"The sinner who is
thoroughly convicted by the Spirit sees himself like a condemned prisoner held
by so many irons that escape is impossible. It is not their disease but their
physician that kills sinners. They think to cure themselves; and this deception
leaves them incurable. If you cling to the self-confidence of repentance and
reformation, they will betray you into the hands of God's justice and wrath.
But if you have turned away from this religious self-confidence, you have
escaped one of the finest snares that the wit of hell can weave.
Not only is the
convicted sinner so convicted that he knows he is helpless, but he welcomes the
full provision laid up in Christ for him. And this attitude is a necessary
antecedent to faith. Without it the soul convicted of sin is more likely to go
to the gallows with Judas, or fall on the sword of the law, than to run to
Christ.
The Spirit
powerfully but sweetly renovates the rebellious will so it can deliberately
choose Christ as Lord and Savior. During a storm a person may run under an
enemy's shelter, which he would not have even glanced at in fair weather. Do
you take pleasure in choosing Christ? Do you go to Him not only for safety but
also for delight? As the lover said of her bridegroom, "I sat down under
his shadow with great delight" Song of Solomon 2:3. This must be a
deliberate choice, wherein the soul seriously weighs the covenant Christ offers
and then chooses Him. Even when Naomi spoke the worst she could to discourage
her daughter-in-law, Ruth enjoyed her mother's company too much to give it up
regardless of the potential hardships involved in her decision.
Has the Spirit of
God put His golden key into the lock of your will, to open the door of your
heart and let Christ the King of glory in? Has He opened the eye of your
understanding, as He awakened Peter asleep in prison, and caused the chains of
dullness to fall off your conscience?
”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings
in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
No comments:
Post a Comment