95. We Should Defend Our Neighbor, Speak Well of Him, and Put the Best Construction on Everything. 

"Charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Pet. 4:8.

He whose heart is filled with true love can easily cover the faults of his neighbor and speak well of him. For instance, if you had been overtaken in a fault and others would speak of it and condemn you for it, would you not like to have some one get up and speak a word in your favor? Or if some one were to accuse you of something of which you are innocent, would you not be thankful if some one would protect you against such false accusa­ tion? Now, this very same thing you should do for your neighbor. “Plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Or, if some one would belittle you and speak to others of your faults and frailties, would you not be very much pleased if some one would praise your good deeds and qualities and speak well of you? Very well; this, then, is something that you ought to be willing to do for your neighbor. Or if you had spoken in a careless way, so that your words may be construed to have an evil meaning and a friend would stand up and explain that you did not mean to say such and such a thing, would not that be very agreeable to you ? Then remember that you ought to be such a friend to your neighbor when others twist his words and misconstrue them.

This does not mean, however, that we should not speak of sins and shameful deeds that have been openly committed. If sins have become public, we certainly must speak of them publicly, and they must be judged and condemned publicly by those who are called to do so. But here in the Eighth Commandment secret sins and frailties of the neighbor are meant, such sins and frailties as are probably known only to you. In such a ease we should charitably cover our neighbor’s frailties and not make them known to others.

But shall we call black white ? Shall we say that his sins are good deeds? O no! “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone,” says Christ. “If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye, which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Gal. 6,1. But do not tell others! Charity covers the neighbor’s faults and sins of weakness.

Prayer.

Almighty God, faithful Father, enable us by Thy Holy Spirit above all to think well in our hearts of our neighbor and to defend him and speak well of him; indeed, in all things to use our tongue for the promotion of his bodily and spiritual welfare. May our tongue ever be an instrument of truth and love and seek Thy glory. Grant that we may learn to have compassion on all, to cover our neighbor’s frailties and faults, to forgive sincerely, and that at all times and upon all occasions we may show the fruits of faith. Amen.

 Daily Reading in Life of Christ - Enduring Temptation - J.R. Miller (1890)

February 22. Enduring Temptation

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matthew 4:1

The time is to be noted. It was just after the wonderful scenes of our Lord's baptism. The heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended and abode upon him, and the Father's voice was heard from Heaven in approval and witness; then immediately came the terrible experience here described. Spiritual privileges do not save us from fiery trials. Indeed there is no time when Satan is so sure to come with his subtle arts — as just when we have passed through some season of special blessing. When we go from our prayer closet after a time of tender communion, he meets us at the door with some evil suggestion. It is after we have been nearest to God, that we are sure to find the devil most active. He is not half so anxious to tempt worldly professors, as those who are glowing with spiritual zeal.

An old writer says: "All the while our Savior lay in his father's shop and meddled only with carpenter's chips — the devil troubled him not; now that he is to enter more publicly upon his mediatorship — the tempter pierces his tender soul with many sorrows by solicitation to sin." It is the same with us. So long as we move on quietly in our ordinary life — he does not trouble himself to harm us; but when we rouse up to new consecration and new activity in God's service — he pounces upon us and tries to destroy us! It is therefore in our times of greatest spiritual exaltation — that we need to be most watchful. 

We learn here also, that we may expect to endure temptation in this world. New power came to Jesus through his conflicts. His life was developed and made perfect through sufferings. Then, he was fitted for sympathy with us in our temptations — by himself being tempted in all points as we are.Temptations resisted — always bring new strength. Victorious struggle, prepares us for helping others in their temptations.

 

LOVE AND THE LAW OF GOD - by Bishop Ogles

 O HOW love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97)

 

GREAT peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165)

 

FOR brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Galatians 5:13-14)

 

            At the slightest mention of the Law of God, many begin to back away as if offended that such Law still exists. Whatever would convince any God-fearing Christian to believe that God’s Law has been annulled or done away. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Law for us and even saved us under the terms of the Law of God for He satisfied the demands of the Law that the wages of sin is death. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; therefore, we were condemned under the Law. But Christ paid that death penalty vicariously on the cross for us. Only our Lord was qualified to satisfy that debt since all others were under the penalty of sin. 

