help

God invites us to go to Him freely in all our troubles. He is not angry with us for telling Him just what we feel. Indeed, we may speak to Him in such a way as we would hardly dare to speak to a fellow creature. I do not mean that we are to speak to God without the deepest reverence. Freely as we may approach Him through Jesus Christ, we must yet always bear in mind the greatness and holiness of God, and our own weakness and sinfulness. 

[Francis Bourdillon]

Psalm 30:10 ...  Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

Psalm 46:1 ... God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 41:13 ... For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. ❤

Scarcely Saved!

The Bible states that "the righteous are scarcely saved." (1 Peter 4:18) 

Now how can this be? Is not such a man sure to be saved? Is not salvation promised to him? Is there any doubt about it? None whatever. "The righteous" here means not one who is righteous in himself for there is no such person in the world but a true Christian, a converted man, one who is justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and seeks daily to live to His glory. There is no doubt about such a person's salvation. He is a branch of the true Vine, a sheep of the flock of Christ; eternal life is given him by Christ; he shall never perish, and none shall pluck him out of the good Shepherd's hand! (John 10:28) 

What then does this "scarcely" mean? Take a case by way of illustration. A fire once broke out in one of the large houses in Hatton Garden, London. It was thought all the inhabitants were saved, when a man was seen hanging by his hands from one of the upper windowsills. The fire escape was immediately placed, but did not reach him. The fireman then climbed up and called to him to let himself drop on the top step of the escape, but the man did not answer he was deaf and dumb. With great difficulty the fireman managed, by standing on the top step, to reach high enough to touch his foot, and so attracted his attention. The man was saved but "scarcely saved." 

Take another case. It was a frosty day in winter; the ice seemed strong, and the pond was crowded with people. Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound was heard, and an instant after the cry arose, "A boy is under the ice!" One of the skaters had ventured too near a dangerous part; the ice had given way, and he had sunk beneath. Not a moment was lost. A line was formed to the shore, and those nearest the hole stretched themselves flat on the ice. The boy rose to the surface, the nearest hand laid hold on him, the line moved gently toward the shore, and in a few minutes the boy lay on the bank. But he was senseless. They took him to the nearest house and applied the usual means for recovery but all, as it seemed, in vain. The eyes were closed; the limbs were stiff and cold; the breath was gone. At length, when hope was almost past, signs of life appeared; the limbs began to glow; the stiffness relaxed, and he breathed again. The boy was saved, but only just saved, "scarcely saved." 

Either of these cases may serve to explain how the righteous is said to be scarcely saved. It is not that he is not quite saved and certainly saved; but it is because of the great danger he was in, and the great difficulties he has been brought through. He was by nature a child of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins, with no power or wish to turn to God. But through grace he has been led to see his danger and to seek Christ; a change of heart has been wrought in him by the Spirit of God; he has become a new creature in Christ Jesus and has passed from death unto life. But his difficulties are not over. Snares and temptations lie in his path; and his heart, though renewed by grace, is by no means free from sin. He finds the Christian life to be no smooth and easy course but a race, a strife, a warfare, from first to last; and often has he to mourn over his own backslidings and shortcomings. And probably he has trials of another kind too losses, sorrows, afflictions; for God does not leave His children unchastised. The chastisements He sends are proofs of love, rather than of anger and sometimes seem to fall heaviest on the best Christians. Thus, it is through danger and difficulty, temptation and trial that the Christian is saved. 

Many a rough place must he pass; many a battle must he fight; many a sorrow must he bear before his course be done. He is saved, but "scarcely saved." Yet it is surely though scarcely. Tried and harassed he may be but not lost. Worn, tempted, and persecuted but not cast away. God's love and faithfulness are engaged for his salvation. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and my father are one" (John 10:27-30) 

But now comes a solemn question: If the righteous is scarcely saved—then what will become of the unrighteous? It is the Bible that puts this question about the unrighteous. The words are these: "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18) They are in fact the words of God, though written by the apostle Peter. They are God's words to you, reader, if you are among the ungodly and the sinners God's solemn question to your soul. A question, but a question without an answer: the answer is left to you. 

"The ungodly and the sinner." Why are there two words instead of one? On purpose, it would seem, to take in sinners of all sorts the hardened transgressor, the man who lives in habits of sin, the bold wicked man the weak and wavering man, the light and careless, the worldly, the empty professor all who are living without God in the world, all who are not washed in the blood of Christ and renewed by the Spirit. It is quite plain that the apostle means here all who are not righteous; he puts the righteous on one side, and the ungodly and the sinner on the other side; and on one side or the other, he means to take in everybody. It is just the same as if he had said, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall all the rest appear?" 

