Grace Audio Treasures

The humble bee, though small and silent, teaches profound lessons to the soul that has eyes to see the handiwork of God. Day after day, she leaves her hive in search of nectar, flitting from flower to flower. Each blossom is different--some rich, some poor; some radiant, some plain. And yet, when her work is done, and the nectar has been brought back, processed, and perfected--the result is always the same: sweet, golden honey.By a special God-given instinct, bees gather not only from the ruddy rose, but also from the snow-white lily. They visit every kind of bloom, drawing nectar from all the beauties of the garden, and from this wide variety, they concoct a sweetness altogether unsurpassed.So it is with our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He is the rare confection of all divine perfections. In Him, all excellencies compounded and commingled in divine harmony. He is the meeting of all sweetnesses, to make one perfect sweet. In Him are mercy and truth, majesty and meekness, justice and grace, glory and humility--e

Romans chapter 8:17-18, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings, in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."What grace is this, that those who were once rebels and enemies of God, are now called His children. Not merely pardoned, not only adopted--but made heirs of God Himself and co-heirs with Christ. This is a staggering truth, and one far beyond human merit or imagination. It is God's sovereign grace on display, lifting the ruined sons of Adam into the royal family of Heaven.To be a child of God is the highest privilege known to man. It is not something earned, but granted by divine grace to those who are united to Christ by faith. And with sonship comes inheritance, not merely an inheritance from God, but God Himself as our portion. We are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.But there is a condition, "If indeed w

The silly moth is caught!Henry Law, 1858Why is this world such a wide sea of evil? Why do earth's multitudes roll so easily to Hell?The tastes of the mass of the human race are groveling and vile. They only care to sip the vulgar cup of time and sense. Their sin-soiled garments and polluted feet prove, that they wallow in defiling mire. See the worldling. A temptation meets him. A gilded bait allures. A sweet indulgence opens its inviting arms. What follows? The silly moth is caught! Pleasure whispers, "Come and partake!" Desire acquiesces. Nature surrenders. Thus Satan leads his crowds down misery's downward slope.Quickly, easily--they glide along.The rolling pebble has no power to stop. The downhill torrent is incapable of turning.To them, liberty is unknown. The clash of heavy chains attests their bondage. Satan drags them--and they must obey. The world gives laws--they tremblingly submit. They crouch, the slaves of many an insulting tyrant!"Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged

Christian, all the mercy in the heart of God belongs to you!Charles Spurgeon"For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting" Psalm 100:5"The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him" Psalm 103:17"Let those who fear the LORD now say: His mercy endures forever!" Psalm 118:4Christian, all the mercy in the heart of God belongs to you! As great as your necessities may be, my dear brother, all the mercy that is in God belongs to you, and is engaged to meet your case.Let me put it in another light: If there were no other person in the world but you, and God loved you infinitely and exclusively--then would He not be able to do much for you, if all of His omnipotence was devoted to your good, and if all of His grace centered upon you, and you were the focus of all His wise and loving purposes?"Oh yes!" you say, "I would be favored indeed!"You are just as favored as that, for the multiplicity of the objects of divine love, necessitates no diminution to any one. God can love a million,

It radically changes the whole man!Charles SpurgeonGenuine salvation is always transformative. It radically changes the whole man! He was once at enmity with God, and hated Him. Now he is a friend of God, and loves Him. His condition before God, his moral tone, his nature, his state of mind--are made radically different from what they were before salvation!Genuine salvation changes the PRINCIPLE UPON WHICH HE LIVES. He once lived for self--he now lives to please God.His OBJECTS IN LIFE are changed. He once lived for money, or the flesh, or the world. Now he lives for the glory of God.His COMFORTS are changed. The pleasures of the world and sin are now nothing to him. He finds comfort in the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit.His DESIRES are changed. That which he once panted and pined for, he is now content to do without. That which he once despised, he now longs after as the deer pants after the water brooks.His FEARS are different. He fears man no more, but fears his God.His HOPES are a