 

            Perhaps it would be wise to ask, What is Law? at the outset of our discussion:

 

Law, in its most general and comprehensive sense, signifies a rule of action; and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action, whether animate or inanimate, rational or irrational. Thus, we say the laws of motion, of gravitation, of optics, or mechanics, as well as the laws of nature and of nations. And it is a rule of action which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.

                                  Sir William Blackstone  (10 July 1723 – 14 February 1780) 

 

            The Laws of the Kingdom apply to all within the Kingdom whether citizens or strangers. The stranger comes and goes, but the citizen abides in the Kingdom. As Christians, we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven and our conduct must comport with the Law of the King. The stranger who disobeys will be deported without where the fires of Hell are kept ready. 

 

            How is the Law of God an instrument of Love in its full expression? Mr. Blackstone, in the definition above of Law, did not express the PURPOSE of Law since it is generally commonly understood. The purpose of Law is to protect, maintain order, allow civil discourse and commerce, and provide for the general welfare of a people or nation. Can you imagine a nation with no laws? Impossible, for there could exist no nation without laws defining boundaries, allegiances, and some framework for society to function. Otherwise, it is simply a mob of savages doing as they please without moral or legal restraint. 

 

            God gave Adam only one Law in Eden, and He gave him a choice of two trees at the center of the Garden. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. . . . And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:8, 9 & 16) Observe the great freedom Adam had in the days before his fall! There was only one Law to be observed – do not eat of the One Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He could eat of every other tree (including the Tree of Life symbolizing the pre-Incarnate Christ). But Adam chose the very tree he was commanded of the Lord not to eat. When the dog bites, we must shorten the leash! Adam died from the moment he tasted the forbidden fruit. Those who are in the fallen state of Adam are all dead in trespasses and sin. (see Eph 2)Disobedience of the one Law laid down at Eden resulted in all the hurt and misery of our world today. That Law was given in love to Adam, but the love of Adam for God was not sufficient to command obedience. 

 

            God found it necessary to expand the Law to cover every area of life. Man was incapable of the degree of obedience motivated by love and kindness, so the Law was written on Tables of Stone to compel obedience. God knew man would be unable to obey His Law in spotless compliance expected by a Holy God. It was to teach our primitive fathers to obey God first, And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deut 6:5), and to love others as themselves, . . . . thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 It was these two summaries of the Law pertaining to our duty to God and our duty to others which our Lord stipulated in the Summary of the Law:  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

 

I have heard the great error preached Jesus was issuing a new Commandment to replace the Ten! How wrong and ignorant to read the counsel of our Lord in such wise. Jesus was simply revealing the Law of Love in bringing the two Tables of the Law together in summary. The first Table of the Ten Commandments informs us of our duty to God; the second Table informs of our duty to others. It expresses the only means whereby we can be obedient to God and observe our responsibilities to others – that means is defined in one word only – LOVE! 

 

There are two dimensions of the Law of God – the Letter of it, and the Spirit of it.  NO matter how diligently we strive to obey every Commandment, without LOVE, we have failed miserably. It is only when our Love is combined with our obedient desire can we be obedient to the Commandments of God. Love is the Spirit that enables us!

 

God can in no wise brook sin in His midst; therefore, we must stand guiltless before God on the last day. How can we do so when all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death? It is by means of the IMPUTED righteousness of Christ that declares us righteous – not our righteousness but His in satisfying the terms of the Law. 

 

In effect, our Lord gave only ONE new Commandment. It is altogether appropriate that we read that new Commandment in the Gospel of the Beloved Disciple, John 13: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35) Ahh, so, this is also a Law of God and one which we MUST obey personally for without love, we nothing. But it is LOVE itself that enables us to keep all of the other Ten Commandments of God. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (LOVE), it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

 

We see our nation becoming more and more distant from God in its secular pursuits. It has forgotten the Love of God and her heart has grown cold. It matters not what leader we send to represent us if our own hearts are devoid of Love and Truth. Read below my favorite quote on the Law which I have shared many times in my writings – many times because it is profoundly true!

 

            “Power and law are not synonymous. In truth, they are frequently in opposition and irreconcilable. There is God's Law from which all Equitable laws of man emerge and by which men must live if they are not to die in oppression, chaos and despair. Divorced from God's eternal and immutable Law, established before the founding of the suns, man's power is evil no matter the noble words with which it is employed or the motives urged when enforcing it. 

