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 THOUGHTS TO GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE

    "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.            To him be glory both now and for ever."  2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)

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 "FINALLY, BE ALL OF ONE MIND."
“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15
 
According to the Scriptural standard, the elect church of Christ should be the most polished, the most refined, the most polite, the most generous, the most kind of all the people in the world, -- and should be all these in the absoulte sense; not in the mere sense of an outward form and appearance of kindness, gentleness, etc., so common in the world; but a gentleness, a kindness, proceeding from the heart, proceeding from an appreciation of the Lord's spirit and the spirit of the Truth, the spirit of love, and the spirit of justice, also.
 

 

THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12
 

OPPOSITION is to be expected, and will, doubtless, continue until we finish our course in death. To submit patiently to this opposition is to sacrifice our own natural preferences for the friendship and the pleasures of the present life, and to endure hardness as good soldiers for the Truth's sake, in whatever shape that hardness may come, in our effort to do the Lord's will and work of advancing the interests of His Kingdom. To be really in the Lord's service involves, first, the careful and continual study of God's plan; second, the imbibing of its spirit; leading, thirdly, to an enthusiastic zeal for its accomplishment, and to activity to the extent of ability in its service, at whatever cost or sacrifice it may require.

"THE PEACE OF GOD"
"And the peace of God, which asset passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippines 4:7 
 

THERE is nothing that puts the Christian at greater disadvantage in the presence of his foes than for him to let go, even temporarily, his grip upon the anchor of faith. Let him do so for a moment, and of necessity darkness begins to gather round him: he cannot see the brightness of his Father's face, for "without faith it is impossible to please God;" and while he grapples again for the anchor, the powers of darkness fiercely assail him with doubts and fears, based generally upon his human imperfections, which he should ever bear in mind are covered by the robe of Christ's righteousness. If we would have the peace of God reign in our hearts, we must never let go our anchor, "nor suffer Satan's deadliest strife to beat our courage down." The language of our hearts should always be, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him."

                                                  APOSTOLIC ADVICE TO A YOUNG CHRISTIAN
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."   2 Timothy 1:7
 
The spirit of the Lord imparted to His people is not a spirit of fear, but on the contrary a spirit of power, energy, zeal awakened by love;--loving devotion to God, and a desire to please and serve Him; loving devotion to the Truth, and a loving devotion to God's people and a desire to build them up in holy things, and to do good unto all men as we have opportunity,... a spirit of a "sound mind;" a mind that is fortified and strengthened by the Word of the Lord on every subject, and hence, while thoroughly fearless of man, is wise in judging of times, seasons and methods for using the energy of love which burns as a fire within the consecrated heart.
 
 

OUR YEAR TEXT 
"Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Psalm 119:165
 

Our requests should be, increasingly, for grace and wisdom and the fruits of the Spirit and opportunities for serving the Lord and the brethren, and for growing more and more into the likeness of God's dear Son. Under these conditions who can doubt that the promised "peace of God beyond all understanding" would "guard" such "hearts" and their "thoughts?" This peace would of itself dispel one of the great evils that afflict the hearts of many. Selfishness and ambition would find little room in a heart so filled. Divine peace can dwell in our hearts, and rule in them, so as to keep out the worry and turmoil of the world, even when we are surrounded by these disadvantageous conditions--even when the adversary himself is besetting us through deceived agents.

 

 

"HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!"
"Who of God is made us wisdom, and righteousness [justification], and sanctification, and redemption [deliverance]." 1 Corinthians 1:30

HE who redeemed us, or bought us with the sacrifice of His own life, gives us, as our Prophet or Teacher, wis-dom by His Gospel, to see our fallen state and Himself as our helper; as our Priest, He first justifies us and then sanctifies or consecrates us, as His under priest-hood; and finally, as King, He will fully deliver the faithful from the dominion of sin and death, to the glo-ry, honor and immortality of the divine nature;--for "God will raise up [from the dead] us also, by Jesus." "Hallelujah! What a Savior!" Truly He is able and will-ing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.

"UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE."
"If any man among you...bridleth not his tongue..." James 1:26
 
BECAUSE the tongue is the index of the heart, because "out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh," therefore the unbridled tongue, speaking selfishly, enviously, bitterly, boastfully, slanderously, proves that the heart from whose fullness these overflow is unsanctified, unholy, grievously lacking of the spirit of Christ--hence, whatever religion it may have attained is thus far vain, as that heart is not saved, nor in a salvable condition....The Good Physician has pointed out antidotes for soul-poisoning--medicines which, if properly taken according to directions, will sweeten the bitter heart.

 

"REJOICE  IN THE LORD ALWAY."

"Let you moderation be known unto all men."  Philippines 4:5

 

THE Greek word here rendered "moderation" seems to carry with it the thought of reasonableness, and of not exacting our rights too rigorously. Mercy and leniency are certainly qualities required of all who would be members of the body of the Anointed. Faithfulness in the performance, as far as possible, of all that justice would require of us, and mercifulness in respect to all our requirements of justice from others should be our rule: so shall we be the children of our Father which is in heaven, for He is kind and merciful to the unthankful.

 

THE PRIVILEGE AND POWER OF PRAYER.
“Instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

WHAT a blessed privilege, dear fellow-disciples of the Lord, is ours, to be instant in prayer, to pray always--to lift up our hearts and minds to God at any time and in any place and to realize thus daily and hourly that the Father and our dear Lord Jesus continually abide with us. And then, when the active duties of the day have been performed under His eye and supervision, or at any time when the soul realizes its necessity, how pre-cious is the privilege of entering into our closets and there, alone with God, unburdening our hearts.
 "IN THE LAST DAYS PERIOUS TIMES"
"In the last days perilous times shall come.  Men shall be traitors, heady...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."  2 Timothy 3:1, 4

The true Christian is not "heady", on the contrary, his consecration to the Lord lifgureatively decapitated him.  He lost his head, renouced his own will and self-rule, and submitted himself as a member of the body of Christ, to the absolute control of Jesus, the Head... the true Christian, therefore, in every affair of life, -- appeals to his Head for direction, to know how and what to do or say-- yea, to have even the very thoughts of his mind in full conformity to the will of God in Christ.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
“If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” John 8:31,32

DIVINE truth is never found except in the divinely appointed channels: and those channels are the Lord and the apos-tles and prophets. To continue in the doctrine set forth in their inspired writings, to study and meditate upon them, to trust implicitly in them, and faithfully to conform our characters to them, is what is implied in continuing in the Word of the Lord. If we thus continue in the Word of the Lord, as earnest and sincere disciples, we shall indeed "know the Truth," we shall be "firm in the faith," and "able to give a reason for the hope that is in us," to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," to "war a good warfare," to "witness a good confession," and firmly to "endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ," even unto the end of our course.

"BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL."

                                                   “Love thinketh no evil.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

 

WHOEVER neglects the Lord's commands along this line of "evil surmisings" weaves a web for his own ensnarement, however "circumspectly" he may walk as respects other matters; for a heart impregnated with doubt and suspicion toward fellow creatures is more than half prepared to doubt God: the spirit of sourness and bitterness is at war with the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of love. Either the one or the other will conquer. The wrong spirit must be gotten rid of, or it will defile the new creature and make of him a "castaway." On the contrary, if the new nature conquer, as an "overcomer," it will be along this line: if evil surmisings are overcome, half the battle against present difficulties and besetments is won.



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