Scripture
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:12, NLT
Quote
You do not know yourself thoroughly. There are more things in your inward man than you are aware of presently.
~John Charles Ryle
When Kevin gave me Ryle’s book on Holiness, I began reading it a section at a time as a part of my morning devotions. This is the first book I’ve read by Ryle. He is the most honest man I’ve ever read on fear, doubt, distress and anxiety. Any preacher who has endured the dark night of the soul can relate to this book. We’ve all encountered the halo wearers who pretend to be squeaky clean. Like the Pharisees of old, they are sanctimonious and very proud of their holiness. Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” The Pharisees pretended to be better than they really were. I am an elder brother, or as some say, a recovering Pharisee. I’ve been in church all my life. Just out of seminary, I got into a situation that turned me every way but loose. I cried out to God, “Deliver me from this mess, I don’t deserve to be treated the way I am being treated.” The LORD was very definitive, He said, “You are right, you don’t deserve this, you deserve death and hell.” I have never forgotten that revelation. God has been revealing me to me ever since and just when I think I am making progress, He shows me something else that doesn’t please Him and needs to go. Ryle says, “The best of God’s saints are compassed about with infirmities.” Ryle says, “It is possible for person to be sold out to Jesus and yet be overwhelmed at times by doubt and fear.”
If you think he is wrong, you should check out Mark 4:36-40…So they {disciples} took Jesus in the boat and started out…But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Oh, so His disciples were afraid and even had doubts that Jesus cared about them. Let me tell you about people who have no doubts, they say things like… “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” Peter was not the only one who said this, all eleven said the same thing. They did not understand the weakness of the flesh. They were very confident and had no doubts. They were rock solid sure that they possessed the courage to die for Jesus, but what happened? They ran like frightened rabbits. They had no idea what lay in the dark recesses of their heart. They did not understand the weakness of the flesh. The LORD taught them just as He teaches us: We rely on Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. It will fail us every single time. This story is proof positive that Jesus disciples experience fear and doubt and so did Martin Luther and all the other great saints.
Extra
According to my weather app we have four more days of drought. I pray for the LORD to have mercy on us. Some folks don’t seem to realize our desperate need of rain. I have four shrubs that are not going to make it and you will see the results too in the next couple of years. Trees will die from this drought so forgive me if I pray for rain. I have nothing against those who raise cotton and I hope they get their crops in by Friday, but i will continue to pray for rain.
LORD willing, I will be preaching at the Muscle Shoals Association today.
June and I visited some old friends while we were in Cherokee last Saturday. The wife is a collector, and she loves yard sales. According to her husband, the problem is, she never has any yard sales herself. I visited there last year and could not wait to take June. You have to see it to believe it. I wouldn’t doubt that she has 10,000 trinkets. I know you think I am exaggerating but you talk to June. I’ve never seen anything like it. Her husband told us, “I have not been in the living room in ten years or upstairs in twenty.” He said the cat is the only one who can get up the steps. She has used the steps as shelves. He has just enough room in the den for his recliner and TV. He has a narrow path to the bedroom. It is a sight for sore eyes. It was a fun visit. It made my day.
Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.