A book of reality

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law, he mediatates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and whatever he does, he prospers. Ps.1:2-3NASB     “The Bible, above all else, is a book of reality.  And reality has the mark of difficulty.  On one side is the message of hope.  The Scriptures say that the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, but we need to remember that palm trees don’t grow in the beautiful forest, but in the desert.  We are called to bear fruit, but we must recognize that the fruit trees grow in the valley, not on mountaintops.”  Tim Hansel (from his book You Gotta Keep Dancing)

His Special Love

“You are His peculiar care; His regal treasure which He regards as the apple of His eye; the vineyard over which He watches day and night. …. Let the thought of His special love to you be a spiritual pain killer, a dear quieter to you:  I will never leave you or forsake you.  God says that to you as much as to any saint of old. …. We lose much consolation by the habit of reading His promises for the whole church instead of taking them directly home to ourselves.  Believer, grasp the Divine Word with a personal appropiating faith. …. Greet the voice of Jesus addressed to you and say, ‘Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under His shadow with quiet delight’.”  Charles Spurgeon

Christian conduct

“The conduct of a Chritian may sometimes be spotted with imfirmity when the heart is sound in the love of sancity.  Jacob halted and he was blessed.  As his blessing did not take away his halting, so his halting did not keep away his blessing.  The heavenly Bridegroom will not put out a believer’s candle because of the dimness of its burning. …. It would be folly indeed to think our fields have no grain in them because there is some chaff about (with) the wheat; or that ore has no gold in it because there is some dross mixed among (in) it.”  Puritan William Seckle 1660

United Already

” Whatever progress someone is making in the Christian life and no matter how many setbacks he or she suffers, no matter how weak someone’s faith and repentance, each person who is united to Christ is already dead to sin and alive to righteousness.  …. Scripture and Christian experience teach only too well:  the Law accuses us and we die; the Gospel raises us and we live; the Law guides us in Gospel driven sanctification.  And yet we find our former master, sin, is trying desparately, even if finally unsucessfully, to reclaim us, even by using God’s Law unlawfully to accomplish this …. and so we are always left hoping for more, not only from sin’s guilt and tyranny, but also from its very presence.  The New creation, the Kingdom of God in Christ, has come and has already swept us into its marvelous light.  Yet it is present now in weakness and not yet in glory.”  Michael Horton (from his book Too Good To Be True)

God’s comfort

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comfort delights my soul. Ps.94:19 NKJ     God is an ever-present comfort even when our emotions bounce off the wall and our hearts zigzag in a thousand directions.  God wants to calm  our anxieties, but even before that happens, He comforts us in our distress.”  Charles Stanley

He accepts even our poor efforts.

Therefore He (jesus) is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Heb.7:25NASB     “Alas,alas!  My guilt and grief are that my thoughts of Jesus are so faint and so infrequent; and that my commendations of Him are lamentably cold and disapportionate to what they ought to be.  Yet, if the heart is right with God and sincerely affected by the wonders of redeeming love, our gracious High Priest, Jesus Christ, Who knows our weakness will pity and pardon what is amiss and accept our poor efforts.”  John Newton

Our flesh shall see God

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes, I and not another.  How my heart yearns within me.  Job 19:25-27 NIV     “Even as he pours out his lament for his earthly torment, Job is able to find his way to the window where he spies his hope.  It is not the sight of renewed health, recovered wealth or rediscovered happiness, but rather the sight of something altogether more precious in the midst of his suffering: (quotes Job 19: 25-27).  In addition to the remarkably clear reference to a Mediator in heaven Who will one day stand upon the earth, what is striking here is Job’s hope for the future is not the liberation of his soul from his body.  Though tormented by his physical condition, his confidence is that in this same flesh, he will see God.”  Michael Horton (from his book Too Good To Be True)