Now, ask yourself honestly whether you are among the righteous. The question is not whether you are better or worse than your neighbors; that has nothing to do with it but are you righteous? Does what was said at the beginning apply to you? Are you converted? Do you believe with the heart? Are you seeking daily to live to God? If not, then this question about the ungodly and the sinner is for you. Perhaps you do not like either of these words. You do not pretend to be righteous, yet you are not so bad, you think, as those who are called ungodly or sinners. 

Then, reader, I ask you, if neither righteous nor ungodly what are you? Put your finger on that word in the Bible which describes you. You cannot. There is nothing in the Bible between righteous and unrighteous, godly and ungodly, reconciled and unreconciled. And if you are not righteous in God's sight, then before Him whatever you may be in your own eyes or in the eyes of the world before Him, you are ungodly or sinful. I beseech you weigh this well. And now we come to the question itself, "Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 

But this question must not be taken by itself; it hangs upon what has gone before about the righteous: "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" The full meaning is this. Seeing that even the righteous man is scarcely saved, that his dangers and difficulties are great; that he finds it necessary to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11), to "press toward the mark" (Philippians 3:14), to "strive to enter through the narrow gate" (Luke 13:24), and that, though saved to the uttermost by Jesus Christ yet it is as one is rescued from the water or the flames seeing all this, what will become of the wicked? 

Shall the righteous be scarcely saved and you so easily? Shall he reach Heaven by so rough a road and you by one so smooth? Shall he go in by the straight gate and the narrow way and shall you choose the broad gate and the wide road, and yet find it leads you at last to the same happy place? Shall he take up his cross and follow Christ and shall you follow nothing but your own will, and yet win Christ in the end? Never repenting, never turning, never believing and yet saved? Finding without seeking; not running the race, and yet winning the prize; wearing a crown, though never having taken up the cross? Impossible! Reason says so conscience says so, and, as plainly as words can speak, God Himself has said so. Have you never read of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:30), of the sheep and the goats, of the right hand and the left (Matthew 25:33)? 

I spoke just now of a broad road and a narrow road, a straight gate and a wide gate; do you remember what the Bible says about them, and about the places to which they lead? Here are the words our Lord's own words: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14) The righteous and the wicked are traveling different roads and will come to different ends. It is true, they are mixed now, as plants growing in one field are mixed; but it will not always be so. A great separation day is coming, when every plant which God has not planted shall be rooted up (Matthew 25:13); and all refuges of lies shall be swept away (Isaiah 28:17), and the true sheep of Christ from every quarter shall be gathered together into one-fold, into which no mere pretender shall ever come. 

 To that great day, this question itself seems to point, "Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Appear when? Why, on that very day when the Lord Jesus shall appear in His glory, and the saints who slept shall appear with Him, and His waiting people on earth shall appear with joy to meet Him. Then, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Appear they must, somewhere. They cannot hide themselves. "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him." (Revelation 1:7) 

Oh, sinner! Careless and stout-hearted now where will you appear, and how will you feel then? In vain will you call upon the mountains and rocks to fall on you and hide you "from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Revelation 6:16) You must come forth you cannot escape from that all-seeing eye you must meet the Judge. Where will you appear? I leave the question to your conscience. "If the righteous one is scarcely saved then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Look on to that great day so sure to come and coming so swiftly! Look on to it as if already come imagine yourself even now before the throne; imagine that, just as you are, you are suddenly called to stand there. Where do you appear? What do you feel? Which side are you placed on? What words do you hear? How does it fare with your soul? Can you think of this and yet continue in sin and still put off coming to Christ? 

Come with us. "We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel" (Numbers 10:29) His word cannot fail. Not one true believer shall be lost. "He is also able to save to the uttermost, those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25) and He will save them with an everlasting salvation. "Come with us." Turn from sin and the world. Leave the broad road and begin to walk in the narrow way. It is a safe way, though narrow the only safe way; and happy, though rough. And it is not always rough; it has many green spots, many pleasant places; and even when rough, one is with us in it, to help and cheer us by His presence. 

Oh, set out on this road without delay! Too much time has been lost already lose no more. No longer run the risk of appearing among the ungodly and the sinners at His coming flee to Christ at once; be instant and urgent at the mercy seat; pray for the Holy Spirit, for light, pardon, grace, and strength; and ask that, for Christ's sake, you may even now be reckoned among the righteous, and be saved in the day of the Lord! 

[Francis Bourdillon]

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God Reasoning with Lost Sinners

Because "the mouth of the Lord has spoken it," it must be true. Every threat will be made good, every promise will be fulfilled; every warning and exhortation is of the most solemn importance. It is not man who speaks, not even the prophet but the Lord Almighty Himself. He is speaking to sinners. What does He say?

"Come now and let us reason together." How kind and gracious! He does not yet say, "Come, stand before the judgment-seat. Come, and receive the punishment due for your sins" but "Come now and let us reason together." God, whom he has offended, invites the sinner to speak with Him, to hear what He will say, to listen to His offer.

