sin Archives - Faithful with a Few

Cut It Off & Pluck It Out!!! – Devotion

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin–cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled–than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!” Matthew 18:8…

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 the fact that anything which causes us to sin must be cut off, even if it brings some benefit by J.R. Miller, courtesy of Grace Gems:

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

Our life is so full of temptation and peril–that even its best things may become stumbling-blocks. Our very qualities of strength–may become fatal forces driving us to eternal ruin.

Human beauty is a blessing from God–and yet beauty has proved a snare to many a woman, drawing her away from God.

Ability to make money is a perilous gift–which has led many a man to spiritual ruin. It is better to altogether throw away the money-making ability, and go poor through life with the talent wasted and shriveled, and reach Heaven–than to exercise the ability and grow rich, and be lost forever! These are illustrations of our Lord’s meaning when He speaks of ‘cutting off’ the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.

The appetites, desires, and affections–are part of the glory of humanity; and yet, when they are unbridled–they have whirled many a noble life to eternal destruction!

A steam-boat came into port which had long been out on the sea. An accident had happened which caused delay. The coal gave out; then all that would burn–cargo, stores, furniture–had to be burned up, in order to bring the vessel home. At last she gained the shore–but stripped of everything of value. Yet it was better to burn up all her cargo and stores–than perish at sea.

Just so, some men can get to Heaven–only by sacrificing every earthly pleasure and crucifying every sinful desire; but who will say that the prize is not worth the sacrifice? The hand would be better chopped off–than steal or strike down another. The foot would be better cut off–than carry one into crime or sin. The eye would be better plucked-out–than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire. A man on a wrecked vessel had better throw his bags of gold into the sea and have his life saved–than hold on to the gold and sink into the waves!

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!”

Sin Has Robbed Us Of Six Jewels!

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

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

(William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”)

“Christ died for the ungodly!” Romans 5:6

Certainly the misery of man was very great–that man should need such redemption as this! Oh! what a breach had sin made between God and us–that the Son of God must come from Heaven to earth to suffer all this!

Oh! sirs, mischievous sin has undone us! Sin has robbed everyone of six jewels, every one of which is of more worth than Heaven and earth. Would you know what jewels they are, which sin has robbed us of? I will tell you–and then you will agree that we were in a very miserable case indeed!

1. Sin robs us of the image of God. Was not this a precious jewel? I say, sin robbed us of the image of God–and drew the devil’s picture in us!
Malice is the devil’s eye,
oppression is the devil’s hand,
blasphemy is the devil’s tongue,
hypocrisy is the devil’s cloven foot!

2. Sin robs us of our divine sonship–and makes us . . .
slaves to the devil,
slaves to sin,
slaves to the world,
slaves to ourselves!
This is another jewel we have lost.

3. Sin robs us of our friendship with God–and makes us . . .
enemies to God,
enemies to Christ,
enemies to our own souls,
enemies to all that is holy!

4. Sin robs us of our communion and fellowship with God–and makes us strangers and aliens to God.

5. Sin robs us of our rights and privileges of Heaven and heavenly things–and makes us children of wrath and heirs of Hell.

6. Sin robs us of our honor and glory–and makes us vile and miserable; as you may see in Isaiah 1:6, “There is no soundness in us–but only wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores!”

Now, sirs, put all this together, and then see whether or not we are miserable, and whether we needed a Savior to come and deliver us from this misery into which our souls were plunged!

Now here is our happiness, Christians: in Christ we have these jewels back again–which we lost in the old Adam!
The glorious image of God,
our divine sonship,
our friendship with God,
our fellowship with God,
our heavenly privileges,
our glory and honor–
we have regained all these by Jesus Christ!

The True Nature Of Sin!

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Today, I am posting a about the true nature of sin by Arthur Pink, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(Arthur Pink)

“Hate what is evil” Romans 12:9

If we took a survey of everything on the earth–we could not find anything so vile as sin. The basest and most contemptible thing in this world, has some degree of worth in it, as being the workmanship of God. But sin and its foul streams have not the least part of worth in them. Sin is wholly evil without the least mixture of good–it is vileness in the abstract.

Sin’s heinousness appears in its author: “The one who practices sin is of the Devil; for the Devil has sinned from the beginning.” Sin is the Devil’s trade, and he practices it incessantly!

Sin’s enormity is seen in what it has done to man: it has completely ruined his nature and brought him under the curse of God!

Sin is the source of all our miseries. All unrighteousness and wretchedness are its fruits. There is no distress of the mind, no anguish of the heart, no pain of the body–but is due to sin! All the miseries which mankind groans under, are to be ascribed to sin.

Sin is the cause of all divine punishments: “Your ways and your doings have brought these things upon you. This is your punishment.” Had there been no sin, there would have been . . .
no wars,
no calamities,
no prisons,
no hospitals,
no insane asylums,
no cemeteries!
Yet who lays these things to heart?

“The deceitfulness of sin!” Sin assumes many garbs. When it appears in its nakedness–it is seen as a black and misshapen monster! How God Himself views it, may be learned from the various similitudes used by the Holy Spirit to set forth its ugliness and loathsomeness. Sin is likened to the scum of a seething pot in which is a detestable carcass, and to a dead and rotting body!

There is a far greater malignity in sin than is commonly supposed, even by the majority of church members. Men regard sin as an infirmity, and term it a human frailty orhereditary weakness. The majority regard sin as a mere trifle.

Tens of thousands of religionists see so little filth in sin, that they imagine a few tears will wash away its stain. They perceive so little criminality in it, that they persuade themselves that a few good works will make full reparation for it.

All comparisons fail to set forth the horrible malignity in that abominable thing which God hates. We can say nothing more evil of sin, than to term it what it is!

photo credit: Astrogems

Heaven!

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Earlier today, I posted a great thought on the subject of Hell by James Smith. Please be sure to read that devotion before moving on with this one. Now I will follow that up with a few thoughts about Heaven, also by James Smith, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(James Smith, “HEAVEN!” 1858)

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!” Psalm 16:11

HEAVEN! What is it?

It is . . .
God’s residence,
the Savior’s home,
our Father’s house,
a paradise of pleasure,
a temple of worship, and
the residence of perfect purity and peace!

There . . .
God unveils His glory,
the Savior exhibits His charms,
the angels perform their service, and
the saints are entirely happy with their God.

In Heaven . . .
sin is banished,
holiness is perfected,
life is a continual feast, and
mortality is swallowed up in life!

From Heaven . . .
all pain is banished,
all enemies are excluded, and
all causes of sorrow are shut out!

In Heaven . . .
all our prayers are answered,
all our desires are gratified, and
all our needs are supplied.
There is no weeping, wailing, or wishing there.

In Heaven . . .
our knowledge will be perfect,
our happiness will be abiding,
our pleasures will be ever new.

In Heaven we shall . . .
see Jesus,
be with Jesus, and
be like Jesus, forever!

Who are there?
All tried and tempted followers of Jesus are there.
All doubting and fearing disciples of Jesus are there.
All poor and despised believers are there.
Multitudes, who felt totally unworthy of such glory, and feared they would never reach the place–are there.

All who were chosen by the Father,
all who were redeemed by the Son, and
all who were sanctified by the Holy Spirit–are there.

What do they enjoy there? Who can answer this question–but one who has been there; and he would need a new language to state, and new figures to represent the enjoyments of Heaven. They enjoy rest from their pains–and a full supply of all their needs. They enjoy perfect satisfaction, a fullness of joy, and pleasure forevermore. They see all that they believed, realize all that they hoped for, and possess all that they loved. They have . . .
health–without sickness;
pleasure–without pain;
and holiness–without sin.
Every sense is gratified, every power is pleasurably employed–and they are perfectly and perpetually happy!

O Heaven, in you there is . . .
no tempting devil,
no ensnaring world,
no indwelling corruption;
no doubts, fears, or misgivings!
And best of all, there is no sin!

O Heaven, in you I shall see my God, possess my Savior, and enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit! O my God, in Heaven I shall be satisfied–for I shall be with You, serving and enjoying You without weariness or cessation!

Who will yet get to Heaven? Who? Ah, perhaps many we little think of! We shall miss many whom we expected to find there–and find many whom we never expected would reach that glorious place!

Who will go to Heaven? That poor man who is striving against sin, mourning over corruption, and loathing himself before God. That poor woman, who sighs because she sins, pants for perfect holiness, and clings to the cross of Jesus.

Do you see that poor soul on his knees, confessing his transgressions, pleading for pardon, and seeking grace to sanctify his nature–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that lowly Christian, who is visiting the sick, pointing sufferers to the cross, and trying to alleviate human woe, out of love to Jesus–he will go to Heaven.

Do you see that Sunday School teacher, who, after a hard week’s work, is regularly in his class, speaking loving words, in tender tones, to win the little ones for the Savior–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that preacher who exalts Christ in his ministry, honors the gospel in his life, and travails in birth for souls–he will go to Heaven.

Heaven will be peopled by all who believe in Jesus, love the brethren, and worship God in Spirit and in truth. There will be a numberless multitude there, all deeply indebted to free mercy, washed in the Savior’s blood, and sanctified by the Spirit’s grace!

Reader, there is a way–but only one way to Heaven! Only those found in that way will ever reach it! You yourself, may be within an hour or two of either Heaven or Hell–do you know which? If called away suddenly–to which would you go? You have a Heaven to obtain, or a Hell to endure–to all eternity! Which shall it be? O that you were wise, that you properly realized this, that you would consider your latter end!

Heaven with all its glories–or Hell with all its horrors–must be your eternal portion! If you despise the Savior, make light of the Gospel, and neglect God’s great salvation–then Hell, an eternal Hell, with all its unspeakable horrors–is your portion!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined–what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9

photo by plindberg

***

I pray that these two posts have given you a lot to think about concerning the destination of your soul upon death! Hebrews 9:27-28 tells us:

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

There will be no purgatory, no reincarnation, and no second chances.

There will also be no excuses! Hebrews 2:1-3a says:

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

So please, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” ~ Isaiah 55:6

If you have any questions about the subject, read about the Gospel or contact me.