Heavenly Springs

Holding Fast The Doctrines of Grace

My Times

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“Why then, need I worry or tremble? That great, loving, powerful hand keeps all the events of my life sealed and secure within its almighty clasp! If we fully believed this, we would be absolutely devoid of the worry which corrodes and chafes the daily life of so many professing Christians.

“My times.” Not one or two important epochs of my history only, but everything that concerns me–all these lay in that mighty hand–as the purposes of God’s eternal will for me.

You agree with me in all this, do you not, dear reader? Then, I beg you, apply it to your present circumstances, however dark or difficult they may be. They have come directly from your Father’s hand to you, and they are His dear will for you!” – Susannah Spurgeon

Should Everyone Be Equal in Wealth?

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Thanks to a kind brother who shared this excerpt from a commentary on Ruth.   

“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1

“Some allege that all men ought to be equal in wealth; but God maketh rich, and maketh poor. He gives to some men power to get wealth, and withholds that power from others. He enables some to leave wealth to their families, whilst the families of other men are left to struggle with all the inconveniences of poverty. “Who shall say to God, What dost thou?” or, Why disposest thou so unequally of thy benefits? “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” He hath given the earth indeed to the children of men, but he was not bound to give to every one of them equal portions of it. If he has given us any portion of it for our necessary subsistence, we ought to be content and thankful. Still more, if he hath given us an ordinary portion of the comforts of life. If we are displeased because he has not given us so much as he has given to some of our neighbours, “our eye is evil because he is good.” What hast thou given to God? Verify thy claim, and thou shalt be recompensed. God will be in no man’s debt . . .

Our happiness is very precarious if it is placed either in our wealth or in our children. What multitudes of Abraham’s posterity are now in a wretched condition, although he abounded in wealth whilst he lived in this world! But he sought his happiness in God, and in the better country . . . 

Yet let us not envy the rich. They have power to do hurt as well as good; and they can do themselves much more hurt than they can do to any one else. We trust too much to ourselves, if we think that we would certainly make a good use of riches if we possessed them. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom, found that his wealth was, in many instances, a snare. He did much good, but he also did much evil which would not have been in his power if he had been a poor man.”

Lectures on the Whole Book of Ruth to Which Are Added, Discourses on the Condition and Duty of Unconverted Sinners on the Sovereignty of Grace in the Conversion of Sinners, And on the Means to be Used in the Conversion of Our Neighbors.  By the Rev. George Lawson, Minister of the Associate Congregation in Selkirk. 1805.

HT:  D. Elmore

Resist Feminism

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The most destructive thing to happen to the American family is the rise of feminism. The notion that any woman who is a wife or mother can find satisfaction outside of the responsibility, hard work and sacrifice that comes with all of that is a flat-out lie. When feminism attached itself to the American woman’s mind and heart, decline would not be far off. The notion that a woman’s virtuous influence on her home and family is not critical to the survival of her community, and society at large is a hateful and destructive lie.

The Blessing of Weakness

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“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will glory all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak–then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“There is a blessing in weakness–because it nourishes dependence on God. When we are strong, or deem ourselves strong–we are really weak, since then we trust in ourselves, and do not seek Divine help. But when we are consciously weak, knowing ourselves unequal to our duties and struggles–we are strong, because then we turn to Christ, and get His strength.

Too many people think that their weakness a barrier to their usefulness; or make it an excuse for doing little with their life. Instead of this, however, if we give it to Christ–He will transform our weakness into strength. He says that His power is made perfect in weakness; that is, what is lacking in human strength–He fills and makes up with divine strength. Paul had learned this, when he said that he now gloried in his weaknesses, because on account of them–the strength of Christ rested upon him, so that, when he was weak–then he was strong–strong with Divine strength.

We need only to make sure of one thing–that we do indeed bring our weakness to Christ, and lean on Him in simple faith. This is the vital link in getting the blessing. Weakness itself is a burden; it is like chains upon our limbs. If we try to carry it alone–we shall only fail. But if we lay it on the strong Son of God–and let Him carry us and our burden, going on quietly and firmly in the way of duty–He will make our very weakness–a secret source of strength. He will not take the weakness from us–that is not His promise–but He will so fill it with His own power–that we shall be strong, more than conquerors, able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens us!

This is the blessed secret of having our burdening weakness, transformed into strength. The secret can be found only in Christ. And in Him–it can be found by every humble, trusting disciple.”

– J.R. Miller (GraceGems)