And what an offer! Nay, more than an offer a promise, plain and sure. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." God does not shut His eyes to what the sinner has done; his sins are all before Him, many and great, deep-colored, red like crimson or scarlet. Nor must the sinner himself shut his eyes to them. He must not deny them or refuse to look at them. God calls him to look at them and shows them to him as they are, with no veil or excuse red like crimson. Then God says that they shall be as white as snow; and, as if to make it more certain, He says it again in other words, "they shall be as wool." He will forgive them all. He will fully forgive them. So fully, that not a stain shall be left. What is whiter than wool or purer than snow? So white and pure will God make the sinner in His sight.

How is this? We know now, under the gospel, how it is. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's dearly beloved Son, was shed on the cross. It is that precious blood that washes our sins away and makes us clean. It is for His sake that sinners are forgiven. "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

We must believe in Him. We must be "willing and obedient"; obedient to the gospel call, willing to give up all for Christ all sin, all self-righteousness, all hope and trust but in Him. We must draw near to God with broken and contrite hearts, seeking mercy for Jesus' sake. This is what God invites us to do when He says, "Come now, and let us reason together."

We are not to argue the matter with our Maker and Judge, to make excuses, to put our case in the best light. We are to confess all, to humble ourselves before Him, and simply to plead that Jesus died for us. Then God will be gracious to us. He will surely pardon us. The blood of Jesus will wash away our guilt. Our sins will become as white as snow. "For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."

But let none think to find forgiveness and yet to continue in willful sin. This would be to "refuse and rebel," not to "be willing and obedient." This would be to "turn the grace of God into a license for sin" (Jude 4). Where there is a true coming to Christ for pardon there will be also a change of heart; and where there is a change of heart there will be a hatred of sin. A living faith will certainly lead us to strive continually, that we may "cease to do evil" and "learn to do good."

The pardoned sinner cannot but love his Savior; and Christ and sin cannot be loved together. There can be no real work of grace in the heart, no true faith in Christ, and no pardon of sin unless there is the fruit of love to Him who redeemed us by His blood; and love will certainly be shown by striving to keep His commandments. Jesus said of one penitent sinner, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." (Luke 7:47) He said to all, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

[Francis Bourdillon]

Isaiah 1:18-20 ... Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. ❤

Have You Prayed Today?

Ever since you rose from your bed this morning, there has been an eye upon you. Wherever you have been and whatever you have been doing that eye has seen you. It has gone with you to your work; it has seen you with your companions; it has been on you when you were alone. It has seen not merely all that you have done, but why you did it. Your thoughts, your feelings, your motives, which even your nearest friend has not fully known have all been open to that eye of which I speak. For it is an all-seeing eye, the eye of God!

Have you thought of Him whose eye has been upon you? Have you given so much as one thought to Him, since the day began? Have you spoken to Him? Have you prayed to Him?

It is a duty to pray, for God has commanded you to pray.

"Pray to your Father who is in the secret place." (Matthew 6:6) 

"Watch and pray." (Matthew 26:41) 

"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

"In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6) 

It is wrong therefore not to pray.

You have need to pray, great need, for you are dependent upon God for everything. You are entirely in His hand.

If you went to your work this morning strong and well it was only because God made you so and kept you so.

If you have had enough to eat today, if you are clothed comfortably and have a home to live in it is only because God supplies your needs. You would have nothing if God did not supply you.

You live only because He gives you life. He could take all your comforts from you if it pleased Him. He could lay you on a bed of sickness this very day. He could in a moment, strike you dead!

But you have need to pray also, because you are a sinner. Whether you feel it or not you are one. You have offended God. You have done what He told you not to do you have gone against His will, and that more times than can be numbered. And therefore, you need His forgiveness.

Yes, more than anything else, more than food and clothing, and health and strength more than all, you need God's forgiveness.

Will He forgive you? Yes, if you ask Him aright, pleading the merits of Christ your Savior. Then He will forgive you for every wrong thing you have ever done for every evil word you have ever said for every wicked thought that has ever been in your heart. He is quite ready to forgive you. For Christ died to save sinners His precious blood was shed to wash away their sins! You are a sinner, and you have to pray that your sins may be forgiven for His sake, and that you may be saved through Him; and God will hear that prayer. He will forgive you for Christ's sake.

But you need more still. What kind of a heart have you? People talk sometimes of "a good heart." "So-and-so," they say, "is a good-hearted man." I believe they mean a man of a kind heart, not ill-tempered, or malicious, as some are. But they would have to look far indeed before they found one who was really a "good-hearted" man for there is no such man. Our hearts are naturally not good but evil.

Have you not often done wrong? You know that you have! Well, what was it that led you to do wrong? Was it not your heart? And if your heart has led you to do wrong, can it be a good heart? You need a new heart. You need the Holy Spirit of God to change your heart, to lead you to think and feel and wish a right to dwell within you, inclining you always to what is good.

