We Are Like That Dove!!

The condition of a Christian wandering over earth in search of rest; and disappointed, returning at length to his Savior, glad to be received again into His bosom, where alone there is peace. Surely, he who has been accustomed to drink at the pure fountain of spiritual joy, can never find rest for the soul in this polluted world. How true is it, that to one whose affections have been directed to things above, earthly pleasures seem to have lost their usual relish. 

No prospect however beautiful, no pleasures however tantalizing can be enjoyed, without the associated presence and blessing of God. Yet when God is recognized in them, and the heart is properly affected towards Him-then do even earthly scenes acquire an additional interest. But let the Christian lose sight for a season of his heavenly inheritance, and wander over earth's surface in search of worldly good how soon will he find an unsatisfying vacuity, where not even an olive leaf shall be found to greet his eye or to cheer his heart. 

The Christian may so far backslide, as to wish to explore anew the world which he professes to have forsaken, and God may allow him to do so. But O how soon his wing will tire, and his prospect become gloomy. Glad will he be to return and flutter around the ark, longing to be taken in, where he can once more feel himself happy and at home. And Jesus kindly extends His hand to take us in, even when we have sinfully wandered from His loving arms. 

Why is it that we can be so often deceived? Have we not tried the world, and have we not been disappointed in the pursuit? Never again then let us leave the sacred ark, never again wander from our Lord. 

[Jared Waterbury]

Genesis 8:9 ...  But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. ❤

Jared's Prayer

Unsatisfying, O Lord, as the world is still a strange infatuation exists within our hearts, which leads us to covet its distinctions and its pleasures. As far as you have permitted us to test the world's power to produce happiness, we have been invariably disappointed. We have found it to be "vanity and vexation of spirit." Its sweetest pleasures have turned bitter in the enjoyment. Its loveliest scenery cannot charm us, apart from You. Its honors, so far as obtained, have proved but empty bubbles. Yet why, O Lord, do we still hanker after these vain delights? Why do we not learn to evaluate them at their true worth? 

Come into our souls, with all Your fullness, and then our hearts will quickly bid adieu to them. You know that we are never satisfied, never happy when we are not living unto You and holding sweet communion with You. You know how weary our soul is, though surrounded with earthly good if You are not with us, or if we have failed to place You first in our affections! We will return to our rest; we fly to You our God once more! Heavenly Father, hear our humble prayer, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

 [Jared Waterbury]

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Should We Not Be Prepared to Kiss It?

The believer, when smarting under the rod of temporal distress, is often ready to say with Jacob, "All these things are against me!" Owing to the weakness of his faith, he concludes that "God has forgotten him." He forgets that "Whom the Lord loves, He chastens, (Revelation 3:19) and scourges every son whom He receives" that his Lord once said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." (John 16:33)

To sink down under troubles and conclude that there is no relief for us is to distrust our Father's care, and to doubt His everlasting love for us. It may not seem good to God, who orders each event of our lives to grant us the prosperity which we naturally desire. He may discover in us so much remaining depravity, developed in the forms of pride, sensuality, or self-seeking as to make it necessary to visit us with the rod of correction. When that rod is intended to extirpate these sins, should we not be prepared to kiss it? Is not God's rod designed to wean us from the world, and to drive us more closely to the bosom of eternal love? 

"All things", including of course these very trials and afflictions God causes to work together for our good. Are we sick and suffering in body? Let us not despair. The affliction shall work for our good. Relief will come in due time. Or if the sickness "be unto death," God can make it conducive to a calm or triumphant departure. Are you poor, and apprehensive that your needs may not be supplied? 

O trust in your Father's care, who will "withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) Do enemies beset your path? God can change the bitterest of them into friends; or can defend and deliver you from their ire. And what though all these afflictions press upon the soul at once even then the promise is not nullified, it is only made the more precious! Doubt not that His mercy is in your every trial and affliction. And always remember that when Heaven is attained, these sorrows will be felt no more forever! (Revelation 21:4)

[Jared Waterbury] 

Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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All Below is Vanity.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes gives us his experience of the unsatisfying nature of all worldly honors and pleasures. Everything that could please the eye, charm the ear, gratify the taste, or amuse and enrich the mind, was by him, sought and enjoyed. The whole circle of earth's pleasures was tested. But in the end, all is pronounced "vanity and a striving after wind." 

