Grace in Us Is Glorious (1)
To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he loves.—Eph. 1:6
Grace is glorious. As the wise man says, 'Wisdom makes a man's face to shine' (Eccles. 8:1). Is not wisdom a glorious thing: a wise, understanding man able to guide himself and others? It puts a beauty upon a man, to be wise and understanding. Humility makes a man glorious, for it makes God put glory upon a man, and a man is glorious and does not realize it. Moses, when his face shined, did not know himself that it shined. Many humble men are glorious and do not think so; they are glorious, and they shine, though they do not see it.
Is it not a glorious thing to be taken out of ourselves, to deny ourselves, to offer a holy violence to ourselves and to our corruptions? Is it not glorious, when others lie grovelling like slaves under their corruptions, to stand unmovable in all the changes of the world and in all kinds of trouble, to stand as a rock in the midst of all, founded upon the love of God in Christ and the hope of glory after? Not to be shaken with the wind of temptations from his standing, at least not to be shaken off his standing—this is glorious, to have a constant spirit.
Is it not glorious to have admittance boldly by grace, to go into the presence of God at all times, to prevail with God? Faith overcomes not only the world but God himself. It binds him with his own promise. Is not faith a glorious grace, that triumphs over the great God himself, binding him with his own word and promise?
Is not love a glorious grace, that melts one into the likeness of Christ? It constrains, it has a kind of holy violence in it. We will glory in sufferings for what we love. No water, nothing can quench that holy fire that is kindled from heaven. It is a glorious grace.
Hope, what does it do? When it casts anchor in heaven, it keeps us in all the waves. It purges our natures to be like the thing hoped for.
Is it not a glorious thing to be taken out of ourselves, to deny ourselves, to offer a holy violence to ourselves and to our corruptions? Is it not glorious, when others lie grovelling like slaves under their corruptions, to stand unmovable in all the changes of the world and in all kinds of trouble, to stand as a rock in the midst of all, founded upon the love of God in Christ and the hope of glory after? Not to be shaken with the wind of temptations from his standing, at least not to be shaken off his standing—this is glorious, to have a constant spirit.
Is it not glorious to have admittance boldly by grace, to go into the presence of God at all times, to prevail with God? Faith overcomes not only the world but God himself. It binds him with his own promise. Is not faith a glorious grace, that triumphs over the great God himself, binding him with his own word and promise?
Is not love a glorious grace, that melts one into the likeness of Christ? It constrains, it has a kind of holy violence in it. We will glory in sufferings for what we love. No water, nothing can quench that holy fire that is kindled from heaven. It is a glorious grace.
Hope, what does it do? When it casts anchor in heaven, it keeps us in all the waves. It purges our natures to be like the thing hoped for.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 133-34 [144-45]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 133-34 [144-45]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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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
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