Too Good Not to Re-Post!

This is a post from Ray Ortland's blog, Christ is Deeper Still. This totally blessed my heart today with such amazing Truth that i couldn't help but share it. Enjoy.

All That Matters is Who God is

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty. Exodus 34:6-7

“Well, you say, but though God is able to help me, I fear that God is not willing to help me, and therefore I am discouraged. But be of good comfort, says the Lord, for my name is Merciful, and therefore I am willing to help you.

But you say, though the Lord is willing to help me, yet I am a poor unworthy creature and have nothing at all to move God to help me. Yet be of good comfort, for the Lord says again, My name is Gracious. I do not show mercy because you are good, but because I am good.

Oh, you say, but I have been sinning a long time, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years. If I had come to you long ago, I might have had mercy. But I have been sinning a long time, and therefore I fear there is no mercy for me. Yet, says the Lord, be of good comfort, for my name is Slow to anger.

Oh, you say, but I have sinned extremely, so many sins that I am never able to reckon up and to humble myself for them, I have broken all my promises to God and all the vows I made to him, and therefore I am discouraged. Yet, says he, be of good comfort, for I am abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Are you abundant in sin? I am abundant in steadfast love. Have you broken faith with me? Yet I am abundant in faithfulness also.

Oh, but though the Lord is all this to his chosen ones like David, Abraham and Moses, yet I fear the Lord will not be this to me. Yes, says the Lord, keeping steadfast love for thousands. I have not spent all my mercy on David or on Abraham or on Paul or on Peter, but I keep mercy for thousands.

Oh, but my sins still recoil on me. I am the greatest sinner in the world, for I have sinned all kinds of sin. I fear there is no hope for me. Yet, says the Lord, be not discouraged, for I forgive iniquity and transgression and sin, even all kinds of sin. This is my name forever.

Oh, but I am afraid to lay hold on this promise, for I think this is a doctrine of license. Do not say that, says the Lord, who will by no means clear the guilty. But if there is ever a poor, drooping, fearing, trembling soul that desires to know my name, here, says the Lord, is my name by which I will be known forever.

The name of God quiets the heart against all discouragements.”

William Bridge, A Lifting Up For The Downcast (London, 1961), pages 270-272. Slightly edited.

“Lord, what about him?”

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” – John 21:20-22


Peter is the one that I identify with most in the Bible. Quick to speak, quick to ask, "what about me?" Quick to affirm, "I will follow, and I will not fail," and in need of much humility. As Jesus is telling Peter the manner in which he will die, Peter turns back to look over to John and asks, "what about him?" I too struggle with comparing my path with Christ to others. Here, Jesus tells us not to do this. Each of us are challenged to follow Him. We may be given a different path, handed over to be sifted like wheat for some, yet we are to follow Christ. We are called to trust in the Good Shepherd, listen to His voice and follow Him no matter what. As the hymn says,

"I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back."

You may feel like you are on a path alone, that no one can relate to what you are going through, yet even Peter says, "Resist him [Satan], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" 1 Peter 5:9. Be reassured that there are believers who have been there as well as our High Priest who has suffered and conquered it all. You will suffer, and God will give you strength through it and call you also to turn again and strengthen your brothers with the comfort you have received (2 Corin 1:4).

In your current trial,
"Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back."

Spugeon Series Part 7

“Believer, the fountain of your joy is never dried up. If, like Jonah, your plants are withered, your God still lives. If, like Job, your goods have been plundered, the highest good is still yours. Are the rivers dry? The ocean is full. Are the stars hidden? The heavenly sun shines on in eternal brightness. You have a possession that is unfading, a promise that is unfailing, and a Protector who is unchanging. Though you live in a faithless world, you dwell in a faithful God...

"Do not go to friends, at best they are miserable comforters. “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength” (Jer. 17:5). Turn to the strong arm of God. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, in which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but it's leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8).”
-Charles Spurgeon, Looking to the Lord

See #1

This makes me smile. So true, so simple. In two steps Dane Ortlund sums up Martin Luther’s approach to life:

1. Trust in Christ.

2. See #1.

Thoughtless

I've been reading Ray Ortlund's blog which has been such a blessing. Thought i'd share this one with you:

Thoughtless

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