The disappointment results from the very nature of the soul. Its capacity being illimitable no finite enjoyment can fully meet its enlarged desires. Nothing but a faithful discharge of duty and the approving smile of God can make the soul happy. Give the soul whatever you will, gratify every earthly wish, it will still be wretched if it is without God. All below is vanity. 

The consideration that all worldly good must so soon be relinquished, is of itself enough to cast a shadow over its enjoyment. The heart must feel that there is nothing permanent here in this poor world. "Life is but a vapor." All earth-born pleasures are transitory. Death withers every flower as soon as it blooms. Man is too hurried to the tomb, and then forgotten. If then all below is stamped with vanity, then O, let us seek our all in God. Let us relinquish in desire, what we have been accustomed so much to value that the soul may start anew in the race for a prize worthy of her struggles, and which when obtained will amply reward her toils. 

Let us fix our eye on the "unfading crown of glory!" Let us deliberately renounce this vain world and take God for our only and all-sufficient portion! Whether on earth we are known or unknown, honored or despised; let us seek after this one thing: to secure the favor of God, to enjoy His presence, and at last to be with Him and inherit His glorious kingdom! 

[Jared Waterbury] 

Ecclesiastes 2:11 ... Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

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How Much Influence?

The love of Christ! What a motive to one who has felt its constraining influence! Can we say that we have not only experienced the love of Christ to us but have felt in return, the outgoings of love to our blessed Savior?

How much influence has the love of Christ had over us? Has it led us to practice self-denial for Jesus' sake? Has it fed the flame of our devotions? Has it been the secret spring of our charities? Do we daily go up to Calvary, and study our obligations at the foot of the cross?

See, on that cross, the adorable Savior! Behold Him, who is the equal of the Father, stretched in bleeding agony expiring under an inconceivable weight of sorrow to redeem us wretched, guilty men! All this He does  to rescue us from sin and from Hell, to make us heirs of God, to purchase for us an unfading and incorruptible inheritance!

And what have we ever done for Him? Let us weep, that we have made such returns of ingratitude and sin. Let us renew our vows at the foot of the cross. O let us go forth to our work with increased diligence.

[Jared Waterbury]

2 Corinthians 5:14 ... For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Romans 14:8 ... For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Galatians 6:14 ... But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.❤

Do Not Forget!

Were a kind earthly parent to be hourly bringing us new tokens of his favor would we not express our gratitude for such favors? Why then are we not found praising our heavenly Father, "Who daily loads us with benefits," and "who gives us richly all things to enjoy?"

O, the very abundance and constancy of His gifts seem, in some instances, to harden the heart. Ungrateful man! Often do days and weeks pass away marked by this guilty forgetfulness.

Is it possible, that we can forget that Being "in whom we live and move and have our being" whose hand is open to satisfy our every reasonable desire, and to whose protecting care we owe our safety? Above all, can we forget the love which He has bestowed upon us, in giving His dear Son to die for our sins or the compassion which our Savior has manifested in dying to redeem us? Never, never let us forget these infinite favors!

[Jared Waterbury]

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Psalm 103:2 ...  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Romans 8:32 ... He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Acts 17:28 ... For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Revelation 2:5 ... Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.❤

An Audience With The King

Prayer is a difficult, and often an arduous work but it is the life and soul of a Christian. It is not only his incumbent duty but his most precious privilege.

My Christian friend, the Throne of Grace is yours!  Your Father is seated on it. Your Savior has sprinkled it with His blood.  The Holy Spirit draws you sweetly to kneel before it. The promise, when there, is, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it!"

What an honor thus to approach the King of kings! Were we to have audience with an earthly monarch, we would deem it the superlative event in our history, and boast of it through life.  But we may have audience with the King of the universe! Nay, we have liberty to approach Him at any time, and under all circumstances!

Have we needs? He can supply them.  Are we in trouble? He can extricate us.  Do afflictions press our souls? He can mitigate and remove them.  Does sin pollute our joys? With Him is the fountain of cleansing.  Does Satan vex our souls? He invites us to His arms as our refuge.