 

            “Men of good will, mindful therefore of the Law laid down by God, will oppose governments whose rule is by men, and if they wish to survive as a nation they will destroy the government which attempts to adjudicate by the whim of venal judges.”       

Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC

 

 

 The Whole Law Must be Kept by the Whole Man During His Whole Life. (Pasche, F.E.)

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8.

Many men lead outwardly harmless and moral lives, but they neglect and despise God’s Word; their soul is full of the lust of the world. On the other hand, the creed of some is blameless while their life is offensive. But that is not as it should be; our faith and life should both be right. A man should not outwardly seem to be a temple of God and inwardly, and therefore in reality, a den of the devil.

God heartily hates a partial service. Hear the complaint of the Savior: “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.”

Judging from the outward appearance of many people, one should think they were perfect; but on closer inspection one finds that they harbor and cherish a darling sin which they will not give up. If, for instance, you do not curse, cheat, and live a life of sexual impurity, if, however, you fail to worship God, despise the preaching of the Gospel, neglect the reading of your Bible, and do not do your share toward preparing ministers, sending out mis­ sionaries, you are a trespasser of the Law of God. If you offend in one point, you are guilty of all. If one string of a musical instru­ ment is out of tune, the whole music is spoiled. Remember that the whole Law is to be kept by the whole man and during his whole life!

We must not put on our religion on Sunday and then put it off until the next Sunday. True, business is business, but that does not mean that you should break God’s commandments. Obey them every day of the week and have Him in your daily labor as silent, but powerful partner. Likewise, do not put off serving God until you have reached old age. That is the height of folly; for it is a fact that by far the most people die young. Therefore, “remem­ ber now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Do not give the devil the flower of youth and to God the leaves of decayed old age. No, during your whole life delight in the Lord; He shall give thee the desire of thy heart.

Prayer.

O Thou merciful God and Father, though ofttimes, from weakness of the flesh or perversity of mind, I have forsaken Thee, ignored Thy commandments, and by many gross sins transgressed against Thee in heaven more than seventy times seven every day and also against my neighbor on earth, Thou didst not enter into judgment with me, nor didst Thou visit me with sudden, well- deserved punishment. O God the Holy Spirit, how shamefully have I spent my life, how sadly have I faltered, yea, committed grievous sins times without number! But Thou hast sought me, the lost sheep, so often and hast led me back to the right path; Thou hast sanctified, comforted, governed, and kept me in my calling. I humbly thank Thee for Thy unmerited grace, and I be­ seech Thee to bestow this same grace upon me in the future, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

 Daily Readings in Life of Christ - J.R. Miller (1890)

February 21. The Spirit like a Dove

"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him." Mark 1:10

Even Christ with all His divine power needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit to set Him apart for His life-work, and to make Him ready for it. How much more do we, His disciples, need the same anointing before we are truly set apart for work and qualified for it.

There is rich suggestion also in the form in which the Spirit descended. A great many tender thoughts cluster around the dove. It was the dove that the very poor were permitted to bring to the altar as an offering, as a substitute for a more costly animal. The appearance of the dove was one of the harbingers or prophecies of coming spring. The dove was always remembered by the Jews in connection with the abatement of the waters of the deluge, when it returned to the ark bearing the olive-leaf; and it has become among all Christian nations, as well as the olive-branch, an emblem of peace. The dove was also referred to by Christ as a symbol of gentleness and harmlessness. 

All these associations made the dove a most fitting emblematic form for the Holy Spirit to assume when descending upon Jesus. For Jesus came to be a sacrifice for all, even the poorest. He came as the spring comes, bringing life to a dead world. He came bringing a message of peace from Heaven to everyone who will open to Him. And He is like the dove in gentleness and harmlessness.

It is this same Holy Dove that must descend upon us if the kingdom of Heaven is truly to begin in our hearts. Until the Holy Spirit has been given to us and received by us — there is no life in our souls and no power in us for work. But this divine anointing is promised to all who truly consecrate themselves to Christ and believe on Him. No vision of cloven heavens and descending dove appears to human eyes — but above every scene of holy devotement to Christ — this blessed reality hangs.

v

How long should a sermon be?

A churchman once asked Spurgeon how long it would take to prepare a two hour sermon. He responded, “three hours.” So, how long for a one hour sermon, Spurgeon said, “two days”  and a twenty minute sermon? Three days, but if a three hour sermon, I can do that right now. The art of saying the most in the least time is a sign of a knowledgeable minister.