Article re-edited from ten years ago:
One of the many encouraging Scriptural doctrines much needed today is that God makes Christians “worthy” of His enumerable blessings—esp. that of salvation (Mat 10:37, 38; 1Co 11:27, 29; Rev 3:4). Let us not confuse the humility of preaching of past sinners, with the condemnation of present sinners! Though saints still sin they are not considered as such by Scripture. Never do see the Word relate a Christian as a “sinner” (Jhn 3:6; Rom 8:9). -NC
“The Enemy condemns us when we sin, and seeks to crush us under the weight of guilt. But the Comforter does not condemn; He convicts so that we might confess and be cleansed from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).
-MJS
“Walk Worthy of the Lord
”Concerning the believer’s walk, it is to “walk worthy of the Lord” (Ephesians 4:1. How seldom we find such a standard of walk contended for. We hear much as to a “consistent walk,” but such a loose, indefinite character of walk is not found in Scripture—it is rather “worthy of the Lord,” Who loves us, and gave Himself for us. This is a different thought, and silences a thousand questions as to going here and there, doing this or that. The whole point is, is it “worthy of the Lord”? But more than this; His heart’s desire by the Holy Spirit is, that they may honor the Father as they ought to far having made them fit for glory— “Giving thanks to the Father, Who have made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light (Col 1:12).
The verses which follow declare that they now have present redemption: “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins: (Col 1:14). Present deliverance: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness” (vs 13a). And present translation: “Who hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (vs 13b). But there is something more than the other blessings: “made meet” (vs 12) for the inheritance. And how can it be otherwise if we are “in Christ,” yea, “complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power”?
And yet how many Christians in the present day while really in Christ and having His atoning work as the foundation of all their hope of glory, are nevertheless looking for something yet to be done in their souls to make them meet for glory (confirmed for heaven—NC). Hence, it is not uncommon to hear some speak of affliction and trial as squaring and fitting them as stones for the heavenly temple. Others talk of the present sufferings purifying them for glory; or of ripening them, until they become like a stock of corn ready for the garner. Their souls have never entered in that precious declaration of the Holy Spirit, that the Father hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and that our privilege now is thanking Him for it.
That affliction does afterward yield peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby; and that through the trials we profit and are made partakers of His holiness, are most assuredly true; but being made meet for heaven is something not to be done, but has been done. The idea of saints getting by their trials, etc., more and more meet for glory, denies the truth of man’s total ruin in the flesh, sets aside the workmanship of God in the new creation, and questions the value of the redemptive work of the Savior; for “by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb 10:14).
Scripture tells us that Christ is “made of God unto us righteousness” (1Cor 1:30), that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.” He is also spoken of as our life—“Christ, who is our life” (Col 3:4). If then we are regarded by the Father now as not in the flesh, but in Christ, complete in Him who is our life and righteousness; and further, that He now speaks of us as accepted in the Beloved, and that “as Christ is, so are we in this world,” it becomes simple enough.
It was the Father who loved us and chose us in His Son; it is the Father who now welcomes us through Him, accepts us in Him, assures us that His Cross has judicially rolled away all our sin and guilt; so that now we are in the new creation, and brought into the new relationship of children, and are partakers of the divine nature.
- Hugh Henry Snell (1817-1892)
MJS daily devotional for August 14:
“At first the heart hunger for maturity in the Lord Jesus is personal, subjective—and necessarily so. Later, when the path to maturity is known and entered upon, this hunger is projected to His Body, and becomes sacrificially objective.” -MJS
“The great lack in servants is not having a sufficiently self-less walk, because you cannot lead anyone beyond where you have been led yourself. Moses was himself many years in the wilderness before he led the people. I cannot ask anyone to leave anything that I have not left myself. It is not the man who sees defects, but the man who removes them who is being used of God.”
“Will you choose the path of death that others may have life? Will you choose to ‘fill up the afflictions of Christ for His Bride’s sake’? But what does it mean? It means living, weeping, suffering, loving with infinite patience, infinite tenderness, unwearyingly love for every member of the Body of Christ. It means the whole being bound up, not in your own progress, but in the progress of the Body of Christ. It means sinking all the personal element into the service of God, wanting neither credit, nor notice, nor recognition. It means an utter dropping of yourself, and a handing over of yourself to God to be poured out for His Body’s sake, the Church.”
“The unwearied care of our Father for us, His patient grace, His gentleness, His leading us on from the world nearer, in spirit, to Himself, indicate what should be the character of our love’s activity towards one another. Our joy in the Father’s presence, as He Himself and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, are made manifest to our hearts, gives us the character of the joy of true fellowship one with another.” -Henry Forbes Witherby (1836-1907)
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
