June 14, 2020
Hymn of the Day
(Tune: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place, p.228)
Behold, the blest Redeemer comes, Th' eternal Son appears,
And at th' appointed time assumes, The body God prepares.
[Refrain]
Behold our glorious God and King,
Our Savior, Priest, and Friend.
May all His glories be proclaimed,
And praises never end.
Much he revealed his father's grace, And much his truth he showed;
He preached the way of righteousness, Where great assemblies stood.
His Father's honor touched His heart, He pitied sinners' cries;
And to fulfill a Savior's part Was made a sacrifice.
No blood of beasts, on altar shed, Could wash the conscience clean;
But the rich sacrifice He paid, Atones for all our sin.
Today's Hymns: Teach Me Thy Way #337,
To God Be the Glory, #449, The Sands of Time Are Sinking #509
Special Dates
Tricia Drenth – 14 ~ Fred & Anne – 20 ~ Barney and Tricia – 20
Cornell and Shaina – 21 ~ Nevaeh Sandbulte – 22 ~ Jason & Diane – 22
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We won't make much headway in finding a solution if we do not understand the problem. A cure is not likely to be found if we have no knowledge of the disease. In the matter of salvation the problem is man's sin; the solution is God's grace. The disease is moral depravity and spiritual inability; the remedy is God's mercy in Christ. If a man is near-sighted, he only needs corrective glasses but if he is blind, he needs the miracle of sight! If a man is sick, he only needs medicinal aid, but if he is dead, he needs the miracle of life! If man has only strayed from the way, he needs directions, but if he is completely lost, he needs to be found! Here is the question to be settled by preachers and people "What happened in the garden?" When one feels obliged to come to some conclusions on the subjects of election, irresistible grace and particular redemption, it would be wise for him to first determine the condition of the sinner who is to be saved. If man was only wounded by the fall he needs assistance; if he is dead in sins, he needs to be resurrected and that by the purpose and power of the God of life. If fallen man still has his moral ability and power of choice, then let us wait for him to choose and seek God, but if he loves darkness and will not come to Christ then Christ must love and come to him. -Henry Mahan
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"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" -- Matthew 6: 21
Your treasure may not be the same as your neighbor's, but my friend, it is yours whether you actually possess it or not—because you love it! Because your heart is set or fixed upon it. Whether it be things in heaven or things in earth, the heart going out to grasp and embrace them makes those things your treasure. If I may be permitted to turn these words around, "For where your heart is, there is your treasure."
I realize that the heart of fallen man is "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17: 9), but there is no excuse for a man to be surprised at the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7:22, 23; 22:12; 25:1 – 13). For while we may not be able to recognize all of the deceitful inclinations, promptings and motivations of our sinful hearts, and while we may be deceived about why we are doing this or that—we do know what we do! And "the tree is known by his fruit" (Matthew 12: 33).
Brothers and Sisters, I often think of you with prayerful concern as you go out five of six days a week to scratch out a sustenance for your families. I know something of the mental and physical burdens you have to bear and of the vile and disrespectful people you often have to work with or do business with. I'm no "novice" (I Timothy 3: 6). I've been there, and I know how distracting, trying and deadening an influence these things can be upon the spirituality of a Christian.
What has this to do with the heart and one's treasure? Just this: when your day is finished, your week is ended, and you are free from your vocation—what then engages your thoughts?--and your heart? And with whom do you spend your free time? When you free the reins on a horse, it will take the most direct route home, and when let loose in the pasture, it will choose the company of other horses above cows, goats or pigs. A horse acts instinctively, but a man follows his heart—to his treasure! -Maurice Montgomery
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In all our dealings with God and man, love is to be the rule. No other motivation is acceptable to God and no other principle can properly guide our conduct with men.
If we try to serve God by any other motivation than love, all our service is nothing more than dead works; all our speaking is just a noisy gong and clanging cymbal. Loveless worship is an abomination to God, and it would be better for us not to worship at all that to do so out of a sense of religious obligation or some hope of earthly reward.
And it is simply impossible to write a code of conduct that will cover every aspect of human conduct. Legalists, who rely on such codes, will always look for the least they can do for their neighbor yet satisfy the code. But, love never fails; it always stretches itself to its full length to do good for its object. Love never says, "I have fulfilled my obligation to this person," for it is not motivated by obligation; there is no external principle that presses it into action. Instead, love is the internal force that creates the desire to do good for others and often, quite miraculously, enables a person to do far more than he thought possible.
Love for God is always the result of His love for us. Therefore, the best way to enflame our love for Him so that we may serve Him acceptably is to consider His love for us. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8). Think on the many works of love that God has done for you in and through the Lord Jesus – especially His death for us – and your love for Him will grow.
Loving people – even our enemies – is not so easy a thing to do for they often seek our harm. But we can step outside of our natural way of thinking, seeing them as God sees His people - as pitiful, sinful, spiritually insane people in desperate need of Divine intervention. And we can remember that, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy," (Titus 3:3-5). We can, for Christ's sake, forgive them all their offenses and act in love toward them. These three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. -Joe