A distinguishing characteristic of a child of God.

Posted : 4 Sep, 2013 02:30 AM

Psalm 119:159 Consider how I love Your precepts; quicken me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness.





Love for the precepts, such as this Psalm describes, is a

distinguishing characteristic of a child of God. The

transgressors neither love the precepts, nor desire quickening

grace to keep them. For though "not grievous" in themselves,

they are too strict, too humbling for the unrenewed, proud,

worldly heart. Love therefore to them-not being the growth of

the natural man-must be "a plant which our heavenly Father

has planted," a witness of the Spirit of adoption, and the

principle of Christian devotedness. And how encouraging is

the recollection of the Lord's readiness to consider how we

love His precepts! "I know Abraham, that he will command his

children and his household after him, and they shall keep the

way of the Lord, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that

which He has spoken of him." Thus also did He challenge "the

accuser of the brethren," to "consider His servant Job that

there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright

man, one that fears God, and eschews evil." But while love of the precepts realizes the full confidence of

the Lord's consideration, the consciousness of its imperfection

and scanty measure will always prevent us from urging it as

the ground of acceptance. Christian! you know not-or at least

you allow not-the proud boast-"God, I thank You, that I am not

as other men are." No, rather-your constant cry to the end is-

Quicken me. Your plea is not merit, but mercy. Not that you

deserve to be helped-because you love the precepts: but you

desire and trust to be helped- according to Your loving kindness. And what must be the loving-kindness of a God of

infinite love! Only do not sit still, and wait for the breezes of

His love. Rather call to the "north wind to awake, and to the

south wind to blow," to fill your sails, and urge you on. God His word, His works, His perfections, His holiness; Jesus-His

pity, His love, His grace-is your delight, your chief delight; yet

how infinitely is it below the scriptural standard of privilege,

attainment, and expectation!

Under the painful influence of straitened desires and heartless

affections, how refreshing is it to mark the springs of life

flowing from the loving-kindness of the Lord! Yes, indeed-He

is the overflowing spring of His church. Every mercy is His

grace. Every holy suggestion is His influence. Even the

passing thought that our Christian progress proceeds from our

own resources, opens the door of fearful departure from God.

And yet such is the self-deceitfulness of the heart, that, in the

very act of professing to "rejoice in Christ Jesus," the

Omniscient eye traces a "confidence in the flesh." The real

dependence is on the "mountain that stands strong," not on

"the favor that makes" it so. Even our first father, in his original

unimpaired strength, could "not quicken his own soul." Can

we wonder that the fallen nature, even though partially upheld

by Divine power, is changeable and unstable? The most

advanced Christian needs the supply to the end, as much as

he did in his first stage of infantile weakness. And will he not continue to need it throughout eternity, in every exercise of

adoring service, as well as for his active existence?

But when we ask for this quickening, are we expecting, as we

ought to be, a large answer to our prayer? Or are we "limiting"

our God, by the scanty apprehensions of our poor faith?

Remember He is glorified-not in possessing, but in dispensing

His gifts. If we really expect His blessing, can we be satisfied

without it? It is not our unworthiness, but our unbelief, that

stops the current. Would that we gave Him full credit for His

exuberant flow of free, rich, ceaseless mercy!

Blessed Jesus! we plead Your promise to be filled. We have

life from You; but give it us "more abundantly"-as much as

these houses of clay-as much as these earthen vessels-can

contain. Our taste of Your love, and our knowledge of its

unbounded fullness, encourage our plea to ask You still for

more- Quicken us according to Your loving-kindness. Often as

the Psalmist had repeated this prayer for quickening grace, it

was not a "vain repetition." Each time was it enlivened with

faith, feeling of necessity, and ardent affection: and should

we, in the consciousness of our weakness and coldness, offer

it a hundred times a-day, it would never fail of acceptance.



by

Charles Bridges

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