The State of Our Soul on Sunday

28 Jan

Let us never forget that our feelings about Sundays are sure tests of the state of our souls. The person who can find no pleasure in giving God one day in the week, is manifestly unfit for heaven. Heaven itself is nothing but an eternal Sabbath. If we cannot enjoy a few hours in God’s service once a week in this world, it is plain that we could not enjoy an eternity in His service in the world to come. Happy are those who walk in the steps of her of whom we read today! They shall find Christ and a blessing while they live, and Christ and glory when they die.

~ J.C. Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 2 , [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 120. {Luke 13:10-17}

J.C. Ryle Quotes

The Righteous Word January 13, 2011 "Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful." (Psalm 119:137-138) The writer of the book of Hebrews called God's Word "the word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:13). Nehemiah declared that God had "performed thy words; for thou art righteous" (Nehemiah 9:8). Those two concepts merge in the beauty of the Word. "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth" (Psalm 33:4). The written Word is righteous; the Cause of the Word is righteous. That theme pervades this stanza of Psalm 119. Several synonyms describe this characteristic of the Scriptures. The Lord is righteous and therefore His judgments are upright. "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way" (Psalm 25:8). God's Word is very pure (Psalm 119:140), like refined gold. "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Psalm 12:6). Because the righteous acts of the Lord have everlasting consequences, the "law is the truth" (Psalm 119:142)--"the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting" (v. 144). Since the psalmist dedicated his heart and life to the clarity of God's Word, righteous jealousy consumed him on behalf of God because the enemies of the Lord forgot His Word (v. 139). Furthermore, even though he felt "small and despised" (v. 141) and trouble and anguish surrounded him, he still delighted in understanding God's righteous commandments (v. 143). May the Lord God strengthen our resolve this day to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22). HMM III

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