re:entry

As you can see, by briefly looking through the short history of this bloglet (not a mature blog – more of an infant blog, like an infant pig: a piglet - or as I prefer, a hoglet), I often begin new things (a New Year’s exercise program, early morning family devotions, diets, new ministries, etc.) like a bit of a human pop-bottle rocket. In the early days, I sizzle out of the gate, practicing my new hobby, habit, or activity with intensity, consistency, and vigor. As the days wear on, however, like my firework friend, I experience a fleeting peak, and then return to earth with an equally furious fizzle. This is neither a good trend nor a desirable character trait and I am ever recognizing my need for ongoing, God-centered revival and reformation in my own heart and life.

The good news for a human pop-bottle rocket like me, is that God, in His incredible grace, has regularly seen fit to bless me with timely and much needed doses of conviction, correction, redirection, and encouragement – often, this occurs through the powerful combination of the still-small nudging of the Holy Spirit and the God-inspired words of Scripture. He has also graciously redirected me through the Spirit filled, Spirit led counsel of several close friends and mentors. Over the past couple of years, one of those mentors has been Robert Murray M’Cheynne. Many mornings, God has used the counsel of this 19th Century, Scottish pastor, to gently re-acquaint me with my heart’s deceitful tendencies and Christ’s glorious beauty. Here are a few words I read this morning, which reignited a fizzled flame in my heart – may they be as encouraging to all my fellow pop-bottle rockets as they were to me.

Learn much of your own heart; and when you have learned all you can, remember you have seen but a few yards into a pit that is unfathomable. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 19:9) Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look you take at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in His beams. Feel His all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in His almighty arms.

Cry after divine knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding. Seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasure, according to the word in Proverbs 2:4. See that verse 10 be fulfilled in you. Let wisdom enter into your hearts, and knowledge be pleasant to thy soul; so you will be delivered from the snares mentioned in the following verses. Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the Holy Spirit fill every chamber of your heart; and so there will be no room for folly, or the world, or Satan, or the flesh. I must now commend you all to God and the word of His grace.