Christ In Us (2)
After he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, 'Follow me.' -Luke 5:27
(3) Where Christ is, he rules; for he takes the keys of the house and governs all. Where he is in the heart and affections-there he rules; and where he takes not his lodging in the affections and in the heart, in the joy, desire, and delight, he is not at all. To have him in the brain to talk, and in the tongue to discourse, and yet to keep the heart filled with worldly lusts, shows that Christ does not reside there. By heart, I mean, especially, the will and the affections. He draws the will to cleave to him, to choose him for the best good.
(4) Where Christ is in the heart by faith, and he takes up the affections, there is a low esteem of all the excellencies of this world. Moses did but see from afar the excellency that came by Christ, and he accounted all the pleasures of this world to be nothing (Heb. 11:27). Paul accounted all but dung and dross (Phil. 3:8); having in his heart and soul an admiration of the all-sufficiency and excellency of Christ. As soon as Christ came into his house, Zacchaeus grew generous, 'Half my goods I give to the poor' (Luke 19:8). Before he loved extortion and low courses, but now down they go, he will be an oppressor no longer. However busy the disciples were before, once Christ opened their eyes to see the excellency that was in him, away goes all their previous undertakings, that they might follow Christ. It is impossible for the heart that entertains our blessed Saviour to have an over-abundant admiration for any earthly excellency. For it is the nature of the soul, upon the discovery of better things, to let the estimation of other things of less value fall away. Children, when they come to be adults, outgrow their childish toys. So it is with a man who is converted. When Christ enters and opens the understanding and enlarges the heart to see and admire better things, immediately that heart begins to care nothing for this world in comparison.
(4) Where Christ is in the heart by faith, and he takes up the affections, there is a low esteem of all the excellencies of this world. Moses did but see from afar the excellency that came by Christ, and he accounted all the pleasures of this world to be nothing (Heb. 11:27). Paul accounted all but dung and dross (Phil. 3:8); having in his heart and soul an admiration of the all-sufficiency and excellency of Christ. As soon as Christ came into his house, Zacchaeus grew generous, 'Half my goods I give to the poor' (Luke 19:8). Before he loved extortion and low courses, but now down they go, he will be an oppressor no longer. However busy the disciples were before, once Christ opened their eyes to see the excellency that was in him, away goes all their previous undertakings, that they might follow Christ. It is impossible for the heart that entertains our blessed Saviour to have an over-abundant admiration for any earthly excellency. For it is the nature of the soul, upon the discovery of better things, to let the estimation of other things of less value fall away. Children, when they come to be adults, outgrow their childish toys. So it is with a man who is converted. When Christ enters and opens the understanding and enlarges the heart to see and admire better things, immediately that heart begins to care nothing for this world in comparison.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Matchless Love and Inbeing, Works, vol. 6, pp. 403-04
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
The Matchless Love and Inbeing, Works, vol. 6, pp. 403-04
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)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
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