God knows your infirmities, your temptations, and your trials and is ever ready to afford you relief. There is nothing which so elevates the morals and character, as deep and intimate communion with God.

The godly man converses with God. At the Throne of Grace we acquire a benevolence, a dignity, a humility, which throws around us an attractive luster, puts sweetness into every action and expression, makes us contented in every condition of life, patient under every affliction, and faithful in the discharge of every duty!

[Jared Waterbury]

Hebrews 4:16 ...  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.


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.


Ephesians 6:18 ... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;❤

No Compromise

The gospel of Christ admits of no compromise. It demands our ALL. If it required less, it would be unworthy of its great author and finisher. I rejoice that it requires ALL, this is its glory. When we are brought to yield to its claims, and give up ALL, then, and not until then, will it throw around us its arms of mercy.

[Jared Waterbury]

Luke 14:33 ...  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 16:24 ... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Proverbs 21:21 ... He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. ❤

I Have This Against You

Have we lost or left our first love?  If so, then has God something against us.

O, has not some secret evil been in operation to cool our love, to abate our zeal, to separate us from our heavenly Father's smile?

Is it the love of the world?

Is it the love of the creature?

Is it ambitious designs, or sensual indulgence?

Search us, O God and enable us to search ourselves.

[Jared Waterbury]

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Revelation 2:4 ...  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Mark 12:30 ... And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Psalm 139:23-24 ...  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.❤

Never Again

How true is it, that to one whose affections have been directed to things above, earthly pleasures seem to have lost their usual relish. No prospect however beautiful, no pleasures however tantalizing can be enjoyed without the associated presence and blessing of God.  Yet when God is recognized in them, and the heart is properly affected towards Him, then do even earthly scenes acquire an additional interest.


But let the Christian lose sight for a season of his heavenly inheritance, and wander over earth's surface in search of worldly good, how soon will he find an unsatisfying vacuity, where not even an olive leaf shall be found to greet his eye or to cheer his heart. The Christian may so far backslide, as to wish to explore anew the world which he professes to have forsaken and God may allow him to do so. But O how soon his wing will tire, and his prospect become gloomy!  Glad will he be to return and flutter around the ark, longing to be taken in, where he can once more feel himself happy and at home. And Jesus kindly extends His hand to take us in even when we have sinfully wandered from His loving arms.


Why is it that we can be so often deceived?  Have we not tried the world and have we not been disappointed in the pursuit?  Never again then let us leave the sacred ark, never again wander from our Lord.

[Jared Waterbury]

Genesis 8:9 ... But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

Hebrews 11:7 ...  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Colossians 3:2 ...  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.❤

Temporal Distress

The believer, when smarting under the rod of temporal distress is often ready to say with Jacob, "All these things are against me!" Owing to the weakness of his faith, he concludes that "God has forgotten him." He forgets that "Whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives that his Lord once said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." To sink down under troubles, and conclude that there is no relief for us is to distrust our Father's care and to doubt His everlasting love for us.

It may not seem good to God, who orders each event of our lives to grant us the prosperity which we naturally desire. He may discover in us so much remaining depravity, developed in the forms of pride, sensuality, or self-seeking as to make it necessary to visit us with the rod of correction. When that rod is intended to extirpate these sins, should we not be prepared to kiss it?  Is not God's rod designed to wean us from the world and to drive us more closely to the bosom of eternal love?  "All things" including of course these very trials and afflictions, God causes to work together for our good.

Are we sick and suffering in body? Let us not despair. The affliction shall work for our good. Relief will come in due time. Or if the sickness "be unto death," God can make it conducive to a calm or triumphant departure.

Are you poor, and apprehensive that your needs may not be supplied? O trust in your Father's care, who will "withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly."

Do enemies beset your path? God can change the bitterest of them into friends, or can defend and deliver you from their ire.

And what though all these afflictions press upon the soul at once even then the promise is not nullified, it is only made the more precious!

Doubt not that His mercy is in your every trial and affliction.

And always remember, that when Heaven is attained, these sorrows will be felt no more forever!

[Jared Waterbury]

Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Psalm 84:11 ...  For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Hebrews 12:6 ... For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.❤