Patience

There is so much to thank God for, how short we are of answering all the love He has shown us! If we will, and should, bless Him genuinely for His grace and truth, for His goodness, we would still be in the dust of humility before Him, and for His whole church.

Do we find His Word increasingly precious, is it in us enlarging daily, moment by moment in the riches and perfectness of its teaching, and as unfolded, its beauty is forever the same?

The Lord keep us humble, for it is only grace that keeps us, and it is that that is manifested to God always.

As we make progress, and as we always desire to learn the truth, we function in His order, and joy in it in all of its reality as the Holy Spirit teaches us.

The difference is very soon seen between a truth received in the heart (Mt. 6:21; 2 Cor. 4:7) and in the conscience (Heb. 10:1-2), and a truth known only in the understanding of just a declarative knowledge.

The heart becomes tender and broken, the will broken, and Christ finds His true place in the heart, as the heart is subject to the Word. (Col. 3:14-16) Then there is gentleness and meekness as the spiritual affections increase.

Patience is what is needed, not escape; are we servants of the Lord, and of all, for the love of Him, or are we the servants of our own will that has not been given over to Him?