Good Morning!

I really like my new devotional “Voices From The Past: Puritan Devotional Readings, Volume I” as edited by Richard Rushing. Today’s was taken from writings by Thomas Brooks. I think it has an interesting concept that I would like to share.

Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Romans 6:11

We do not stand before God in our own righteousness, but the perfect, spotless, and matchless righteousness of the Lord Jesus. Weak hearts are apt to be troubled and discouraged when they look upon the sin that is in them, and the imperfections that attend their best service. Yet in Christ we have all. Your sins shall never provoke Christ to give you a bill of divorce. They may provoke him to frown upon you, chide you, correct you, but they will never provoke Christ to give you a bill of divorce. This is a great support that sin shall never separate us from God. It is slain judicially, and is under the sentence of condemnation. It has been sentenced though not fully put to death. The power of it is much abated, and its dominion and tyranny are overpowered. The Lord has stripped sin of all its ruling, reigning, domineering, and tyrannizing power. O Christian, look upon sin as dead! It is not to be obeyed, and not to be acknowledged. The Lord Jesus has given sin a mortal wound by his death and Spirit, and by the communion of grace to the soul. This sin shall never recover its strength and shall die a lingering death in the souls of the saints. It is like a tree cut at the root with a serious gash, and must die soon. Though for a time it may flourish, it may have leaves and fruit, yet it will very shortly wither and perish. Christ did not die all at once upon the cross, so also the slaying of sin is gradual in the souls of the saints. Christ has given such a mortal blow, it will never recover. We may truly say that it is slain. Therefore, cheer up O weak souls, for certainly sin that is thus slain can never provoke Jesus Christ to give you a bill of divorce. Ah! That all weak Christians would be like the bee: to abide upon those sweet flowers and gather honey out of them.

Divorce. This is a good comparison. God won’t divorce the one who is truly married to Jesus. We cannot be cast aside, nor can we ever truly leave. The real question is whether or not we are saved in the first place.

Father, thank you for these words from so long ago that continue to offer inspiration through your Word. Amen.

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers