Morning “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” / 1 Thessalonians 1:4

 Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but they

cannot learn it thus, it is only to be discovered by “looking unto Jesus.” If

you desire to ascertain your own election;–after the following manner, shall

you assure your heart before God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty

sinner? go straightway to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell him

that you have read in the Bible, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise

cast out.” Tell him that he has said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy

of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Look to Jesus and believe on him, and you shall make proof of your election

directly, for so surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give

yourself wholly up to Christ and trust him, then you are one of God’s chosen

ones; but if you stop and say, “I want to know first whether I am elect,” you

ask you know not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are.

Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide

in his wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy

Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, “I know whom I

have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have

committed to him.” Christ was at the everlasting council: he can tell you

whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way.

Go and put your trust in him, and his answer will be–“I have loved thee with

an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” There

will be no doubt about his having chosen you, when you have chosen him.

 “Sons we are through God’s election,

 Who in Jesus Christ believe.”

 

Evening  “Let not one of them escape.” / 1 Kings 18:40

 When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire

from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he

called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly

cried, “Let not one of them escape.” He took them all down to the brook

Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins–they are all doomed,

not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much

crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at

sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you

condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask

how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to

overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the

victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised

to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set

yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so

well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt,

as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so

well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred

himself, and repented in dust and ashes. The fine gold of the Christian is oft

becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our

God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let

the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge

against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle

with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not

one of them escape.