But when I speak of what you need and what you should therefore pray for I hardly know where to stop.

You need peace of mind.

You need comfort in times of trouble.

You need guidance in difficulty.

You need wisdom, help, and strength.

Perhaps all may be summed up in this you need God for your Father and Friend, your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus. If that blessing were yours then all would be yours.

God hears prayer yes, all prayer that is made to Him through Jesus Christ. We do not spend our words for nothing, when we pray. As unworthy as we are yet God promises to hear us when we pray in the name of His dear Son. The Lord Jesus is our Mediator and Advocate He pleads our cause and makes our poor prayers acceptable to God.

Now, with God's command that you should pray, and with so many needs daily needs, needs which none but He can supply, and with His promise to hear you for Christ's sake have you asked Him for anything today? Have you prayed?

You ought to have prayed. Before you entered upon the work and bustle of the day you ought to have gone on your knees. If you did not do so, then pray now. Perhaps at this moment you cannot kneel, but at least you can pray with your heart. Pray standing; pray sitting; pray walking; pray working; pray in any manner rather than not pray at all. Let no more of the day pass without prayer; too much of it has passed so already. Lift up your heart now and say to God, "God be merciful to me, a sinner! Forgive me for not praying. Forgive me for all my sins. Blot them out in my Savior's precious blood. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Give me a new heart. Teach me to pray. Watch over me this day; keep me from evil; keep me from sin. Bless me in my body and bless me in my soul. Make me Your own forever and be my Father in Christ Jesus. O God, hear me for Your dear Son's sake!"

[Francis Bourdillon]

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He Can and He Will

"Do you wish to be forgiven?" "Wish?" said the sick man. "Oh, if you knew how I wish it! I feel as if I would care for nothing, not for the pain or anything else if I could but think God would forgive me. But how can He forgive me? You don't know what I've been." "No, I don't know any further than you have told me, but God knows." "Ah, it is what troubles me. He knows all. What a wicked life I've led! And He knows it." And the sick man groaned aloud. "I don't know your past life; but one thing I know, and that is that God is ready, for Christ's sake, to forgive you all." "No, not such as me not such as me. It is not as if I hadn't known. I did know and yet I went on in wickedness. It's too late now. I'm a dying man, and what is to become of me?" "Do you think God can forgive you?" "Yes, He can. He can do anything, but He won't. 

Oh, if only He would!" "Let me read you something." Then the minister read to the sick man as follows: "A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." (Matthew 8:2-3)  

"That man," said the minister, "was like you. He had a dreadful illness which nobody could cure so have you. I am not speaking of your body but of your soul. Guilt and sin are your leprosy no mere man can cure them. The leper believed that Jesus had power to make him clean, and you believe that God can make you clean. But the leper did not feel sure that Jesus would: "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean," he said. You say "if" too; but he said it hoping that Jesus would whereas you seem hardly able to hope at all. 

But now see what Jesus did: in a moment, without the least delay, without another word, "Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." What had become of the "if"? There was no "if" in the matter, no more an "if" in the "willing" than in the "can." Jesus was as willing as He was able. That dreadful, incurable disease was completely under His power; He could make the leper clean, and He did, for, "Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." The sick man had covered his face and was weeping. Tears stood in the minister's eyes too, as he went on: "Yes, such grace and mercy may well make us weep, but not in despair. There is no room for despair, when God, for Christ's sake, is both able and willing to forgive us and save us. Perfectly able, perfectly willing and that now, immediately. 

This is true, and true for you. God knows what you have been, and what you are. Every sin that you have ever committed was done in His sight. Every wicked word that you have ever spoken was said in His hearing. He knows all, and yet He can make you clean. He will make you clean this very moment if you ask Him as earnestly and sincerely as that leper did. God gave His own dear Son to shed His blood upon the cross, on purpose to wash away guilt, and make the guilty clean! It was love that led to that, and He loves still. It is through His grace and love, that this message comes to you by me today. It is His grace and love which, by His Holy Spirit, has stirred in your mind even a faint desire for mercy. God has ordered it so. Can you think that He will not forgive you? He who gave His own dear Son to save sinners, He who desires not the death of any sinner, He who holds the pardon in His hands, as it were, at this very moment, He who can forgive will He not forgive you? Will He say "No," when you ask Him? Will "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered him up for us all" will He say, 'I can, but I will not?' See how gracious Jesus was to the leper. His faith was so weak that he hardly even asked. All that he said was, 'Lord, if You are willing, you can make me clean!' But there was in his words just a breath of prayer, just a spark of faith; and Jesus heard and answered, 'I will.' He said, 'Be cleansed.' 

