Psalm 28:6-9

NEWTON'S DYING THOUGHTS

In the last few months of his life, John Newton, author of the famous old hymn "Amazing Grace,” became so weak that he had to stop preaching and eventually was confined to his bed. His friends said that he never feared age nor death. To a close friend he wrote, "Through God's grace I am perfectly well, yet laboring under a growing disorder for which there is no cure--old age. But I am glad for this disease, for who would live always in such a world as this?"

One day, with a feeble smile, he told a friend, "I am like a person going on a journey on a stage coach, who expects its arrival every hour and is fre­quently looking out the window for it." Later he said, "I am packed and sealed and waiting for the post." One day he said, "What a thing it is to live under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty!"

Shortly before he died, he told visiting friends, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour." John Newton died on a Monday evening, Dec. 21, 1807, at the age of eighty-two.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1993)

In Everything Give Thanks

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Lord, teach us what the word “everything” means. It would be very easy for us, in our sinful and doubtful flesh, to insert the words “some things” into that verse. In some things, we do give thanks. In most things however, we don’t. Usually, we murmur over things, we complain over things, we question things, and we try our hardest to change things. We do this because our sinfully blind eyes do not see the hand of the Lord in it. We do this because, sinfully, we are not trusting that He is doing right in it. We do this because, sinfully, we are doubtful that good will come from it. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief! Teach us to have a single eye on You, and Your perfect purpose, and Your all knowing, all controlling, sovereign will. Teach us that everything is being done by You, through You, to You. Therefore, EVERYTHING is for Your glory and our good. If we could truly see that... in everything, we would give thanks!

Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Forgetting those things which are behind is difficult work. It is like the runner who tries to shed every weight that does so easily beset him. However, if God has forgotten our sins and will remember them no more, then we must let them go also. We must not go back and try to repair our past; only Christ can make satisfaction for the sins of God’s elect: past, present, and future. Therefore, let us do this: “Reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Let us spend our time reaching forth, looking to Him, learning of Him. Christ is the mark; He is the prize. The high calling of God is to be made like His Son. May God help us to quit looking back and just look to Him. (We have enough to mourn over in a day without looking back for something else.) Pastor John Chapman

Hearing By The Word Of God (Rom. 10:17)

Why must we continually hear the gospel? Because our fallen Adamic nature is always looking for something other than the glorious person and accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our old man is relentlessly pointing us away from Christ. His pursuit is in minding the things of the flesh. He always walks by sight. The grace of faith is our only hope to silence this wretched man. That comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Pastor Greg Elmquist

BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

What does it mean to be justified? I am sure that there have been many definitions given and I by no means can fully expound all that is involved in sinners being justified before God. However, I am sure that it means to be eternally pardoned from all sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18). It means to be acquitted and vindicated of all charges before the holy justice of God (Jude 24). It means to be made and regarded righteous in God’s sight (Col. 1:21-22).