"Those Who Are Called"

These are called to know themselves as guilty before God and deserving of eternal condemnation. These are called to know the all-sufficiency of Christ to save. These are called to trust in His sin-atoning death as their only hope of salvation. These are called out of the world. They no longer revel in the world's gaieties or are swayed by its corrupt principles. These are called to be followers of the despised Lord Jesus, treading in His footsteps. This is the calling which distinguishes those who love God, and for whose good God causes all things to work together. 

Yes, "God causes all things to work together for good" It is not said that they work singly or alone, but in relationship to one another, they "work together." One little thing which we cannot at all understand or see the reason of the Lord sees is necessary to make several other things properly work for our good. Without that one very unpleasant thing all the rest would not be for our benefit. We are too apt to look at things singly, and therefore our mind often becomes perplexed. A single thread is not of much importance in itself but if left out in the weaving, the pattern in the loom would be rendered imperfect. 

These "all things" are so many shuttles running to and fro, weaving the web of goodness and blessing for the children of God. The hand that throws the shuttles is the hand of Jesus. In the web which He weaves, no thread will be found misplaced, when the weaving is over. Therefore, let us leave all things in the hands of Jesus, who has the whole plan of the life of each believer always before Him, and who in His infinite wisdom causes all things to work together for good to them, so as to produce the best results and accomplish all His purposes of love. Let us trust Him at all times, even when our expectations of earthly things are disappointed, or when our plans are frustrated, or when darkness surrounds our path, or when trials and affliction are our portion. 

Be assured that when we have attained a keener vision and a fuller understanding than our pilgrim state affords us, we shall see that God caused all things to perfectly work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose! We will then testify to the wisdom, power, and love of Him who does all things well! 

 [Thomas Moor] 

Romans 8:28-30 ... 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.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

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Continually With You!

This is the utterance of a faith which triumphs over contradictory circumstances and contradictory experiences. Believer in Jesus, bear in mind that this "nevertheless" stands firm for you also, whatever may be the "although" of adverse circumstances and experiences you put before it.

Because of the covenant faithfulness of Him in whose hand of grace and love you are, you can truly say:

"Although I am weak and helpless, nevertheless I am continually with You."

"Although I am vile and undeserving, nevertheless I am continually with You."

"Although I am so foolish and prone to wander, nevertheless I am continually with You."

"Although trials and afflictions beset me, nevertheless I am continually with You."

"Although all forsake me, nevertheless I am continually with You."

"Although I cannot realize Your presence, nevertheless I am continually with You."

Thus, whatever may be your "although," let the "nevertheless" of your faith always triumph, for the grasp of Christ's hand never slackens, the power of Christ's arm never fails, the love of Christ's heart never changes.

[Thomas Moor]

Psalm 73:23 … Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.❤

Walking With Christ...

One of the sure results of living by faith, is to bring everything in the daily life, and every thought of the heart, into subjection to the Lord Jesus, and to have no will but His.

Walking with Christ, you are sure to walk in the path of safety and blessing. What if the way is sometimes marked with rough and thorny places? What if the difficulties and perplexities are many and unexpected? Looking unto Jesus, they will be but His opportunity to prove to you more vividly and fully what a ready helper, and what a faithful and ever-present friend you have in Him.

All that the Lord Jesus does in relation to you, is prompted by His special individual love for you.

[Thomas Moor]

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1 John 1:7 … But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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

2 Corinthians 5:7 … (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)❤

Not a Matter of Chance

Nothing is more clearly revealed in Scripture than the reality of God's dealings with each of His redeemed people as individuals, in all that pertains to their providential path through life. In a special manner God is daily working providentially in everything small or great, for those whom He has led to seek for refuge in His once crucified Son.

There are no difficulties, no sorrows or joys which are matters of chance.

Every step in their providential path is watched over with the tenderest love and care.

There are no rough places in the way, but those which have been particularly ordained and arranged.

There are no lessons to be learned, but had long been prepared by the most wise and loving of Teachers.

There are no trials, but were planned to work out great and exceeding good by Him who has all power in Heaven and earth.

[Thomas Moor]

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Matthew 10:30 … But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Luke 21:18 … But there shall not an hair of your head perish.❤

The Deeper The Work of Grace

It is the characteristic of a growing state of grace not to see its growth, but to see more clearly its shortcomings.

The nearer the light, the more visible are the imperfections.

In the same way, the deeper the work of grace, the more opposition will it usually encounter in the heart; and the inward evil will generally become more vividly realized by the believer.

The more we have of each grace, the more clearly shall we discern its opposite within:

The more we have of humility, the more shall we know and mourn over our pride.

The more we have of patience, the more shall we know and mourn over our impatience.

The more we have of faith, the more shall we know and mourn over our unbelief.

The more we have of conformity to the image of Christ, the more shall we know and mourn over our lack of conformity to Him.

The more we have of self-denial, the more shall we know and mourn over our selfishness.

The more we have of love to Christ, the more shall we know and mourn over our lack of love to Him.

Thus each grace becomes a light to show us how much of the contrary we have by nature.

Indeed, by this means we grow in grace, because thus we more fully know our great need of the Lord Jesus, and are led to look more humbly, confidently, and helplessly to Him, to whom we can never look in vain. Nothing draws so abundantly from His fullness, as a helpless trusting heart.

[Thomas Moor]

Ephesians 3:18-19 … 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.

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All things, The Bitter and The Sweet

Infinite wisdom, as well as infinite love, guides the Lord Jesus in all His doings. Thus it is He sees it best for His own glory and our good, that His doings should at times be contrary to our own desires for ourselves. All things, the bitter and the sweet, are from the hands of Him who makes all work together for our good.

All the trials and afflictions the believer meets with in this life, are for the promotion of our growth in grace, the true knowledge of self, love to Christ, and faith in our covenant God and Father.

Christ's rough-hewn diamonds are precious to Him, but it is His polished ones that shine the brightest, and most reflect His holy image, and have the most conspicuous place among His jewels. Though the process of polishing is often painful to the flesh and trying to the spirit yet the result is worth it all, for that result is "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17)

[Thomas Moor]

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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The Consciousness of Our Infirmities

The Christian life is one of continual conflict from its commencement to its close. There is no hope whatever that it can be otherwise. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and never can be anything else but flesh. It continually wars against the spirit so that oftentimes, as the Apostle says, "When I would do good, evil is present with me."

This was Paul's own experience to the end of life, for never did he find any good thing in himself, that is, in his flesh. The flesh never changes for the better. Our only expectation and our encouragement is that through the grace of our Lord Jesus, with watchfulness and prayerfulness, it will be kept under control, and that the spiritual nature will increase in vigor daily.

The consciousness of all our infirmities, our inward lusts, and our utter helplessness but makes the Lord Jesus more precious! The very lusts we abhor, do serve our best interests when they cause us to look more to Him. Thus they are among the all things that work for our good, by keeping us in our proper place and exalting the Lord.

[Thomas Moor]

1 Peter 4:1-2 … Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.❤