Peace Like a River

The very heart of the Christian faith is union with Christ and receiving Him as our all; in other words this is called ‘faith’, or a keeping of our minds on Him.

Christ receives sinners. He undertakes their whole concern. He gives not only repentance, but forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He creates them as new creatures. His love makes the bride and then he delights in her. The lack of viewing Christ in this light, as the Author and Finisher of our salvation, hinders the poor humble repentant person from casting himself fully on the Lord, although He has said, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.”

Sin is the very thing which renders man the object of Christ’s pity. Our sins will never turn away the heart of Christ from us, for they brought Him down from Heaven to die in our place.

Turn Your Eyes

The reason why iniquity separates between God and our souls is because it turns our eyes from Him and shuts up in us the capacity of receiving those beams of love which are always descending upon and offering themselves to us. But sin that is sincerely sorrowed over and brought by a constant act of faith and prayer before the Lord shall soon be consumed, as the thorns laid close to a fire. Only let us abide in active perseverance, and the Lord will pass through them and burn them up together.

The soul seems often to be on the brink of ruin, yet it only has to do one thing; to listen to the Gospel and throw itself upon the person of Christ, as a drowning man grabs hold onto a single plank, remembering these words, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Trust in God

The consequence of trusting in God in this manner, is that God keeps the soul from its threefold enemy—defends it in temptation, in persecution and in heaviness. Through all, it finds power to rest itself on Christ—to say, “God will choose my inheritance for me.” Here the Christian finds peace with God, peace with himself, and peace with all around him—the peace of pardon, the peace of holiness; for both are obtained by staying the mind on Christ. He walks in the constant knowledge and recollection of a present God, and is not disturbed by anything. If he feels sin, he carries it to the Savior; and if in heaviness through manifold temptations, he still holds fast his confidence—he is above the region of clouds.

Before any act of faith, there must be an act of self-despair.

If you want a joy unspeakable—the way to it is by continuing to wait patiently and perseveringly upon God. Look to Jesus. He speaks peace. Abide looking, and your peace will flow as a river.

(Written by John Fletcher, Edited and revised 2024).

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The Law and The New Covenant

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Dying to Pleasure, Living to God