Flowers in the Lord's Garden

We are taught in these verses, that there are widely different temperaments in different believers. This is a point which is curiously brought out in the conduct of Peter and John, when Mary told them that the Lord's body was gone. We are told that they both ran to the sepulcher; but John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, outran Peter, and reached the empty grave first. Then the difference between the two men comes out. 

John, of the two more gentle, quiet, tender, reserved, retiring, deep feeling, stooped down and looked in, but went no further. Peter, hotter, and zealous, and impulsive, and fervent, and forward, cannot be content without going down into the sepulcher, and actually seeing with his own eyes. Both, we may be sure, were deeply attached to our Lord. The hearts of both, at this critical juncture, were full of hopes, and fears, and anxieties, and expectations all tangled together. 

Yet each behaves in his own characteristic fashion. We need not doubt that these things were intentionally written for our learning. Let us learn, from the case before us, to make allowances for wide varieties in the inward character of believers. To do so will save us much trouble in the journey of life and prevent many an uncharitable thought. Let us not judge brethren harshly, and set them down in a low place, because they do not see or feel things exactly as we see and feel, and because things do not affect or strike them just as they affect and strike us. 

The flowers in the Lord's garden are not all of one color and one scent, though they are all planted by one Spirit. The subjects of His kingdom are not all exactly of one tone and temperament, though they all love the same Savior, and are written in the same Book of Life. The Church of Christ has some in its ranks who are like Peter, and some who are like John; and a place for all, and a work for all to do. Let us love all who love Christ in sincerity, and to thank God that they love Him at all. The great thing is to love Jesus! 

[J. C. Ryle] 

John 20:3-6 ... Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

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This God is Mine!!

Deuteronomy 32:9, "The Lord's portion is His people!"

Lamentations 3:24, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

The above two passages of Scripture ought never to be separated.

God and my soul possess each other.

God finds His portion in His people and His people find their portion in their God!

This God is mine, in all His glorious perfection!

His heart is mine, for He loves me with an infinite love.

His ear is mine, for I may pour into it all my tales of sorrow, and all my songs of joy.

His eyes are mine, for they keep watch on me from morning until night.

His hand is mine, for it is ever stretched out to uphold me.

He is a God of infinite glory!

[Archibald Brown]

Psalm 48:14 ...  For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

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Unfailing Happiness!!

Here is one of the sweetest privileges of the Christian life. The Christian is God's beloved child and shares all the love and tenderness of the Father's heart!

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness! 

"I am at home with God!  Once I was far off but now, I am brought near.  Once I was a stranger but now, I am His beloved child!  Once the thought of His presence was fear and dread but now it is life, and joy and peace. He is my Father, and in this Name all heart-joys meet. He knows me by name, and cares for me in all my cares. He pities me, and in tender compassion marks each tear I shed, and each sorrow that weighs upon my heart.  He opens His hand, and each day gives me all that I need. He bows down His ear and hearkens to each prayer I offer.  I have boldness and liberty to go at all times into His presence-chamber and may tell Him my every desire and ask of Him whatever is for my good."

[George Everard]

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Ephesians 1:5 ...  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Galatians 3:26 ... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:1 ... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ❤

Preaching of The Cross

Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favorite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all his other works. 

 [Matthew Henry]

Romans 1:16 ... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Hebrews 4:12 ...  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ... For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ❤

By Him ...

This is one of the reasons why he is called "the image of God," and the "first-born." He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by the apostle is universal. He does not declare that he created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that he arranged the events of the gospel dispensation; but that everything was created by him. 

[Barnes Notes on The Bible]

Colossians 1:16 ... For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

John 1:3 ... All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ❤

Coming For You!!

The Scriptures confront us with a truth that the proud heart hates to ponder man is but dust. Beauty, wealth, strength, and status all of these perish at the grave's edge. What is frailer than the body? It is but a heap of dust, held together by the breath of God and when He withdraws it, it returns to the earth from whence it came. So do not boast in outward beauty, or earthly treasure.

Death makes the greatest beauty so loathsome, that it must be buried out of sight! The fairest face, so admired in life, will in time become an object of horror. The smooth skin will shrivel. The bright eyes will dim. The laughter, the voice, the charm will be silenced forever in death. The body, now so tenderly cared for, shall be turned into a lump of corruption, and lie moldering in the dust.

