Memorization Monday - War a good Warfare

1 Timothy 6:11, 12 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Memorization Monday - War a good Warfare

2 Timothy 2:3, 4 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Hymn of the week -- How Vast the Benefits Divine

By Augustus M. Toplady

How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ possess!
We are redeemed from guilt and shame and called to holiness.
But not for works which we have done, or shall hereafter do,
Hath God decreed on sinful men salvation to bestow.

The glory, Lord, from first to last, is due to Thee alone;
Aught to ourselves we dare not take, or rob Thee of Thy crown.
Our glorious Surety undertook to satisfy for man,
And grace was given us in Him before the world began.

This is Thy will, that in Thy love we ever should abide;
That earth and hell should not prevail to turn Thy Word aside.
Not one of all the chosen race but shall to Heav’n attain,
Partake on earth the purposed grace and then with Jesus reign.

All Things for Christ -- Especially the Church

Off and on over the last several months I have shared excerpts from a book I'm reading called "Our Lord Prays for His Own". This book is a devotional study of John 17. Again this morning I was challenged and encouraged by something the author wrote.

First a little background -- In John 17:6 Jesus prays concerning his own, "Yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word." The discussion in today's excerpt relates to the fact that we were given to Christ. There is a lot to mull over in this short section so I encourage you to take some time and think about what is being said here.

Colossians 1:16 tells us that all things were created for Christ. So the author writes ...

Now, all things were created for Christ; the greatest thing created for Him is His Church. The worlds were created for Him; there would have been no creation, but that Jehovah purposed Christ should have a kingdom. The heavens were created for Him; there would be no heaven, or heaven of heavens, but that Jehovah purposed that His SOn should have a kingdom; but "the church" is more than the kingdom, more to Him than earth and heaven. Angels were created for Christ; no angel would ever have winged his way through infinite space, but that it was Jehovah's purpose that His Son should have attendants: but the Bride is more than the attendants. Whatever be the thrones our blessed Christ is to occupy; whatever be the dominions He is to possess; whatever be the principalities over which He is to rule -- He will give us "to sit with him on his throne, even as he also overcame, and is set down with His Father on his throne."

Christ was set up as Lord of the universe; but His people are "the members of his body" -- His own flesh and blood, and "No man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church" (Eph. 5:29) All other creations are from without; the Church, in some mysterious way, is from within.

Hymn of the Week -- Whatever My God Ordains is Right

by Samuel Rodigast, 1675

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morn anew
I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.