AMEN SISTER AND GRACE TO ALL CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS!
Psalms 11:1
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
Psalms 11:2
For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
Psalms 11:3
If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
Psalms 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
Psalms 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Psalms 11:6
Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalms 11:7
For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.
(NKJV)
“The Lord trieth the righteous.”
- Psalm 11:5
All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the
trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause.
Out of the golden gate of God’s ordinance the armies of trial march forth
in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All
providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their
thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of
affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too
low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and
beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls
unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it
hastens to the earth. The trials which come from God are sent to prove and
strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine
grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy.
Our Lord in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a
value upon his people’s faith that he will not screen them from those
trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the
precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not
been like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well
if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold
upon the precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great
foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews
of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut;
affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls.
While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it
must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known.
Thus it is well that Jehovah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to
grow rich towards God.
C.H.SPURGEON
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
November 12, 2007
READ: 1 Peter 2:9-17
The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. —Psalm 149:4
For some folks, the word holiness conjures up images of stuffy prudes—people who are “good” in the worst sense of the word, with sullen and morose faces. They are full of self-righteousness and rigid duty, “on hold for the next life,” as a Washington Post writer put it.
Most people long for truth and goodness. Yet that desire can be frustrated by what they see in some Christians, whom they perceive as self-righteous and judgmental. To unbelievers, such “virtue” is far less interesting than vice, with the result that they cling to their vices even though they may hate them. Joy Davidman, the wife of C. S. Lewis, said, “One sanctimonious hypocrite makes a hundred unbelievers.”
Would that the world saw the real thing—that extraordinary quality of life of which Peter speaks—a life so winsome and attractive it will draw others to the Savior (1 Peter 2:12). “If only 10% of the world’s population had [holiness],” C. S. Lewis mused, “would not the whole world be converted and happy before year’s end?”
We can have it! As we yield our lives to God’s Spirit within, we can live lives of uncommon beauty before a watching world. Israel’s poet assures us, “The Lord . . . will beautify the humble” (Ps. 149:4).
I join in prayer for President Bush, the Administration and our heroes standing in harm’s way!
Good Morning, Kitty....checking out your golden dove. Will be busy again today but I did want to check in with everyone!
