I know that these words were written by David after the prophet Nathan had given him the bad news that God was quite aware of his great sins. I can relate to the quote given by Dr. Carey below. I only wish I understood it as well as Dr. Carey did. He must have been a very humble and godly man. He was called the “father of modern missions” and you can read more about him here.
CR
“Have mercy upon me, O God.” Ps 51:1
When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the enquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone:
“WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:
DIED”
“A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On thy kind arms I fall.”
Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honoured of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at the best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We have need that the Lord should have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preachings, our alms givings, and our holiest things. The blood was not only sprinkled upon the doorposts of Israel’s dwelling houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes into our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy be needed to be exercised towards our duties, what shall be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92)
I have the hard copy of Mr. Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening,” which gives a devotional for each morning and evening. It is my favorite.
It may be found online HERE.
CR
Posted by Chris
U.S. Debt and its Cause
August 30, 2012I want to thank Barbara Anable for sending this to me. Her comment was: “As clear as it gets. Please watch. Non-partisan! Truthfully frightening!”
I agree with Barbara’s assessment. I have watched our national debt problem for some time. You may be asking, “How is Chris going to connect this to something Biblical?” To this question, I would answer that: “You are quite perceptive.”
I will choose one verse:
“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.”
You can see the verse in context here. God is speaking to Abram (“exalted father”) before he is named Abraham (“father of many”). It is interesting that he had both of these names before he ever had children.
God has always blessed those who have blessed the Jews. America was instrumental in Israel’s recent return as a nation. We now have a government that supports Israel less than ever. We are in trouble, as is the rest of the world. There are two reasons for this. We have not believed in the God of heaven and earth and we have not supported the Jews. It is not surprising to me that we find ourselves in this situation. Most don’t know the basic teachings in the Bible these days.
I have hope in spite of the situation. I have read the end of the story (Rev. 20-22).
I don’t see America in Bible prophecy. The prophecies are about Israel. What is happening today was explained long ago by the Hebrew prophets. I am watching Bible prophecy unfold before my eyes. I know that the above verse is as true today as it was the day God spoke it to Abram.
I don’t think our debt problem will be solved. I think we are living in the days that Jesus spoke of when He mentioned “birth pangs (NASB).” This verse is Matthew 24:8. The King James version calls it “the beginning of sorrows.”
No matter how it plays out, my hope is in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 states:
8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Like the great Apostle:
38 “…I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38,39
Chris Reimers
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