登陆注册
5448100000107

第107章 Chapter 31(2)

We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.

The worldling may pronounce this sorrow a weakness; but it is the strength which binds the penitent to the Infinite One with links that cannot be broken. It shows that the angels of God are bringing back to the soul the graces that were lost through hardness of heart and transgression. The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness. This sorrow heralds a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul. "Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God;" "and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for Iam merciful, saith the Lord." Jer. 3:13, 12. "Unto them that mourn in Zion,"He has appointed to give.

"beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Isa. 61:3.

And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin.

Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God. The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself.

They appear dark and joyless to our human nature. But God's ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation. Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life, and prayed that he might die. The Lord in His mercy did not take him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent into the dust of death, but the ascent in glory, with the convoy of celestial chariots, to the throne on high.

God's word for the sorrowing is, "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: Iwill lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." "Iwill turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." Isa. 57:18; Jer. 31:13.

"Blessed are the meek." The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character. Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above.

"Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly." Ps. 138:6.

Those who reveal the meek and lowly spirit of Christ are tenderly regarded by God. They may be looked upon with scorn by the world, but they are of great value in His sight. Not only the wise, the great, the beneficent, will gain a passport to the heavenly courts; not only 302the busy worker, full of zeal and restless activity. No; the poor in spirit, who crave the presence of an abiding Christ, the humble in heart, whose highest ambition is to do God's will,--these will gain an abundant entrance.

They will be among that number who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." Rev. 7:15.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." The sense of unworthiness will lead the heart to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and this desire will not be disappointed. Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus will realize His love. All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. The pure element of love will expand the soul, giving it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."The merciful shall find mercy, and the pure in heart shall see God. Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy Spirit. It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. The Lord may and does forgive the repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred. All impurity of speech or of thought must be shunned by him who would have clear discernment of spiritual truth.

同类推荐
  • 宋俘记

    宋俘记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天童山景德寺如净禅师续语录

    天童山景德寺如净禅师续语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 正朝摘梅

    正朝摘梅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禅宗决疑集

    禅宗决疑集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大方广菩萨藏文殊师利根本仪轨经

    大方广菩萨藏文殊师利根本仪轨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 你是第八个(希区柯克最悬疑的故事集)

    你是第八个(希区柯克最悬疑的故事集)

    本书辑录了希区柯克经典推理小说近三十篇。这一个个小故事,似乎都是发生在人们身边的事情,但是通过希区柯克的演绎,它们变得意味深长,引人入胜。希区柯克通过镜头缓缓道来,在不知不觉中你就落入了他用时间和空间布下的迷宫,那一个个慢镜头透射出一处处角落暗藏着的人性的阴暗。在阅读希区柯克的推理小说过程中,你能够体会到他作品所表达出的复杂性及其蕴涵的多义性,从而在阅读过程中获得一种快乐和艺术享受。
  • 你是我的一生欢喜

    你是我的一生欢喜

    易欢喜经历过各种酸甜苦辣之后,她最终发现,道路千万条,写书死路一条。所以她决定去养猪。黑粉拽着她回去开新书,欢喜说,“滚,别耽误我喂猪!”
  • 千金复仇腹黑老公要点脸

    千金复仇腹黑老公要点脸

    她出身高贵,受万人景仰,既温柔善良又美丽大方。是什么改变了她?毁人家庭,诱人丈夫,成为人人唾弃的浪荡女。他天之骄子,万人之上,既阳光帅气,又积极向上。是什么改变了他?纸醉金迷,淫欲不堪成为了名副其实的败家子。他们在大海中相遇,本以为:尘埃深处是繁花怎奈繁华尽头是悲凉。褪下华服的他们遍体鳞伤,原来活着可以比死亡更加痛苦。不在从什么时候起,他们竟懦弱的连:我爱你,三个字都没有勇气说出口。
  • 惊世符医:纨绔大小姐

    惊世符医:纨绔大小姐

    慕无双,龙轩大陆四大家族慕家嫡长女,家世显赫。奈何先天灵根俱废,父母双亡,头顶帝都公认第一废材的大名,不文不武还则罢了,还被自己的堂妹设计暗算,打落悬崖,生死不明。慕无双,二十一世纪渡劫期修士,师承云梦山鬼谷派,年仅二十便半步仙境,可谓修真界之奇才,却穿越到了魔法与斗气共存的世界,成为了在外惹人嫌,在家惹人厌的纨绔大小姐。废材?白痴?很好,她很快就会让你们知道什么叫文体两开花!施法要吟唱?一道符篆教您做人!药剂很牛逼?一炉丹药,十殿阎王也不敢收你!本是符医仙女,悬壶济世,却在悬崖下救了只跟屁虫,他温润如玉,身份成谜,却对这救了他一命的小符医情有独钟。“救命之恩,无以回报,本尊就以身相许吧。”
  • 奠定资本(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    奠定资本(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    心态决定一切! 智慧创造一切! 这是一个人人追求成功的时代, 心智的力量具有创造成功态势的无穷魔力! 即具有成功暗示的随着灵感牵引的成功力。
  • 古今汉语语法的流变

    古今汉语语法的流变

    《古今汉语语法的流变》反映了作者对古今汉语语法变化研究的成果,该书从语言的历时变化出发,既分析了古今汉语语法一脉相承之处,又重点分析了古今汉语语法的变化,总结出了古代汉语语法有别于现代汉语语法的一些特殊现象,融入了作者对古今汉语语法“流”和“变”的研究心得。
  • 等你回家吃螃蟹

    等你回家吃螃蟹

    狐狸镇离山林近,可是离海却很远。狐狸镇上有许多人根本就没有看过海,更别说海里的螃蟹了。菊子在狐狸镇上算是见过世面的人,她不但见过海,而且还见过海里的螃蟹,不但见过螃蟹,还把它带回了家,也就是狐狸镇。其实没有螃蟹,菊子在狐狸镇上也是数一数二的女人。菊子在镇政府上班,虽然她只是镇政府里做饭的,但也是吃公家饭的人,在狐狸镇这样的女人可不多。更重要的是,菊子的男人在大连干活儿,这在狐狸镇的男人里也不多。虽然他们今年刚刚结婚菊子的男人四喜就走了,但一想到四喜回家时就会大把大把地往家拿钱,人们觉得菊子的独守空房还是值得的。
  • 权御异世界

    权御异世界

    “他就是剑术大师,魔导先驱,神权升格第一人,真正的传奇宗师。”“我不是啊,我没有啊,别瞎说啊。”“像你这么拉风的男人,是隐藏不住的,拯救世界的重任就交给你了。”“……可我肖某人只想过平静的生活,这咋不小心还得去客串一把救世主呢?”平民开局,木有系统,天赋一般,全靠硬肝,虽有老爷爷,转身已不见,作为穿越者,简直算残废。然而身残志坚的肖恩依然凭借一颗搞事之心,在这真实又虚假,仁慈又残酷的异世界,开动了轰鸣作响的魔能引擎,抵御着鹰视狼顾的权贵异人,终究搅出了个天翻地覆,撕碎了这片田园乐土。
  • 你给我的爱像尘埃

    你给我的爱像尘埃

    因为遇见的人是你,我才想要奋不顾身地爱一场。所以,不管夫妻也好,子女也罢,都要好好珍惜这一世的缘分。等到某一天缘分散尽的时候,不会抱憾终身,不会痛哭流涕。深爱过,就是圆满。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。