if we have not elevated views of HIS
transcendent worth. Our esteem of HIM
rises in proportion to the knowledge
we have of HIM. Godly men therefore
ardently desire to increase in
the knowledge of HIM, that their
affections may be more intensely
fixed upon HIM.
That love, which has but created things
for its object, is degrading to the soul.
It is a cleaving to that which can
neither give happiness to our souls,
nor repose to our minds. For to love
any object ardently, is to seek our
felicity in it and to expect that
it will answer our desires.
It is to call upon it to fill that deep
void which we feel in ourselves, and
to imagine that it is capable of giving
us the satisfaction we seek.
It is to regard it as . . .
the resource of all our needs,
the remedy of all the troubles
which oppress us,
and the source of all our happiness.
Now, as it is GOD alone in whom we
can find all these advantages--
it is a debasing of the soul, it is idolatry
to seek them in created objects!
"I consider everything a loss compared
to the surpassing greatness of knowing
CHRIST JESUS my LORD, for whose sake I
have lost all things. I consider them rubbish,
that I may gain CHRIST!" Philippians 3:8
If CHRIST is truly precious to us--
we shall be induced to devote our
souls and our bodies, our talents,
our abilities and our faculties--
as a living sacrifice to HIM.
To contemplate HIS adorable perfections
will be our highest joy. We shall be ready
to obey HIM, in opposition to all the threats
and the solicitations of men. We shall rely
upon HIM, though all outward appearances
seem to be against us. We shall rejoice in HIM,
though we have nothing else to comfort us.
If we enjoy health and plenty,
friends and reputation--
the LORD is still the object of our
earnest desires and our supreme delight.
"Whom have I in Heaven but YOU?
There is none upon earth that I desire
besides YOU! As the deer pants for
the water-brooks, so longs my soul after
YOU, O GOD. My soul thirsts for GOD,
for the living GOD!" (Psalm 73:25, 42:1,2a)
~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has concluded our series of Arthur Pink's "Attributes of GOD".
Today they begin posting chapters from Gardiner Spring's
"The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character" written in 1829.
This is one of the most helpful books you will ever read, as you
will see from the two page "INTRODUCTION".
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