grace gems Archives - Page 2 of 4

It Takes Both Of These Elements To Make True Religion

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout” ~ Luke 2:25

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about what makes true and godly “religion”, by J.R. Miller, courtesy of Grace Gems:

True Religion: Being Just And Devout

(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout” Luke 2:25

He was just in all his dealings with men–and devout in his dealings toward God. It takes both of these elements to make true religion.

Some people are just–and not devout! They are scrupulously honest in all their dealings–and yet they never think of God, or of their duties to Him. They do not bow to Him in prayer, nor do they ever lift their hearts to Him in praise. They do not love Him.

They confess no obligations to Him. Their whole religion simply is honesty toward their fellow-men–while they utterly ignore God, their Creator and Redeemer, in Whom they live, from Whose grace every blessing in their lives flows, and upon Whom they are dependent every moment for breath and existence. It is readily seen, that such religion is no religion at all.

While we are just and honest in our transactions with men–it is to God that we owe the first and highest duties. We are His creatures; we are saved, if at all, by His grace; we owe to Him obedience, faith, love, honor, service. So we must be devout as well as just.

On the other hand, there are some people who profess to be devout–who are not just! They attend upon ordinances, they sing and pray; and then they go out into the week-day world, and are hard, unjust, greedy, and oppressive! It is very evident that this kind of religion does not please God. He wants our praise and honor–but He wants us to honor Him by our lives and actions, as well as by our lips.

There are two tables of commandments; and the second table commandments are as binding as the first. We are to love God with all our heart (the first table)–but we are also to love our neighbor as ourselves (the second table). While we are devout toward God–we are to be honest, true, unselfish toward men. The two things must go together, and must never be torn asunder!

The Twenty Four Elders: Notice Their Humility – Devotion

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Today, I am posting about the humility of the twenty four Elders, and how it should serve as an example to us, by an Maria Sandberg, courtesy of Grace Gems:

The Twenty Four Elders: Notice Their Humility

(Maria Sandberg, “Glimpses of Heaven!” 1880)

“The twenty four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created!”
Revelation 4:10-11

The Church triumphant is represented by the twenty four elders. Notice their humility. They fall down, and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying, “You are worthy!” They have been learning to do this on earth. When the Holy Spirit begins His work in the soul of man–when He begins to prepare a stone for the spiritual temple, He begins with a lesson of humility, and convinces of sin. And still, as that stone is more and more hewn and fitted for the temple above–deeper and deeper grow the convictions of his own unworthiness, until at length he is taught to abase himself utterly, and give all glory to the Lord.

Are you in this manner becoming every week more fitted for Heaven? Let this glimpse of Heaven lead you to ask, “Do I now abase myself–and exalt my God?”

In this is the true Christian distinguished from the hypocrite. Whatever may be the failings of the Christian, he acts and speaks from a desire to glorify Him. Though self-esteem and self-exaltation are often mixed with his endeavors, still his aim is that God may be glorified, even though it be by his own abasement. The more he is enabled to glorify God–the greater is his humility. And the deeper his self-abasement–the more likely is he to bring honor and glory to his God.

O my soul, let this glimpse of glory forever set aside all notions of self-exaltation. Be now what you will be in Heaven–a humble creature of God, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, living to glorify His name!

Jesus Christ and Him crucified

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Today, I am posting about the purpose and power of Christ and the crucifiction by an unknown author, courtesy of Grace Gems:

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is the way in which God . . .
displays His perfections,
unfolds His purposes,
maintains His rights,
confounds His foes, and
secures His glory in the salvation of His people.

Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is the only way in which . . .
death is destroyed,
sin is conquered,
righteousness is established,
rebels are reconciled,
saints are sanctified,
and Heaven is opened!

He Sees Countless Evils In Each One Of Us! – Devotion

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Today, I am posting about the evil that is in our hearts, and why the gospel is truly “good news” by J.C. Ryle, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

See what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains

“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come . . .
evil thoughts,
sexual immorality,
theft,
murder,
adultery,
greed,
wickedness,
deceit,
eagerness for lustful pleasure,
envy,
slander,
pride, and
foolishness.
All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” Mark 7:21-23

Let us distinctly understand, when we read these words, that our Lord is speaking of the human heart universally. He is not speaking only of the notorious profligate, or the prisoner in the jail. He is speaking of all mankind. All of us, whether . . .
high or low,
rich or poor,
masters or servants,
old or young,
learned or unlearned
–all of us have by nature such a heart as Jesus here describes! The seeds of all the evils here mentioned, lie hidden within us all. They may lie dormant all our lives. They may be kept down by . . .
the fear of consequences;
the restraint of public opinion;
the dread of discovery; or
the desire to be thought respectable.

But every person has within him, the root of every sin!

How humble we ought to be, when we read these verses! “We are all as an unclean thing” in God’s sight. He sees countless evils in each one of us, which the world never sees at all, for He reads our hearts. Surely of all sins to which we are liable, self-righteousness is the most unreasonable.

How thankful we ought to be for the Gospel, when we read these verses! That Gospel contains a complete provision for all the needs of our poor defiled natures. The blood of Christ can “cleanse us from all sin.” The Holy Spirit can change even our sinful hearts, and keep them clean, when changed. The man that does not glory in the Gospel, can surely know little of the plague that is within him.

How watchful we ought to be, when we remember these verses! What a careful guard we ought to keep over our imaginations, our tongues, and our daily behavior! At the head of the black list of our heart’s contents, stand “evil thoughts.” Let us never forget that. Thoughts are the parents of words and deeds! Let us pray daily for grace to keep our thoughts in order, and let us cry earnestly and fervently, “lead us not into temptation!”

Oh Happy, Happy Slave! – Devotion

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Today, I am posting about the destruction that sin brought onto the human race by Alexander Smellie, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(Alexander Smellie, “The Hour of Silence” 1899)

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life!” Romans 6:22

I am freed–in order to be enthralled. I am made free from sin–to become the bond-servant of God. But whereas the old vassalage was abject slavery–the new is the highest and sweetest and best liberty.

It is the servitude of my grateful heart. God has redeemed me not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ His dear Son! I owe Him life and peace and everything. I cannot but surrender myself, to Him who surrendered Himself for me.

It is the servitude of my adoring and worshiping heart. The vision of God’s beauty, God’s perfection, God’s love-worthiness, has thrown its spells and charms over me. I am smitten with the hunger and thirst to resemble Him. I am enthralled to His enchantments.

It is the servitude of my obedient heart. I have bound His precepts and injunctions around me like chains of gold! The yoke of His precepts lies upon my neck. But I do not find these commandments grievous; to keep them is my great reward.

It is the servitude of my God-occupied heart. He has come Himself and made His abode in me, through His Holy Spirit given to me. From within He rules me far more than from without. And so, rejoicingly and inevitably and eternally, I yield myself to Him!

Oh happy, happy slave! There is a perpetual song on his lips as he goes about the tasks of his Golden Prince.