How am I to worship God? Horatius Bonar Man asks, "How am I to worship God?"And he has answered it also in his own way: "In the gorgeous temple, in the pillared cathedral, with incense, and vestments, and forms, and ceremonies, and processions, and postures!" he says. But these performances are the 'will worship' of self righteousness, not the obedient service of men worshiping God in ways of His own choosing. Man cannot teach man how to worship God. When he tries it he utterly fails. He distorts worship. He misrepresents God, and he indulges his own sensuous or self righteous tastes. His "dim religious light" is but a reflection of his own gloomy spirit, and an ignorant misrepresentation of Him "who is light." God's answer to man's question is given in the Lord's words, "those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24The vestments may or may not be lovely--that matters not. The music may or may not be beautiful. The knees may or may not be bent. The hands may or may not be clasped.

"Don't even take along a walking stick, nor a traveler's bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat." Luke 9:3Jesus charges His apostles, when He sends them forth--to study simplicity of habits, and contentment with such things as they have. These instructions contain a lesson for all time. The spirit of these verses is meant to be remembered by all ministers of the Gospel. The leading idea which the words convey is, a warning against worldliness and luxurious habits.Well would it be for the world and the Church if the warning had been more carefully heeded! From no quarter has Christianity received such damage, as it has from the hands of its own teachers! On no point have its teachers erred so much, and so often, as in the matter of worldliness and luxury of life. They have often destroyed, by their daily lives, the whole work of their lips. They have given occasion to the enemies of the gospel to say, that they love ease, and money, and worldly things--far more than souls. May we daily pray that the

Here, and here alone!(J.C. Philpot)Standing at the cross of our adorable Lord, we may see . . . the law thoroughly fulfilled,  its curse fully endured,  its penalties wholly removed,  sin eternally put away,  the justice of God amply satisfied,  all His perfections gloriously harmonized,  reconciliation completely effected,  redemption graciously accomplished,  and every true believer everlastingly saved.Here, and here alone, we see sin in its blackest colors--and holiness in its most attractive beauties. Here, and here alone, we see the love of God in its tenderest form--and the anger of God in its deepest expression. Here, and here alone, we see the eternal and unalterable displeasure of the Almighty against sin, and the rigid demands of His inflexible justice--and yet the tender compassion and boundless love of His heart, to His chosen, redeemed and regenerate people. Here, and here alone, are pardon and peace obtained.Here, and here alone, penitential grief and godly sorrow flow from hearts and eyes.Here,

Of all the sins common to our fallen nature, God has the most signally stressed that sin of idolatry, or false worship.Man is by nature an idolater. His sinful mind, being alienated from God, seeks some object of worship other than the true and living God. The 'believer is not entirely exempt from this sin. Hence we have these exhortations of the Apostles addressed to the early Christians, and in these last days addressed to us: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21"My dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:14Surely, it was not the gross and senseless idolatry of the heathens, to which the Apostles thus refer--but to other idols and other worship, less palpable and degrading, but not less superstitious or offensive to God. The worship of SELF is a natural and fearful form of idolatry. It is an innate and never entirely eradicated principle of our nature, but clings to us to the very last of life. Alas! the holiest and the best of us want to be something, and to do something

In loveHenry Law, "Gleanings from the Book of Life""How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1Behold the overflowing riches of the grace and love of Jesus. Every page of the Gospel story teaches the love of His heart to His redeemed people. In love He receives His people as His own. Before the world was framed, He inscribed them on the tablets of His heart. In love He undertakes their cause, and espouses them as His bride. In love He works out for them a righteousness so bright, so perfect, so glorious--that Jehovah's eye can find no flaw, no spot, no blemish in it. In love He beautifies them with His shining robe, and fits them for the banquet in the heaven of heavens. In love He guards them from every foe, and makes them more than conquerors over all the hosts of darkness. In love He causes all things to work together for their good. In love He leads them to lie down in the rich pastures of Bible truth, and instructs them in the Word which is "