Death will strip you of all your ornaments, tear the mask from your face, and leave you loathsome to those who once admired you. Your corpse shall be carried to the grave, the house appointed for all living; and there the worms shall cover you yes, the worms shall feed sweetly on you.

What has become of the loveliness that once charmed the eyes of beholders? Death has blasted it! And what of the fine clothing, and the gold and glitter of this world? The finest clothes are but badges of our sin and shame. Soon enough, they will be exchanged for a burial shroud. And the body, no matter how pampered or praised, will become a feast for worms!

Such truths are not morbid. They are merciful. For they will strip away our illusions and compel us to look beyond this vain and fleeting world.

At every funeral we attend, we should ever hearken to death's voice, for it always says to us: "I am coming for you soon!"

[Thomas Boston]

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Hebrews 9:27 ... And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Genesis 3:19 ... In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Psalm 49:14 ... Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. ❤

Before Me...

I'm walking into so much I don't know, conversations I haven't had, challenges I haven't faced, moments I can't predict, but You're already there, ahead of me in all of it.

Teach me what it means that You go before me, that I'm never the first to arrive anywhere, that You've surveyed what's ahead and prepared the ground before I get there.

You go before me as my advance guard, smoothing rough places, opening doors I need opened, closing ones I shouldn't enter, working ahead of me in ways I'll never fully know.

Help me walk with confidence because You've gone ahead, trusting that wherever I'm going today, you've already been, that nothing will surprise You or catch You unprepared.

Remind me that going before me is love in action, your care demonstrated by preparing my path, protecting my steps, orchestrating what needs to happen before I arrive.

Give me peace about what's ahead because You're already there, courage to step forward knowing You've gone first, trust that your advance work makes every path safe.

Let me walk today knowing the Lord goes before me, confident because You're ahead of me, secure because wherever I'm going, You're already there.

Psalm 16:8 ... I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. ❤

Love ~ Hate

LOVE is so powerful that it can outlast even death itself. 

HATE is so destructive that it cannot sustain even this fleeting life.

[Author Unknown]

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1 John 3:14 ...  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:15 ... Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ❤

Rely on God!

We can overcome difficulties by fully trusting and 

relying on the Lord.

 Proverbs 3:5-6 ... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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Unwavering Faith

Despite suffering like Job, keep unwavering faith and the Lord will vindicate you.

Job 19:25-27 ... For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

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Hold Me Up!!

There is a glorious humility in this brief prayer. It is the cry of one who knows both his weakness, and his heavenly Father's ability. The psalmist does not say, "I will hold myself up!" or "I will stand in my own strength!" He knows better. He has learned the painful lesson of his own weakness and instability, and proneness to wander from God. Instead, he casts himself entirely upon the Lord: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Only God can uphold His redeemed people, with corruption in their hearts, in a world full of spiritual dangers and deceits.

This verse is a declaration of the utter necessity of God's sustaining grace. The redeemed are not kept by their own willpower, intelligence, or resolve--they are "kept by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). It is sovereign grace that chose them, grace that effectually called them, grace that redeemed them, and grace that will preserve them to the end.

Were it not for God's moment-by-moment upholding grace, no believer could endure to the end. The world entices, the flesh rebels, the devil accuses and divine grace alone keeps their feet from slipping.

The Lord's people shall not fall away finally or totally. They may fall foully, but they shall not fall finally. He who began the good work in them, will carry it on until He completes it. The same hand which gave us spiritual life, must preserve that life. Grace in the heart, is like a spark in the ocean it would be utterly quenched, unless the Lord kept it alive.

Yet God's sustaining grace is not merely a necessity it is a comfort beyond all measure. What greater security could the believer have, than to be upheld by God's everlasting arms! What sweeter assurance than to know that our safety depends, not on our grip on God, but on His mighty hold on us! "The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). When fear arises, when temptations threaten, when strength fails may this prayer be our rock of refuge: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!"

Let every believer pray this daily. Let us not rely on our own wisdom or strength. Let us lean wholly on Him who never fails. And when we are upheld, when we find ourselves still walking with God, still standing in grace, still looking to Jesus let us give Him all the praise. For it is not we who have held fast to Him but He who has held fast to us.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Jude 24 ...  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Psalm 119:117 ... Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. ❤