Will He be less gracious to you? Go to Him now with those very words, if you cannot raise your thoughts higher; say to Him, 'Lord, if You are willing You can make me clean!' But while you say the words, remember that Jesus did make him clean; and let that thought give you hope and faith. "Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." Is Jesus less willing to cleanse the soul, than the body? Let not Satan make you think so; for it is he who would keep you from Jesus. Do not listen to him. Listen rather to the Holy Spirit and believe. Jesus is as able as He is willing to forgive, cleanse, and save you. He can, and He will. 

[Francis Bourdillon]

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"It's Not My Fault!"

John Bell went straight home from his work. He needed rest and food, for he was both tired and hungry. He opened the door, but there was nothing pleasant within. The room was untidy, the floor upswept, the windows uncleaned, the table covered with everything that ought not to have been there, and nothing that ought. There was no tea ready, or likely to be ready, no kettle boiling, hardly any fire in the grate. 

Mrs. Bell was there indeed, but she was doing nothing to make things comfortable. She was scolding one of the children at the top of her voice. There was no comfort there. So, John Bell seemed to think, for he muttered something and shut the door and went inside and five minutes later, he was drinking beer beside a snug fire at the tavern. 

Next day at about the same hour John Bell went home again. All was quiet as he went up the stairs. "Perhaps there'll be some peace and comfort today," he said to himself. Peace enough certainly, for there was no one there to make a noise, but not much comfort. The house looked much the same as yesterday, cold, cheerless, and uncleaned. Again, the man turned on his heel; again, he took refuge at the tavern. Where was his wife? The last that was seen of her was about half an hour before, when she was seen going down the street with her shawl thrown over her head, but no one saw her after that. As for the children, they might be anywhere. 

Now, Mrs. Bell, what have you to say to this? "Oh, it is not my fault. You don't know what a life he leads. It's no use my striving, when he drinks away his money and then comes home and abuses me. I'm not going to slave for him anymore. And as for drink, why shouldn't I have a drop now and then, as well as he?" I dare say what you say is partly true. Your husband is a drinking man; and when he is drunk, he does not treat his wife and children as he ought. It is very bad. But shall I tell you what you are doing? You are making bad things, worse. You say yourself, "He gets worse and worse." Then he was not always as bad as he is now?" "No," you reply, "he was always fond of drinking, but he used to come home a deal more than he does now." "Well, when he used to come home, did you take care that he would find his home comfortable? Was the room always swept clean? Was his tea ready for him? Did you speak kindly to him, as if you were glad to see him come home? In fact, was his home such as to tempt him to come to it again?" Ah, you say nothing!

I can see how it has been. Only consider. Why this very day, and yesterday too your husband would have had his tea at home and perhaps not gone out again, if you had been there with a pleasant temper and a clean room and the kettle boiling and the tea set. And if he had found this yesterday and today, perhaps he might have come again, and learned to like his home better than the tavern. "But I didn't know he was coming." "But you should have been ready for him, all the same. Take a word of advice. You wish your home to be different from what it is, I am sure and your husband to be different, yes and yourself also. 

Now, do not sit down in despair, as if things could not be mended. Try to mend them. Do your part at least. You are making bad things, worse now. Try to make bad things, better. Invite your husband to come home and make all comfortable for him. If he scolds, don't you scold in return. If he drinks, don't you drink. Be kind, gentle, and forbearing. Be what a wife ought to be to him. Don't think of all that he has done wrong. That will do no good. Give him a good home to come to, and thus lead him away from drink and from sin. You don't know what a wife may do. "Do you ever pray? I fear not. 

Ah, what a friend you lose! What help and comfort you might have, just for the asking! Will you not begin? God is very gracious. Jesus is the Savior of all who seek Him in faith. God will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask. Trouble should lead us to prayer. You are in trouble. Then pray. Pray for pardon, grace, wisdom, help. Pray for yourself, for your husband, for your children. Pray God to make you what a wife and a mother ought to be. Pray Him to help you to make your home what a home ought to be. Do but seek God for your Friend through Jesus Christ, and all may yet be well."

[Frances Bourdillon]

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1 Peter 3:1 ... Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

Ephesians 5:22-24 ... Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Romans 14:19 ...  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Philippians 4:6 ... Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.❤

Mind Your Words!

Many people seem to think that words signify little. They must not do what is wrong but they may say what they please. So they seem to think. Is this right? No, it is quite wrong. What we say signifies as much as what we do. As much good or harm may be done with the tongue, as with any member that we have, perhaps more.  What harm an angry word may do! If one person says an angry word, it often leads the other to do the like; and then the first is more angry still, and that provokes the other further, and so they go on until they end in cursing or even in fighting! And all from one angry word. Perhaps until that word was spoken, they were friends.

