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I guess I was contemplating my own experience -- brought up in the church, during a time when the real truth about love and grace were not understood, when so much emphasis was put on "behaviours" to the detriment of righteousness by faith in the blood of Jesus, where works had a lot to do with a person's salvation --

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I know what you mean. I had the same experience. In fact I gave up about the age of 21. It wasn't 36 years later that I was able to trust in grace and the works of Jesus.

So glad that you came back. I think that this quote from the chapter we are studying says it all.

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Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,--all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,--by abiding in Him,--that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, but at every step of the way. David says, "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8.

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How often, sometimes without thinking, we think of what WE should do, how WE should live, when our answer is to keep that relationship close, and let Him guide us.

How often do we fail to do this? Sadly -- it is often. But thankfully, Jesus is always there, waiting for us.

God bless,

Beryl

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It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,--by abiding in Him,--that we are to grow in grace.

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Thanks for that reminder. Hourly - . It was hourly when I first returned 9 years ago. But as time passed, it seems that I do think more and more about what I should do, as you say. And that is even though I may spend an hour communing in the morning.

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Many who are really conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus by separating them from Christ he hopes to gain the victory. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him.

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This, too, can be a trap -- dwelling on our own weaknesses. We know that we are far from perfect, but we sometimes tend to "whip ourselves" for mistakes we have made, and look as to how we can improve, when our FOCUS should be of the pattern -- Christ, and what HE can do for us, in us, and through us.

God bless,

Beryl

Amen!

[It was thus that the early disciples gained their likeness to the dear Saviour. When those disciples heard the words of Jesus, they felt their need of Him. They sought, they found, they followed Him. They were with Him in the house, at the table, in the closet, in the field. They were with Him as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from His lips lessons of holy truth. They looked to Him, as servants to their master, to learn their duty. Those disciples were men "subject to like passions as we are." James 5:17. They had the same battle with sin to fight. They needed the same grace, in order to live a holy life. ]

I guess that, like the disciples, we need to spend the time with Him in order to be more like Him. They were with Jesus all the time. I heard this being referred to by a speaker as "practicing His presence" -- in other words, feeling His presence with you all of the time.

Beryl