Delight In The Will Of God # 2 (and others)

Delight In The Will Of God # 2 (and others)

We may be led to it.

1. By sense of right. The vexing question of ethical speculation does not here matter - whether God wills a thing because it is right, or it is right because He wills it. What He wills, is right. To do right a man's highest duty, and should be his greatest delight.

2. By feelings of interest. It is right to consult our own improvement and enjoyment. Lawful to be pleased at advancing these, provided we are doing God's will. Now always our true interest, in noblest sense, on largest scale, is to do God's will. Hence self-love should conspire with a sense of right in causing us to delight in God's will.

3. By feelings of benevolence. I hope no one present is wholly ignorant of the pleasure derived from benefiting others. "And learn the luxury of doing good" (Goldsmith). Now in doing God's will, we may be sure we are promoting the well-being of our fellow men - whether we can always perceive the connection or not. If it is God's will, it shall be best for all we love, for all mankind, that this should be done. What a pleasure, then, it should be, to do His will.

4. By feelings of gratitude. My brethren, let us think of all our providential and spiritual blessings. And while our hearts glow with gratitude, for all God has done, and is doing, and promises to do for us, shall we not be able to say, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God!"

In doing God's will, we follow the example of Jesus - seen in His whole life, and declared in His own words (John 4:34). Remember Him at Jacob's well - fatigued, needing rest and food, yet busy doing good, and yet saying to His disciples, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." In doing this, we are dear to Jesus (Matt. 12:46-50). "Whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." We become as near as the dearest kindred.

Oh, it is sweet to do God's will. Oh, ye who delight to do His will, go on, and it shall grow more and more delightful - go on, and the path you tread shall grow more and more a path of light, till it shall lead you into the dazzling glories of the celestial world; and there, oh there, in perfect obedience you shall find perfect delight.

And meanwhile, however, the number shall be multiplying on earth, of those who delight to do God's will. The prayer our Saviour taught His disciples to pray shall rise from many a pious heart, shall stimulate many a toiling brain, shall nerve many a weary laborer, in Christian and in heathen lands, till Christianity, everywhere triumphant, shall cover the earth in a flood of glory, till God's will shall be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.

~John A. Broadus~

(The End)
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The Best of Saints Are Sinners

A child of God may slip into sin - as a sheep may slip into the mire. But he does not, and cannot wallow in sin - as the swine wallows in the mire.

The best of saints are sinners, though the worst and weakest of saints do not indulge sin or cherish it; or make daily provision for it; or take daily pleasure and delight in sin; or habitually yield a willing and total subjection to the authority and commands of sin.

There is as much difference between sin in a regenerate person - and sin in an unregenerate person, as there is between poison in a man - and poison in a serpent. Poison in a man is most offensive and burdensome, and he readily uses all remedies and antidotes to expel it and get rid of it. But poison in a serpent is in its natural place, and is most pleasing and delightful.

Just so, sin in a regenerate man is most offensive and burdensome, and he readily uses all holy means and antidotes to expel it and to get rid of it. But sin in an unregenerate man is most pleasing and delightful, in being in its natural place.

A godly man may have many sins - yet he has not one beloved sin, one bosom sin, one darling sin. His sins are his greatest grief and torment.

Every godly man hates all known sin, would sincerely have his sins not only pardoned, but destroyed, groans under the burden of sin, combats and conflicts with all known sin, has a sincere willingness to be rid of all sin.

No sincere Christian indulges himself in any trade, course, or way of sin. "Oh," says the gracious soul, "that I could be rid of this proud heart, this unbelieving heart, this unclean heart, this earthly heart, this froward heart of mine!"

O sirs, this is most certain - whoever gives up himself freely, willingly, cheerfully, habitually - to the service of any one particular lust or sin - he is in the state of nature, under wrath, and in the way to eternal ruin!

~Thomas Brooks~