But what good a kind word may do! One angry word does not always lead to another. Sometimes a man has grace to return a kind answer, like Him "who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten." This does wonders in cooling an angry man. He can hardly go on storming at one who gives him nothing but kind words in return, and often he will own that he has been wrong and ask pardon for what he has said. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). 

Again, how much good a kind word may do to one in trouble! A friend coming in at such a time and speaking kindly and leading our thoughts to God does us more good than if he brought us a rich present in his hand. And yet he has given us nothing but words. But they were good words, his heart speaking by his lips; and we feel the better for them long after he has gone.

The Bible does not make light of words. Our Lord said: "I say unto you that for every idle word that men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

Now words are often spoken hastily and forgotten as soon as spoken. But then a strict account will have to be given of all. Every lie, every oath, every unclean word, every bitter speech must then be accounted for to God. They will all be found written in His book, not one left out, not one forgotten. Is not this a solemn thought?

Do not think lightly then of words! They may do much harm or they may do much good. God does not think lightly of them. They are written in His book, and men will be judged by them at the last day. Sins of the tongue, like all other sins, need the blood of Jesus to wash them away. Ask God, for Christ's sake, to forgive you for all your bad words and to give you His Holy Spirit, that you may sin with your tongue no more. When you feel angry with anyone, do not speak until you have prayed. Here is a prayer that will just suit you: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth! Keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psalm 141:3).

[Francis Bourdillon]

Proverbs 18:21 …  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

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Above The Clouds

What is there above the clouds? Clear blue sky. When the rain is falling fast or the sleet and hail are beating against the window panes even then the sun is shining bright above, and the sky is blue and clear. We may sometimes get up to the top of a mountain and enjoy fine weather, while the valley below is hidden by clouds or drenched with rain. Be it fair weather or foul below it is always fine above, if we do but get up high enough.

Sin and care are like clouds. They are all around us here. True, we have bright times now and then, but the clouds soon gather again. There is generally something to weigh on the mind. Trouble often comes; and as for sin, we find it at every step. And often we have more than clouds. Some great sorrow or some strong temptation comes like a storm driving against us. The clouds seem to break and pour down upon our head.

Yet God never changes. As the sun shines brightly above the clouds, so does God reign in glory above all. Whether our days are passing cheerfully by, or care and sin are pressing us down God is the same, still ruling over all, unchanged and unchangeable. If we do but get up high enough, we find it so. If we can reach the presence of God, all is bright there. Then we rise above sin and care; the things that vexed us seem to sink into nothing, and we are in sunshine again.

Can we do this? Yes. In heart we may though not in body. Prayer will take us into God's presence. In our thoughts we may mount above the clouds and enjoy the sunshine of His presence, even while our bodies remain below. Do you know anything of this? If you know Christ as your Savior and if you have any love to God then you have found it so in a measure. Sometimes when on your knees, you have felt your heart grow light; you have forgotten the care that pressed on you; your thoughts have gone up to the throne of grace, and you have been in the sunshine of God's presence.

Try to rise above the clouds oftener. Pray more and let your prayers be more the prayers of faith. Think much of Jesus, your Savior, Mediator, Friend. Pray for the influence of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace and comfort. And even when your heart seems dead and cold, still believe that "the Lord reigns." He changes not, though you change.

But perhaps you do not know God. Ah, then your happiest times are not truly happy. They cannot be, without God. And when sorrow comes, where do you seek comfort? Are you ever troubled by thoughts of sin? Does it never weigh upon your mind? I do not know how this may be with you; but this I know, that God Himself says, "there is no peace for the wicked," and that "the wages of sin is death."

Yet God is willing to be your God, your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus. If you will come to Him by Christ, you may still find pardon, peace, salvation, joy. You will have the sunshine of His presence in trouble and hereafter brightness and glory with Him forever!

[Francis Bourdillon]

Ephesians 3:17-19 … That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.❤

Speaking to God

Prayer is speaking to God from the heart. Whenever we confess our sins to God and ask Him to forgive us; whenever we tell Him our fears, our troubles, our anxieties; whenever we lay our needs before Him and beg Him to help us, then we pray. We may speak to God in our own words, or in the words of others. We may speak to Him aloud, or only in our thoughts. We may kneel down and pray in a room, or we may lift up our hearts as we walk along the street. We may speak to God anywhere and at any time for He is everywhere. He can hear every word we say. He can read even our secret thoughts, and He is always ready to receive our prayers.

Is not this wonderful? We cannot speak thus to everybody. I dare say, if you wished to ask a favor of some great lord, you would find it difficult to get to him; and if you wanted to speak to the queen, you would find it harder still.  Yet you may always speak to God. Whenever your heart feels disposed, you may pray. You need not wait for a better time; you may do it at once. You must often wait if you want to speak to men, but you may always speak to God. How many things we have to say to God! How many sins to confess how many neglected duties to own! How much we have to praise Him for! How many things we have to ask His help in! How many troubles we meet with, in which God alone can comfort us! What would we do if we might not speak to God? Yet many never do speak to Him. Have they never heard of Him? Do not they know that they may speak to Him?

