books

  • “It is our truest happiness to live entirely for the glory of Christ.” (M’Cheyne)

    I’ve been reading through the “Memoir and Remains of R. M. M’Cheyne” by Andrew Bonar. I’ve already posted a couple times on the book at tent of meeting (see here and here). Some of you know how much I appreciated reading through “George Whitefield’s Journals” and how I look to Whitefield as an example and for inspiration (of course, knowing full well, that we need to take care not to idolize others nor to set ourselves up for a sense of inadequacy as we compare ourselves to others). I have to say this book and the life of M’Cheyne rank right up there with the Whitefield and the Journals.

    I’d like to bring a quote today from a letter M’Cheyne wrote to the Rev. Dan Edwards October 2, 1840:

    It is our truest happiness to live entirely for the glory of Christ—to separate between “I” and “the glory of Christ.” We are always saying, what have I done—was it my preaching—my sermon — my influence; whereas we should be asking, what hath God wrought? Strange mixed beings we are! How sweet it will be to drop our old man, and be pure as Christ is pure.

    I can’t help but note that M’Cheyne wrote this at age 27, and he lived for less than two and half years after this time.

    I confess I share M’Cheyne’s struggle. I so agree how sweet it will be to drop my old man and be pure as Christ is pure!

    I shake my head and wonder sometimes why God uses me (us). I find it dumbfounding and deeply humbling how God continues to use people like me (like us) even as I (we) struggle in these ways. Even as I (we) continue to have such mixed motives in ministry.

    I John 3:1  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2  Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

    4  Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5  You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6  No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7  Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

    Holy Father, I am Your child because I have been united with Christ by grace through faith. Thank You for adopting me into Your family, though I was not worthy. Help me now to walk worthy of that calling. I have been united to Christ and given the Holy Spirit so I might live like Your blessed Son, who lived for a holy life to Your glory alone. O, that I might be able to separate between “I” and “the glory of Christ.” How we all continue to fight this temptation, but particularly as we seek to minister in Your Name. Thank You for the privilege You have given all of Your children to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. I confess how often I do not walk with purity in that calling. Forgive me, Holy Father. Cleanse me by the blood of the Lamb. Anytime I live for my own glory is a grave sin against You. To strive to lift myself up is an affront to You and Your glory, shows contempt for Christ’s life and blood given for mine, and it grieves Your Holy Spirit. Sanctify and strengthen me with Your resurrection power through Your indwelling Holy Spirit so I might not continue to seek my own glory but seek Your glory alone. Grant me abundant grace to purify myself as You are pure, to put off the old man and put on the new, to live for Christ and not my own lusts – all so You alone might receive all the praise, honor and glory in all I do. I know that my truest happiness is to live entirely for the glory of Christ! That is why when I begin to even desire a bit of the glory for myself, Your Holy Spirit begins to convict me of that and makes me miserable. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your continued promptings, for renewing my mind, for leading me into all truth so Jesus Christ might be lifted up. Help my heart to remain soft and pliable and my ears to continue to hear You speak to me. I know this is all impossible with me, but is possible with You! Be merciful and gracious to me for Jesus’ sake. Send me grace sufficient for my need as I seek to lift up Jesus Christ to Your glory alone. Amen.

  • “God’s Word will make its own way/this foolishness of preaching” (George Whitefield’s Journals)

    Down in Chicago-land for Ignite…

    Filled up earlier tonight with some Chicago-style stuffed pizza…

    And then filled up with some of Whitefield’s words from 1739…


    Wednesday, July 18. … I reached Abingdon, twenty-two miles from Cirencester, about seven, and preached to several thousands soon after I came in.  Much opposition had been made against my coming. T he landlord, whose house we offered to put up at, genteellly told us he had not room for us; and numberless prejudices had been industriously spread to prevent my success.  But God’s Word will make its own way, let men say what they please.  Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through the Divine Power, to the pulling down of Satan’s strongholds.

    Thursday, July 19.  At the request of several well-disposed people, preached again this morning, though not to so great a number as before.  A sweet power was felt amongst us.  The hearers melted into tears under the Word.  Oh, what a sudden alteration does this foolishness of preaching make in the most obstinate hearts.  ‘Tis but for God to speak the word, and the lion is turned into a lamb.  Oh, that we were like that dear Lamb of God, Who died to take away the sins of the world.

    I Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

    Related:

  • “How mad a true minister of Christ must appear in the eyes of many!” (more from W.H. Hewitson)

    Here’s another nugget from W.H. Hewitson (in John Baillie’s “Memoir of the Rev. W.H. Hewitson – Late Minister of the Free Church of Scotland, at Dirleton [1852], 2nd edition, 315)…I thought this was a good follow-up to some of the comments to my previous post, “Look to nothing but Christ (W.H. Hewitson on sanctification).”

    How mad a true minister of Christ must appear in the eyes of many! He breathes a spirit, and displays an ardour, which the world cannot understand. The more that we are like Jesus, whom the zeal of his Father’s house consumed, or like Paul, whose enthusiasm in advocating what the flesh was unable to appreciate or relish, brought on him the charge of being mad,—the more shall we lie open to the ridicule and obloquy of the carnal. Eternity, with its unchangeable heaven and its unchangeable hell, rebukes the moderate and the carnal, —calling on us to exhibit yet a more close resemblance to Paul in his mad-like enthusiasm, or to the Lord himself in His consuming zeal. Jesus coming into our closet, and breathing on us that we may receive the Holy Ghost, makes us able ministers, and therefore fools in the world’s esteem.

    * * *

    I Corinthians 1:18  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19  For it is written,

    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”



    20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

    26  For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30  He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31  Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”