Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
A Ribband of Blue And Other Bible Studies By: James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) |
---|
![]()
By
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.
(A companion volume to "Union and Communion,"
and to "Separation and Service.")
London
CHINA INLAND MISSION, Newington Green, N.
Morgan & Scott, 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C.
A Ribband Of Blue.
We would draw the attention of beloved friends to the instructive
passage with which the fifteenth chapter of Numbers closes; and may
GOD, through our meditation on His precious Word, make it yet more
precious and practical to each one of us, for CHRIST our REDEEMER'S
sake! The whole chapter is full of important teaching. It commences with
instruction concerning the burnt offering, the sacrifice in
performing a vow, and the free will offering. It was not to be
supposed that any one might present his sacrifice to GOD according to
his own thought and plan. If it were to be acceptable a sweet savour
unto the LORD it must be an offering in every respect such as GOD
had appointed. We cannot become acceptable to GOD in ways of our own
devising; from beginning to end it must be, "Not my will, but Thine,
be done." Then, from the seventeenth to the twenty first verse, the LORD claims
a first fruits. The people of GOD were not to eat their fill, consume
all that they cared to consume, and then give to GOD somewhat of the
remainder; but before they touched the bread of the land, a
heave offering was to be offered to the LORD; and when the
requirement of GOD had been fully met, then, and not till then, were
they at liberty to satisfy their own hunger and supply their own
wants. How often we see the reverse of this in daily life! Not only
are necessaries first supplied from the income, but every fancied
luxury is procured without stint, before the question of the
consecration of substance to GOD is really entertained. Next follow the directions concerning errors from heedlessness and
ignorance. The people were not to imagine that sin was not sinful if
it were unconsciously committed. Man's knowledge and consciousness do
not make wrong right or right wrong. The will of GOD was revealed and
ought to have been known: not to know that will was in itself sinful;
and not to do that will, whether consciously or unconsciously, was
sin sin that could only be put away by atoning sacrifice. GOD dealt in much mercy and grace with those who committed sins of
ignorance; though, when the sin became known and recognised,
confession and sacrifice were immediately needful. But, thank GOD!
the sacrifice was ordained, and the sin could be put away. It was not so with the presumptuous sin. No sacrifice was appointed
for a man, whether born in the land or a stranger, who reproached the
LORD by presumptuous sin. Of that man it was said, "that soul shall
utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him." This distinction is very important to make. We are not to think that
our holiest service is free from sin, or can be accepted save through
JESUS CHRIST our LORD. We are not to suppose that sins of omission,
any more than sins of commission, are looked lightly upon by GOD:
sins of forgetfulness and heedlessness or ignorance are more than
frailties are real sins, needing atoning sacrifice. GOD deals very
gently and graciously with us in these matters; when transgression or
iniquity is brought home to the conscience, "if we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness." Even when walking in the light, "as He is
in the light," we are not beyond the need of atonement. Though our
fellowship with GOD be unbroken by any conscious transgression, it
continues unbroken only because "the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON is
cleansing us from all sin." The man, however, who would presume on GOD's forgiveness, and despise
GOD's holiness and His claim upon His people, by doing deliberately
the thing that he knows to be contrary to GOD's will, that man will
find spiritual dearth and spiritual death inevitably follow. His
communion with GOD is brought to an end, and it is hard to say how
far Satan may not be permitted to carry such a backslider in heart
and life... Continue reading book >>
|
This book is in genre |
---|
Religion |
eBook links |
---|
Wikipedia – James Hudson Taylor |
Wikipedia – A Ribband of Blue And Other Bible Studies |
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|