Are you one who lives without speaking to God? Ah! You know not what you lose. Do your sins never make you uneasy? God would forgive them all, if you would speak to Him from your heart and beg for pardon through Jesus Christ. Do you not need help against temptation, something to incline your heart to God and make you wish to serve Him? God would give you His Holy Spirit if you asked Him.

Why don't you pray? Why don't you speak to God? Are you afraid? God will not be angry with you. He is pleased when any poor sinner draws near to speak to Him through Jesus Christ. Come, lift up your heart to God. Speak to Him. Tell Him you are a poor sinner who needs His mercy and beg Him to hear you, forgive you, and help you.

But perhaps you still do not know what to say to God; perhaps you do not feel sorry for sin and have not even a wish to pray. What shall I say to you? I will still say the same pray. Speak to God about it. Ask Him to make you sorry for your sins, to teach you how to pray, to give you the wish to pray.

There must be a beginning. A man once said to Jesus Christ, "Lord, teach us to pray," and Jesus Christ did teach him to pray. He will teach you too, if you ask Him. Let this be your beginning: "Lord, teach me to pray."

[Francis Bourdillon]

Luke 11:1 ... And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

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Have You Prayed Today?

Ever since you rose from your bed this morning, there has been an eye upon you. Wherever you have been and whatever you have been doing that eye has seen you. It has gone with you to your work; it has seen you with your companions; it has been on you when you were alone. It has seen not merely all that you have done, but why you did it. Your thoughts, your feelings, your motives, which even your nearest friend has not fully known  have all been open to that eye of which I speak. For it is an all-seeing eye, the eye of God!

Have you thought of Him whose eye has been upon you? Have you given so much as one thought to Him, since the day began? Have you spoken to Him? Have you prayed to Him?  It is a duty to pray, for God has commanded you to pray.

"Pray to your Father who is in the secret place" (Matthew 6:6).

"Watch and pray" (Matthew 26:41).

"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

"In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).

It is wrong therefore not to pray. You have need to pray, great need for you are dependent upon God for everything. You are entirely in His hand.

[Francis Bourdillon]

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Ever Since You Rose ...

Ever since you rose from your bed this morning there has been an eye watching you! Wherever you have been and whatever you have been doing that eye has seen you. It has gone with you to your work. It has seen you with your companions. It has been on you when you were alone.

It has seen not merely all that you have done, but why you did it. Your thoughts, your feelings, your motives, which even your nearest friend has not fully known have all been open to that eye of which I speak. For it is an all-seeing eye the eye of God!

Have you thought of Him whose eye has been upon you today? Have you given so much as one thought to Him, since the day began?  You have need to pray, great need for you are dependent upon God for everything. You are entirely in His hand!  If you went to your work this morning strong and well it was only because God made you so and kept you so.

If you have had enough to eat today, if you are clothed comfortably and have a home to live in it is only because God supplies your needs. You would have nothing if God did not supply you. You live only because He gives you life. He could take all your comforts from you if it pleased Him. He could lay you on a bed of sickness this very day He could in a moment, strike you dead!

Have you even spoken to Him today? Have you prayed to Him today?

[Francis Bourdillon]

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Psalm 44:21 ... Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Psalm 90:8 ... Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

Job 34:21 ...  For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

Hebrews 4:13 ... Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.❤

Quenching The Spirit

What is meant then by quenching the Spirit? The work of the Spirit is in the heart. There He convinces men of sin, touches the conscience, moves the feelings, applies the word of God, and leads to Christ and to holiness. Now quenching is doing anything to stop or hinder this work. It is a figure of speech, taken from the quenching of fire. Water will quench fire either by putting it out, or by making it burn less brightly. A heap of dirt or rubbish thrown on a fire will have the same effect.

In like manner the Spirit may be quenched in various ways. Let us consider some of them:  1. By grieving Him. The apostle writes to the Ephesians, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit is grieved when we sin against conscience, indulge willfully in any evil habit, or do what we know to be wrong.  This was the charge against Israel; "But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned to be their enemy, and Himself fought against them" (Isaiah 63:10). This is a sure way of quenching the Spirit. God said of old, "My Spirit shall not abide in [or strive with] man forever" (Genesis 6:3). When the Spirit is grieved by willful sin, the conscience becomes blunted, impressions fade away, and the Spirit at length ceases to strive.

2. By neglecting Him. The promptings of the Spirit in the heart are to be diligently attended to the inward voice is to be listened to and obeyed. We should welcome the Spirit, watch for His presence, and submit ourselves to His leading. Otherwise we quench the Spirit by indifference and neglect.

