By Robert Hawker Reader! if you are a parent, learn from hence how to encourage your little ones to seek information concerning the great things of God. If they ask you what is meant by the Christian Passover (I mean the service of the Lord's Supper) Oh! tell them that it commemorates his precious sufferings and death, by whose stripes we are healed. Tell them of the distinguishing mercies of God in Christ, that while we merited death as much as any Egyptian, the Lord passed by and saved us when Egypt was destroyed. And do, my brother, if you can, tell your children also, how in numberless instances, both in providence and in grace, the Lord hath passed over you and your house, and not suffered the destroying angel to come in, while you have seen many on the right hand and on the left, swept away in sudden destruction. Oh! how sweet is the contemplation of distinguishing mercy!
BLOOD BEFORE THE LORD Pastor Henry Mahan Note in the scriptures how many times the blood is said to be "before the Lord." Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin "before the Lord." When the passover lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed? It was on the OUTSIDE of the door "before the Lord." He said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." The suffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was "BEFORE the Lord," UNTO the Lord, to declare the Lord's righteousness, to satisfy the Lord's justice, to fulfill the Lord's purpose, to glorify the Lord's character, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier.
The atonement does not change the NATURE and CHARACTER of God, but rather the atonement HONORS and MAGNIFIES the character of God. The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God's love, but the result of it. God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God is merciful. In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Saviour of the chosen people! Thank God we have an atonement "before the Lord."
IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I AM AFFLICTED Pastor Henry Mahan "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy ways." Psalm 119:71
God's ways and God's word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble. When our Lord is pleased to lay his hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned. When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them. "Whom the Lord loveth" he chastens, corrects, and teaches!
When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted? The one God loved! When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains? The one God loved! Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob? Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict - But God loved Jacob! Thank God he has not left us alone! Thank God he has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us his ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in him. A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by his prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake. "If ye be without chastisement, whereof all believers are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons" (Hebrews 12:8). Paul said, "Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2nd Cor. 12:9-10). He who sends the trial for his glory and my good will supply the grace sufficient. Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!"
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