Wise Words

As believers we know that we are supposed to hate the sin in our lives. 1 John 1:9 is not meant to be a trump card in the life of a believer. A true believer in Jesus Christ does not have the attitude, "Oh I will sin and God will forgive me later." The Christian understands that the apostle Paul clearly says in Romans 6:1 a believer should not continue a life of sin. If you have been cherishing a sin (s) in you're life begin asking God to have you hate it, make a practice of daily repentance in your life; this is the sign of a true believer in Jesus Christ. Like David, pray that God will give you a clean and a pure heart before Him.

These are great words this morning from CH Spurgeon.

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered."—Hebrews 5:8.

"We are told that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, therefore we who are sinful, and who are far from being perfect, must not wonder if we are called to pass through suffering too. Shall the head be crowned with thorns, and shall the other members of the body be rocked upon the dainty lap of ease? Must Christ pass through seas of His own blood to win the crown, and are we to walk to heaven dryshod in silver slippers? No, our Master's experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born child of God must not, would not, escape it if he might. But there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ's "being made perfect through suffering"—it is, that He can have complete sympathy with us. "He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power. One of the early martyrs said, "I can bear it all, for Jesus suffered, and He suffers in me now; He sympathizes with me, and this makes me strong." Believer, lay hold of this thought in all times of agony. Let the thought of Jesus strengthen you as you follow in His steps. Find a sweet support in His sympathy; and remember that, to suffer is an honourable thing—to suffer for Christ is glory. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to do this. Just so far as the Lord shall give us grace to suffer for Christ, to suffer with Christ, just so far does He honour us. The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God hath anointed are their troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Let us not, therefore, shun being honoured. Let us not turn aside from being exalted. Griefs exalt us, and troubles lift us up. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him."