Let me show, “what the love of the Bible really is.”

I think it of great importance to have clear views on this point. It is precisely here that mistakes about love begin. Thousands delude themselves with the idea that they have “love,” when they don’t due from a downright ignorance of Scripture. Their love is not the love described in the Bible.

(a) The love of the Bible does not consist in giving to the poor. It is a common delusion to suppose that it does. Yet Paul tells us plainly that a man may “give all he possesses to the poor” (1 Corinthians 13:3), and not have love. That a loving man will “remember the poor,” there can be no question. (Galatians 6:10) That he will do all he can to assist them, relieve them, and lighten their burdens, I don’t for a moment deny. All I say is that this does not make up “love.” It is easy to spend a fortune in giving away money, and soup, and bread, and blankets, and clothing, and yet to be utterly destitute of Bible love.

(b) The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving anybody’s conduct. Here is another very common delusion! Read the rest of this entry »

Holly D. Dye is the founding contributor and General Editor of Refocusing Our Eyes.

Who am I, O Lord that I should presume to direct Thy Hand?

Who am I to think I know what’s best for my life and at what point did it become my life?

It is Thine and Thine alone.

For Thou hast purchased me. Thou hast paid such a heavy price for me. I am Thy possession.

I have no rights except to obey Thy holy commands.

Who am I, O Lord to think my suffering is unbearable?

Have I resisted sin to the point of blood?

Have I borne such reproach for Thy Name that I have become physically marred by persecution?

Have I had to watch loved ones massacred before my eyes because I would not recant my faith?

Although my sighing is not hidden from Thee, help me to remember that my affliction is light and Thy grace restrains that which rages against me.

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Tags: Holly D. Dye, Holly Dye

O Lord,

May I…

Never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,

Never rest in a system of doctrine, however scriptural, that does not bring or further salvation, or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;

Never rely on my own convictions and resolutions, but be strong in Thee and in Thy might;

Never cease to find Thy grace sufficient in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;

Never forget to repair to Thee in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles, in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;

Never fail to retreat to Him who is full of grace and truth, the Friend that loveth at all times, who is touched with the feelings of my infirmities, and can do exceeding abundantly for me;

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What is the cross to you? How much time do you spend in thinking about the cross? Have you seen an element of mystery? Have you seen something that is hidden? O we can test it very easily. A man who really sees the cross and it’s meaning is a man who glories in it. He sees the glory and the result is he glories in the cross. Is it something at which we look casually or do we spend time with it? Are we more and more amazed and astounded as we look at it and as we consider it? ~ Martyn Lloyd Jones

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I want you to belong to the one true Church: to the Church outside of which there is no salvation. I do not ask where you go on a Sunday; I only ask, “Do you belong to the one true Church?”

Where is this one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks by which this one true Church may be known? You may well ask such questions. Give me your attention, and I will provide you with some answers.

The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God’s elect  of all converted men and women of all true Christians. In whomsoever we can discern the election of God the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work of God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ’s true Church.

It is a Church of which all the members have the same marks. They are all born again of the Spirit; they all possess “repentance towards God, faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ,” and holiness of life and conversation. They all hate sin, and they all love Christ. They worship differently, and after various fashions; some worship with a form of prayer, and some with none; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit; they all build upon one foundation; they all draw their religion from one single book that is the Bible. They are all joined to one great centre that is Jesus Christ. They all even now can say with one heart, “Hallelujah;” and they can all respond with one heart and voice, Amen and Amen.

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