Chance, luck, or accidentJ.C. RyleLuke 12:6-7"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!" Nothing whatever, whether great or small, whether blessing or harm--can happen to a believer without God's ordering and permission.There is no such thing as chance, luck, or accident in the Christian's journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by his loving heavenly Father: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28Let us seek to have an abiding sense of God's hand in all that befalls us. Let us strive to realize that our Father's wisdom and love are measuring out our daily portion, and that our every step is ordered by Him. A daily practical faith of this kind, is one grand secret of happiness, and a mighty antidote against murmuring and disconten

Laws of nature?John MacDuffIsaiah 29:6. "In an instant, I, the Lord Almighty, will come against them with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire."Let us not dethrone and undeify the great Maker and Sustainer, by substituting for His sovereign rule, what are commonly called the laws of nature. Winds, and earthquakes, and tempests are not the capricious outbreaks of unregulated mechanical force. The world's vast machinery, with all its varied and intricate movements, is under God's supervision and control. "He holds the winds in His fists." "He gathers the waters in the hollow of His hand." "He makes the clouds His chariot." "He directs the snow to fall on the earth, and tells the rain to pour down." This offers a lesson of soothing consolation to many a stricken heart: That lightning which struck down my child was an arrow out of the quiver of God! That wave which swept him from the vessel's side; or that hurricane which overthrew my dwelling, and buried loved o

In Psalm 17:14, David prays, "With Your hand, O Lord, save me from men of this world, whose portion is in this life!"Worldlings may boast of their treasures and pleasures--but the Christian counts all this as loss and dross, when compared to the surpassing worth of knowing the Lord.If our portion is in this poor world, then we will perish with it. But if our portion is the Lord, then we have a treasure that never disappoints or decays, that no thief can steal, and no time can tarnish. "You are my portion, O Lord." Psalm 119:57. God is unchanging in His love, unlimited in His mercy, and unfailing in His grace. What greater comfort can a soul have, than to know that the Almighty is his everlasting portion?Psalm 142:5, "You are my refuge, my portion." How surpassingly glorious is the portion of the child of God! Not merely peace of conscience, not merely deliverance from Hell, not merely the hope of Heaven--but God Himself is our portion!The true believer does not chiefly desire the gifts of God--he pants after

"Avoid every kind of evil!" 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Be careful to guard against all occasions of sin and evil. There is no safety without setting a watch against all that is likely to prove a stumbling-block.I read one day of the remarkable precautions which are taken to avoid danger in a gunpowder manufactory. The walls are all of stone, and no wood is allowed to be in the place. Anyone who walks through has to take off his shoes, lest the nails in them should strike a spark. Then, if he has any metal on him, he must leave it at the door. The danger is so great, that everything must be done to avoid any approach to it.Oh that Christians would take heed in a similar way to keep from the peril of sin! Keep far away from any approach to temptation. You have gunpowder hearts--so ready to ignite from the least spark! A look, a word, an evil example, a sentence in a book, a suggestion from a bad companion--any of these may be the cause of a world of mischief. Therefore, make it your firm resolve to keep out of harm's

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."At the very center of God's eternal purpose, stands the cross of Jesus. Calvary is not merely a tragic moment in history--it is the appointed place where Divine justice met Divine mercy. There, the spotless Lamb of God bore the sins of His people, that they might be made the righteousness of God in Him. The crucifixion of our Lord was not an accident of human hatred, but the outworking of God's sovereign and eternal decree. "It was the Lord's will to crush Him, and cause Him to suffer." Isaiah 53:10. There, on that cursed tree, our Savior accomplished the ultimate demonstration of divine love--His substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of His chosen people. "The punishment that brought us peace, was upon Him." Isaiah 53:5. How precious is the sin-atoning death of Jesus! Divine justice demanded a payment, and divine mercy provided it in Jesus.Every blow of the whip, every thorn pressed into His sacred br

