Reign, Blessed JESUS, In My Heart, Reign Supreme, And Without Rival.

Our continual and absolute need of CHRIST

(John Fawcett, "Christ Precious")

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"Yes, HE is very precious to you 

who believe." 1 Peter 2:7

The sense we have of our continual 

and absolute need of CHRIST, has a 

tendency to engage our affections to HIM. 

At our first conversion, when we were 

turned from darkness to light . . .

  we saw ourselves lost, and that none 

    but CHRIST could save us;
  we felt the wounds of a guilty conscience, 

   and we knew that HE alone could heal them;
  we trembled before the offended Majesty 

  of GOD, and we were persuaded that  HE 

   alone could deliver us from the wrath to come;

  we saw that there was no remission of sin, 

no reconciliation with GOD, no salvation--

but through JESUS.
Hence HE became, at that period--

all in all to us.

We still see the absolute necessity 

of this precious SAVIOR in every respect, 

so that without HIM we can do nothing, 

as HE HIMSELF has told us. 

We have need of HIM . . .
  when we are dark--to enlighten us;
  when we are dull and lifeless--to quicken us;
  when we are weak--to strengthen us;
  when we are tempted--to support us;
  when we have fallen--to raise and restore us;
  when we are disquieted with fears--to encourage us;
  when we are full of doubts and perplexity--

   to comfort us and give us peace;
  when we are staggering at the promises 

through unbelief--to increase our faith.

As none but CHRIST can do these things for us--

HE must be precious to our souls.

"Yes, HE is very precious to you 

who believe." 1 Peter 2:7

If JESUS CHRIST is precious to us, 

the bent of our souls will be towards HIM. 

We shall choose HIM above and beyond 

every other object, as our most desirable 

portion, and exceeding great reward.

If anything in this world is chosen 

by us as our chief good--

our hearts will run out in strongest 

affections towards it. We shall look 

for our felicity in that object, 

be it what it may; that object 

therefore, and not CHRIST, 

will be most precious unto us.

If our regard for the REDEEMER is 

supreme, as it ought to be--

our whole hearts will go out after 

HIM in the most intense longings, 

and with the most ardent desires. 

The heart of a believer is restless, 

until it obtains . . .
  a solid hope and persuasion  

      of CHRIST'S love,
  a growing conformity to HIM,
  and sincere delight in HIM.

The soul rests and acquiesces in HIM 

alone, and is not happy without 

the enjoyment of some tokens of HIS love. 

The language of such a one is, 

"If I have CHRIST for my friend, 

and my everlasting portion--

I have all! When HIS face is hidden, 

and HIS comforts withdrawn, I seek 

HIM with restless desire, and often cry--

O that I knew where I might find HIM!"

"Reign, blessed JESUS, in my heart--

reign supreme, and without a rival. 

I would sincerely love YOU above 

all things in heaven or earth. 

I see that YOU are infinitely glorious 

in YOURSELF, and worthy of my 

highest esteem and love. YOU are 

the only all-sufficient good--

the overflowing spring of grace 

and blessedness. 

All things beneath and besides YOU--

are vanity and emptiness. In comparison 

with YOU, they are less than nothing. 

YOU have drawn my heart towards 

YOURSELF, and made me willing 

to make choice of YOU as my SAVIOR 

and my Portion. 

I would renounce all that the world 

calls good or great, that I may be 

entirely YOURS. Be my everlasting 

inheritance, and I shall desire nothing 

that the whole world can bestow. 

Whom have I in heaven but YOU? 

There is nothing on earth that I 

desire in comparison of YOU! 

What can the present world afford, 

to tempt me to relinquish YOU? 

I would therefore bid 'adieu' 

to the gaudy pomps and empty 

vanities of life--

and give my heart supremely to YOU. 

O may all the alluring trifles and vain 

delights of this world stand aloof 

from my heart--

for I have devoted it to my 

REDEEMER for HIS habitation. 

Keep your distance 

O captivating delusions, 

from the gates of my heart, 

where YOU alone should dwell. 

There may YOU reign alone, 

over all my desires forever!"

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Arthur Pink, "The Attributes of God"
Chapter 22. The Guidance of God

This is the last article in the series. It is longer than the others, 

but it is choice. It discusses the right and wrong ways to discern 

GOD'S will for our lives.