3. By worldliness of mind. The work of the Spirit is in the heart. But if the heart is filled with the world, there is no room for the workings of the Spirit. Or if the love of the world is allowed to gain a hold upon those who have received the Spirit  then His work is smothered and quenched, as fire is by water or dirt thrown upon it. This may be done by the world in any shape by gain, pleasure, folly, by too great keenness about even lawful things, and even by human affections unduly indulged. In every heart there should be room left for the Spirit, the chief place, or the Spirit is quenched. Alas, in how many hearts is the Spirit quenched by the world.

4. By a lack of watchfulness. If a Christian has found anything to interfere with spirituality of mind in time past such as any amusement, any company, any pursuit, any book, any train of thought he must watch against that thing especially. Otherwise he quenches the Spirit. If he lives generally in an unwatchful way, as if there were no snares around him, not keeping guard within and without then again the Spirit is quenched, and His gracious work is checked.

How often at the close of the day, when we kneel down for our evening prayer and think over all we have done and said and thought, are we deeply humbled because we have quenched the Spirit through unwatchfulness. We began the day perhaps with earnest prayer. In the early morning, before entering on the duties of the day, we committed ourselves to God and sought His grace and guidance. We prayed but we forgot to watch. And so when some sudden temptation came it prevailed against us, and we fell. We spoke unchristian words, or harbored a wrong feeling, or did a wrong action, or were ashamed of Christ, or gave way to folly. Thus the Spirit was quenched; our peace was broken, and the closeness of our walk with God was interrupted and we find at the end of the day a ruffled mind and a special need of pardoning mercy.

5. By spiritual idleness. I mean by this backwardness in prayer, and neglect of the Bible, and of the other means of grace. God usually works by means, and especially the Spirit is promised in answer to prayer. But if we neglect prayer, we do, as it were, stop up the channel by which the Spirit would come to us. Thus we quench the Spirit.

These are some of the ways but by no means all, in which the Spirit may be quenched. Perhaps conscience may recall others to the mind. This is not a thing of small importance. In quenching the Spirit, we do ourselves much evil and bring on ourselves great loss. For thus we lose spirituality of mind, and "to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). The spiritual mind is that mind in which the Spirit dwells. If the Spirit is quenched  then this indwelling is injured. We lose also the sense of acceptance. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16-17). But this too is lost, if the Spirit is quenched. There is no inward witness then.

In like manner, when the Spirit is quenched spiritual growth is stopped, for growth is the Spirit's work. The heart becomes cold and dead. It no longer feels and melts and loves. There is no nearness to God, no love of His word, no warmth in prayer.

Let those who have already experienced the work of the Spirit, beware of quenching the Spirit. Have not your best and happiest times been those in which you have most walked in the Spirit? Cherish the Spirit then. Let no sinful indulgence, no neglect of His voice, no love of the world, no careless walking, no slothfulness be allowed to hinder the inward work. As you value spiritual comfort, as you desire spiritual progress beware of quenching the Spirit!

[Francis Bourdillon]

1 Thessalonians 5:19 ...  Quench not the Spirit. 🕊

Why Are Those Blessed?

The Word must be obeyed as well as heard. We must not hear it carelessly. Nor must we be hearers only, forgetting it as soon as heard. We are to guard it and keep it to treasure it in our hearts as a precious possession. We are to believe it and to follow it--then the full blessing will be ours.

Why are those blessed, who hear and obey the Word of God?

1. Because the Word of God tells us of the Savior, speaks pardon and peace, and opens to us God's wondrous way of saving sinners. This can be said of no other book, and no other thing. The works of God in nature tell us much but they do not tell us this. Many books of man are written on these subjects but they are but man's books after all.

2. They are blessed also, because the Word of God is a sure guide. It is a difficult path through the wilderness of this world. Many hindrances and perplexities meet us and many different rules are offered for our guidance: fashion, custom, prudence, man's opinion, etc. But the Word of God is the only sure guide. A simple, humble, earnest following of this guide is the wisest, happiest, safest course! The poorest and most unlearned who through grace take this course have more security for going right than the greatest and wisest who follow any other path. Therefore they are blessed who hear and keep the word of God because they have a sure guide through life.

3. The word of God also comforts in trouble, and therefore they are blessed who hear it and keep it. This world has its sorrows as well as its difficulties sorrows many and great; but the word of God has comfort for all of life's sorrows. It is full of comfort. It has promises and declarations of God's love. It contains examples of mourners whom He has comforted and these in great number and variety. There is no kind of trouble for which some suitable comfort may not be found in the Bible. In time of deep sorrow, a comfort and consolation are found in the Word of God which are sought in vain in other books. It is the best of all books for those in trouble.

[Frances Bourdillon]

Luke 11:28 ... But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.


Matthew 5:6 ... Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.


Revelation 1:3 ... Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.❤