Luke 24:5-6, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"There is no greater proclamation in all the universe than this: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! This singular truth distinguishes Christianity from every religion. Our Redeemer is not buried in a tomb, but He is reigning from His throne in Heaven. The One who was crucified in weakness, now lives in resurrection power and eternal glory.The resurrection of Jesus is not a peripheral truth--it is the very bedrock of our hope. Without it, the cross would be meaningless, and our hope would be in vain. The resurrection . . . affirms His deity, authenticates His mission, and guarantees the salvation of His people.Consider the comfort this brings to the believer. In a fallen world where suffering, sorrow, and death are ever present--we cling to a living Savior. Our faith is not an intellectual adherence to a dry dogma, but a vital relationship with a living Savior. His victory over the grave is our assurance that . . . si

"Avoid every kind of evil!" 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Be careful to guard against all occasions of sin and evil. There is no safety without setting a watch against all that is likely to prove a stumbling-block.I read one day of the remarkable precautions which are taken to avoid danger in a gunpowder manufactory. The walls are all of stone, and no wood is allowed to be in the place. Anyone who walks through has to take off his shoes, lest the nails in them should strike a spark. Then, if he has any metal on him, he must leave it at the door. The danger is so great, that everything must be done to avoid any approach to it.Oh that Christians would take heed in a similar way to keep from the peril of sin! Keep far away from any approach to temptation. You have gunpowder hearts--so ready to ignite from the least spark! A look, a word, an evil example, a sentence in a book, a suggestion from a bad companion--any of these may be the cause of a world of mischief. Therefore, make it your firm resolve to keep out of harm's

Matthew 5:10–12, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."To the world, persecution is a curse to be avoided. But to the child of God, it is a badge of honor--a sign that he is walking in the footsteps of his Savior. In this final beatitude, Jesus lifts the eyes of His disciples above the hatred of men, to the eternal blessings which await them. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness." That is, those who are persecuted for Christ's sake . . . for standing for truth, for living in holiness, for proclaiming the gospel, and for refusing to bow to the world's idols.This beatitude is a necessary conclusion to the others. The one . . . who is poor in spirit, who mourns over sin, who hungers

Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."True peace cannot exist apart from God. Man, in his natural sinful state, is at enmity with his Maker--alienated, hostile, and rebellious against Him. Yet He, in sovereign mercy, sent His Son to reconcile God-hating sinners to Himself, through the sin-atoning blood of the cross. And now, those whom He has redeemed, are called to reflect His heart by becoming peacemakers--instruments of reconciliation, pleading with men to be reconciled to God.This beatitude does not speak of those who merely promote harmony between man and man--but those who labor to bring ungodly rebels into peace with God. These true peacemakers are those who understand that the greatest war in the universe is not between nations, but between the Creator and His sinful creatures--and they strive to intervene.But this is not a work of fleshly effort, or clever persuasion. It is the humble, God-glorifying task of proclaiming the gospel--the good news that Christ J

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7Gospel mercy is not a product of human nature--it is the fruit of a heart transformed by divine grace. Before regeneration, we were hard, self-centered and indifferent to the souls of others. But when God had mercy on us--pardoning our sin, cleansing our guilt, and raising us from spiritual death--He made us into merciful people. This beatitude is not a call to earn mercy, but a declaration of the mercy which God's grace produces in those whom He saves.Mercy is that compassion which is moved by the sight of misery, and which attempts to relieve those in misery. What greater misery exists, than the misery of sin? What deeper need can there be, than the need of pardon from the thrice holy God? The merciful, then, are those who are moved--not merely by physical suffering--but by the eternal peril of those who are rushing madly on to a dreadful Hell! Having themselves tasted the sweetness of forgiveness, they long to see others reconciled to God.