The jewelry of the Bible!
(Octavius Winslow, "The Preciousness of the Divine Promises")
"God has given us His very great and precious promises!" 2 Peter 1:4The promises of God are the jewelry of the Bible!
Every page of the sacred volume is rich and sparkling with these divine assurances of Jehovah's love, faithfulness, and power towards His people.
Upon no spot in this wilderness world can the Christian plant his foot, strange and untrodden though that path may be--but a gem from this casket meets his eye, the sight of which inspires his heart with confidence, his spirit with comfort, his soul with hope!
Imagine what would have been the condition of God's children apart from the divine promises of which the blessed volume is so full. What must have been the desolateness, the sadness, and the sinking--did we not have the divine assurances of God's Word to rely on; by which we are . . .
guided in our march heavenward,
upheld in weakness,
cheered in depression, and
conducted step by step to final blessedness.
The promises are comprehensive in their character, and adapted to all the varied circumstances of our individual history. Child of God, you cannot conceive of . . .
any condition in which you may be placed,
any circumstance by which you may be surrounded,
any sorrow by which you may be depressed,
any perils that may confront you,
any darkness that may overshadow you,
or any needs that you may have--
in which you may not find some precious promises of His blessed Word which meet your case!
The promises of Scripture are exceedingly precious, because they are all signed and sealed with the heart's blood of Jesus! They are the throbbings of the infinite love of Jesus! The promises are but echoes of His heart sounding from each page of the sacred volume!
If you are sin-burdened or sorrow-stricken--just stretch forth your hand and receive these precious jewels as they flow out from the open casket of God's Word!
The promises have stanched may a bleeding wound.
The promises have dried many a falling tear.
The promises have calmed many a disturbed mind.
The promises have guided feet through many a labyrinth.
The promises have shed light on many a lonely path.
The promises, like voices of music, have broken sweetly on many a dreary night of weeping and woe.
We have these rich clusters of precious promises bending down from the Tree of Life!
We may pluck them at all times, in all seasons, and under all circumstances!
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I always carry an oil can in my pocket!
There is a good illustration in one of Dr. Parkhurst's books. He tells of a workman who was in a trolley-car one day. As the door was opened and shut, it squeaked. The workman quietly got up and, taking a little can from his pocket, dropped some oil upon the offending spot, saying as he sat down, "I always carry an oil can in my pocket, for there are so many squeaky things in this world which a little oil will help."
Dr. Parkhurst applies this to life, saying that love is a lubricant with which we can soften or prevent a great many unpleasant frictions with others--if we always have love and will speak the gentle word, the soft word, the kindly word, at the right time. I used the illustration recently in my church in a sermon, and suggested to the people that they all carry oil cans, thus trying to make the world a little sweeter place to live in.
"I am not writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another." 2 John 1:5
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you--so you must love one another." John 13:34
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How shall I follow in His steps?
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place")
"Leaving an example for you to follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21
How shall I follow in His steps?
The first requisite is a personal relationship to Him. I cannot wear the loveliness of Jesus--until I drink deep of the forgiveness of Jesus. From the Cross where He has saved me--I set out on the pilgrim-road of imitation.
It is necessary, also, that love for Him leaps and flames in my soul. No amount of intellectual comprehension is enough. The heart must enthrone Him, must adore Him, must turn to Him with the invitableness and the trust of the sunflower turning to the sun. I can only resemble Him, if my affection for Him is profound, controlling, and pervasive.
And there must be intimacy with my Lord. I am to share His thoughts, His temper, His motives, His decisions.
I must dwell much with Himself in prayer.
I must often meditate on the story of His life and death.
These are some of the modes in which I shall touch and grasp and imitate the grace and the wisdom and the loveliness and thegentleness and the splendor of Jesus Christ.
"Whoever says he abides in Him, ought to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself." 1 John 2:6 (Amplified Bible)
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