What the Soul Was Made For
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, won finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. -Matt. 13:45, 46
The apostle Paul was an excellent man, and had excellent privileges to glory in. Oh but, said he, 'I account all dung and dross in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ' (Phil. 3:8). Our blessed Saviour, who was the most able of all to judge, he would have all 'sold for the pearl.' He would have us sell all to be a part of the kingdom of heaven. When Martha and Mary entertained Jesus, Mary sat at his feet to hear him expound the truth of God; Christ said, 'one thing is necessary,' and 'she chose the better part' (Luke 10:42). 'One thing have I desired,' said David (Psa. 27:4). All things in comparison to that are not necessary; they may well be set aside.
From this we learn what our souls were made for. What more could our souls be made for than to dwell in the meditation of the beauty of God. What are our souls made for but for excellent things? What is excellent but that which is about the truth of God in the gospel? Is the soul made to study debates and attacks between man and man in our own personal vocations? Is the soul made to get a little wealth, that we will leave perhaps to an unthrifty generation after? Are our souls, which are the most excellent things under heaven; they are the price of the blood of the Son of God, and in his judgment the world is not worth a soul--are they for these things? No! They are for union and communion with God through the truth of the gospel, to grow in nearer communion with God by his Spirit, to have more knowledge and affection, more love and joy and delight in the best things daily. Our souls are for these things that will make us gracious here, and glorious forever after in heaven. It is a great disordering, when we study and care only for earthly things, and have slight concern of those things that are incomparably the best things, in the judgment of God and of Christ himself, and of all good men.
From this we learn what our souls were made for. What more could our souls be made for than to dwell in the meditation of the beauty of God. What are our souls made for but for excellent things? What is excellent but that which is about the truth of God in the gospel? Is the soul made to study debates and attacks between man and man in our own personal vocations? Is the soul made to get a little wealth, that we will leave perhaps to an unthrifty generation after? Are our souls, which are the most excellent things under heaven; they are the price of the blood of the Son of God, and in his judgment the world is not worth a soul--are they for these things? No! They are for union and communion with God through the truth of the gospel, to grow in nearer communion with God by his Spirit, to have more knowledge and affection, more love and joy and delight in the best things daily. Our souls are for these things that will make us gracious here, and glorious forever after in heaven. It is a great disordering, when we study and care only for earthly things, and have slight concern of those things that are incomparably the best things, in the judgment of God and of Christ himself, and of all good men.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Breathing after God, Works, vol. 2, pp. 245-47
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
A Breathing after God, Works, vol. 2, pp. 245-47
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
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