Late post of this week's verse

"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."-Galatins 6:10

Verse 6

13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."-Matthew 9:13

D.L. Moody

I just bought a biography of D.L. Moody, and I could not put it down last night. John Piper said in one of his messages that we should always be reading at least one biography of the saints of old. So, I read Marsden on Edward's and now am on to this Moody book. Here is a portion of the book. This first part is about Moody's Sunday school teacher.

"On Saturday, April 21, 1855, he was bent over his Bible, preparing a lesson for the next day. Suddenly he felt constrained to go call on Dwight Moody and inquire about the condition of his soul. The Sunday school teacher immediately arose and obediently headed for the Holton Shoe Store. On the way he had second thoughts. Perhaps a foolish impulse rather than the Spirit had sent him on this errand. What if he disturbed the young worker during a busy time? What if the other workers overheard their conversation and would make fun of Moody because his teacher was trying to make "a good boy out of him"? Kimball was so absorbed with the pros and cons of the issue that he walked right past the store. "Then when I found I had gone by the door, I determined to make a dash for it and have it over at once." He found Moody in the back of the store wrapping and shelving shoes. "I went up to him and put my hand on his shoulder, and as I leaned over...I made my plea, and I feel that it was really a weak one. I don't know just what words I used...I simply told him of Christ's love for him and the love Christ wanted in return." Here is Moody's account of that event-

"When I was in Boston I used to attend Sunday school class, and one day I recollect my teacher came around behind the counter of the shop I was at work in, and put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt that I had a soul till then. I said to myself: "this is a very strange thing. Here is a man who never saw me till lately, and he is weeping over my sins, and I never shed a tear about them." But I understand now, and know what it is to have a passion for men's souls and weep over their sins. I don't remember what he said, but I can feel the power of that man's hand on my shoulder to-night. It was not long after that I was brought into the Kingdom of God."

Verse 5

"and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."-2nd Corinthians 5:15

2nd Corinthians 6:10

"...as sorrowful yet always rejoicing,..." I find myself thinking about this verse a good bit. I have many people in my life who are not Christians, and I care deeply about them. After spending time with them I often leave feeling grieved for them. I pray more earnestly for them the more I am with them. Many times I also feel grieved over my lack of boldness with them. Every time we are around others we are called to let our lights shine. What a high calling we have as Christians. O that the 'love of Christ (would) control' us as Paul says. Or as the King James says the 'love of Christ constraineth us.' I read this verse the other day in my devotions, and it is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible to me. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." That is truly AMAZING! Sin is the most odious thing in God's eyes, and Christ Jesus who 'knew no sin' was made sin. In Hebrews 12:1&2 are some amazing verses that many are familar with. Let me quote them and point out something that seems to get overlooked. "1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Those two verses are packed with amazing statements. The line that I think gets overlooked is the 'despising the shame' line. If you contemplate that verse long enough it will probably bring you to tears. I remember James Boice said in one of his sermons that even in eternity we won't know how much Christ suffered for us. O that we would live for Christ. As paul says-"..and he died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." Matthew Henry says this about that verse-"Note, We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions: and it was one end of Christ's death to cure us of this self-love, and to excite us always to act under the commanding influence of his love. A Christian's life should be consecrated to Christ; and then do we live as we ought to live when we live to Christ, who died for us." -Amen.

Edwards

I had been neglecting my two volumes of Edwards for several weeks, but thankfully I got back into volume 2 a few days ago. Of course I came across wonderful things. Here is some of what struck me.-
"If there were a great treasure of gold and pearls accidentally found, and opened with such circumstances that all might have as much as they could gather; would not every one think it worth his while to make a business of gathering while it should last? But that treasure of divine knowledge, which is contained in the Scriptures, and is provided for every one to gather to himself as much of it as he can, is far more rich than any one of gold and pearls. How busy are all sorts of men, all over the world, in getting riches! But this knowledge is a far better kind of riches, than that after which they so diligently and laboriously pursue."
"Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the fountain whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore let not this treasure lie by you neglected."