Truth is ancient; it's grey hairs may make it venerable;
it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. --Thomas Watson

 

10 October, 2005   comments: (0) Classic Devotion   The Privileges and Comforts of Christianity The puritan pastor John Flavel believed that most Christians live far below the privileges and comforts of True Christianity. I recently found this excerpt from Flavel, on the Jonathan Edwards blog (a great blog to bookmark and visit often): Since by conversion all true believers are admitted to the privileged state of communion with God, let them strive to have the greatest amount of communion with God that is possible in this world. They must not be merely content with just enough grace to keep them out of Hell, but should instead labor for as much grace and communion with God Himself that will make their life here on earth like living in the suburbs of Heaven. It is greatly to our loss that we live at such a far distance from God and are so seldom having fellowship with Him. We ought to make communion with God the aim of our souls in all our religious duties. Let it be the very thing our souls most desire, let the desires and hopes of communion with God be the very thing that draws us to every sermon and prayer. Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. In all our approaches to God through the means of grace let us beg and plead earnestly with God for the manifestations of His love and further communications of His grace. Psalm 27:7-9 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." Hide not your face from me. You bid us to come Lord, therefore we ask that you do not put us off in your anger. You are our help and we have had sweet experiences of your goodness, do not turn us away empty. We must not desire the comfort and refreshment of communion with God merely for our own sake, but instead for the sake of motivating us to duty and service. These times of refreshment and comfort in communion with God ought to strengthen us to cheerfully serve God in all things. Though great heights of communion with God are attainable on earth, most Christians live far below the privileges and comforts of True Christianity. (adapted from John Flavel: England's Duty. Sermons on Rev. 3:20) Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.70   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism