Excerpt- 'We hear much today about how easy it is to be a Christian;
just believe and the grace of God will do all that needs to be done. But
the implantation of the true grace of God in the soul - hatred of sin -
is the beginning of a life-long struggle marked by tedious battles and
severe, bitter contests. It is written: The evil tendencies of mankind
are hard to overcome. The battles are tedious. Every soul in the strife
knows how severe, how bitter, are these contests. Everything about
growth in grace is difficult, because the standard and maxims of the
world are constantly interposed between the soul and God's holy
standard. The Lord would have us elevated, ennobled, purified, by
carrying out the principles underlying His great moral standard, which
will test every character in the great day of final reckoning.'
(My thoughts-
A LIFE LONG STRUGGLE- this is CHRISTIANITY, this is the DISCIPLE'S LIFE, not a life of ease, not a life without a without a battle. TEDIOUS battles, SEVERE BITTER CONTESTS, does this sound like a life that is preached upon the pulpits? We're so incredibly used to wanting to hear things that appease us, things that bring us peace, and make us happy. We want things to relax us and take away all our concerns. Truly we are NOT to worry, we are to TRUST, but this doesn't mean we are not going to experience hardships in our trusting. This doesn't mean the peace that passes understanding can't be ours, it can. But it won't be OUR power that makes this peace arise it'll be CHRIST'S. The contests, the battles, the hardships, the struggles have to be undertaken, and any soldier will tell you that while they are in the midst of a fight they are singularly focused on the battle at hand, while underneath it all they are hoping beyond hope that they win the battle, and their faith could be in many things, a Christian's faith must be in GOD. So while we are fighting, we KNOW God is our all in all. But to even think we won't face any struggles or battles is just a delusion we set up for ourselves. The BATTLES will come to ALL Christ followers!
Our EVIL tendencies are not easy to overcome. 'EVERYTHING about growing in GRACE is DIFFICULT, because the STANDARD and MAXIMS of the WORLD are constantly interposed between the soul and God's HOLY standard.'
So why, why do we believe growing in grace will be easy, pleasant, fun, exciting? Why?)
*******
Excerpt- 'Christ's heart "overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls, - the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest.'
(My thoughts- How could Christ EVER indulge sin? He couldn't! He told people to 'GO and sin no more'. He never said, Go and *TRY* not to sin. He NEVER ever said sinning was okay, not once! So why do we say it? Why do we excuse it? Why don't we truly HATE it?! Why don't we DESPISE SIN? Seriously, why don't we? We're too busy indulging in it, and making excuses for it to hate it, truly hate it. God Help us! Help us to hate sin as You hate sin!)
(My thoughts-
A LIFE LONG STRUGGLE- this is CHRISTIANITY, this is the DISCIPLE'S LIFE, not a life of ease, not a life without a without a battle. TEDIOUS battles, SEVERE BITTER CONTESTS, does this sound like a life that is preached upon the pulpits? We're so incredibly used to wanting to hear things that appease us, things that bring us peace, and make us happy. We want things to relax us and take away all our concerns. Truly we are NOT to worry, we are to TRUST, but this doesn't mean we are not going to experience hardships in our trusting. This doesn't mean the peace that passes understanding can't be ours, it can. But it won't be OUR power that makes this peace arise it'll be CHRIST'S. The contests, the battles, the hardships, the struggles have to be undertaken, and any soldier will tell you that while they are in the midst of a fight they are singularly focused on the battle at hand, while underneath it all they are hoping beyond hope that they win the battle, and their faith could be in many things, a Christian's faith must be in GOD. So while we are fighting, we KNOW God is our all in all. But to even think we won't face any struggles or battles is just a delusion we set up for ourselves. The BATTLES will come to ALL Christ followers!
Our EVIL tendencies are not easy to overcome. 'EVERYTHING about growing in GRACE is DIFFICULT, because the STANDARD and MAXIMS of the WORLD are constantly interposed between the soul and God's HOLY standard.'
So why, why do we believe growing in grace will be easy, pleasant, fun, exciting? Why?)
*******
Excerpt- 'Christ's heart "overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls, - the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest.'
(My thoughts- How could Christ EVER indulge sin? He couldn't! He told people to 'GO and sin no more'. He never said, Go and *TRY* not to sin. He NEVER ever said sinning was okay, not once! So why do we say it? Why do we excuse it? Why don't we truly HATE it?! Why don't we DESPISE SIN? Seriously, why don't we? We're too busy indulging in it, and making excuses for it to hate it, truly hate it. God Help us! Help us to hate sin as You hate sin!)
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