the (maybe)daily bailey

“Without this divine knowledge, how could we help feeling either exalted or dejected? The Christian religion alone has been able to cure these twin vices, not by using one to expel the other according to worldly wisdom, but by expelling both through the simplicity of the gospel. For it teaches the righteous that they still bear the source of all corruption which exposes them throughout their lives to error, misery, death, and sin; and [yet] it cries out to the most ungodly that they are capable of the grace of the Redeemer. Thus, making those who it justifies to tremble, yet consoling those whom it condemns, it so nicely tempers fear with home through this dual capacity… Grace and sin! It causes infinitely more dejection than mere reason - but without despair, and infinitely more exaltation than natural pride - but without puffing us up.”

- Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”- Jeremiah 17:9

The heart will stop at nothing in order to be its own god.  If it can transform faith in Christ to some strange theory or mode of religion, it will easily do so before willfully submitting to worship and devotion.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you…” - Ezekiel 36:25-26

#wap

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” - Hebrews 2:1

If the constant temptation for believers is to forget the gospel, then it is impossible to preach it too often from our pulpits.

Truthfully, I’m a mess. But, that’s why I’m a Christian. Jesus cleans messes like me.

and for all the old school scene kids who recognize the title *cough @mikeymcfadden, @kpflynn, & @mellieboozer cough* here’s a little gem for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OKQvzLxPQg

O Christ,

All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight. 

Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice. 

For my joy though hast sent the Comforter, multiplied thy promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain. 

Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy; I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.

Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy at my work, business, duties. 

If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.

Let me rest in the thought of thy love, pardon for sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state.

I am an unworthy recepient of thy grace.

I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love, but can in repentance draw water from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness. 

Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfected forever, where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy. 

There is no joy like the joy of heaven, for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels, contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty. 

O healthful place where none are sick!

O happy land where all are kings!

O holy assembly where all are priests!

How free a state where none are servants except to thee!

Bring me speedily to the land of joy.

- taken from The Valley of Vision

The gospel isn’t advice: It’s the good news that you don’t need to earn your way to God; Jesus has already done it for you. And it’s a gift that you receive by sheer grace - through God’s thoroughly unmerited favor. If you seize that gift and keep holding on to it, then Jesus’s call won’t draw you into fanaticism or moderation. You will be passionate to make Jesus your absolute goal and priority, to orbit around him; yet when you meet somebody with a different set of priorities, a different faith, you won’t assume they’re inferior to you. You’ll actually seek to serve them rather than oppress them. Why? Because the gospel is not about choosing to follow advice, its about being called to follow a King. Not just someone with the power and authority to tell you what needs to be done - but someone with the power and authority to do what needs to be done, and then offer it to you as good news.

from King’s Cross by Timothy Keller

I was trying to think of a good way to communicate how all other cares in life fade in light of the Gospel. The lyrics of Helen H. Lemmel’s old hymn put it better than I ever could:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in HIs wonderful face, 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.