Ezekiel 20:41 I will accept you with your sweet smell, when I bring you out from the people… I. SOME REMARKS UPON THE BLESSING PROMISED. Acceptance stands opposed to condemnation, and is enjoyed through faith in Christ. 1. This blessing is the grand discovery of the Gospel. It is the design and end of all God's communications with men "God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." 2. It is always the result of an experience of the work of grace upon the soul. It puts the life of hope into obedience. Our persons must be accepted before our works. 3. It secures the true and right enjoyment of all temporal blessings. To a man who has no sense of God's friendship, the best earthly enjoyments lose their charm; and to a man who has hope of pardon through Christ, all outward trims lose their sting. 4. It is essential to a victory over death and a joyful eternity. II. SOME DIRECTIONS FOR THE ATTAINMENT AND ENJOYMENT OF THIS BLESSING. 1. Look carefully to the fact of your own acceptance of Christ, and to the sincerity of your hearts in their covenant closure with Christ. See that you take Him, with the happiness He has promised, for your All. 2. Cherish habitual and confiding thought of the freeness and riches of God's grace through a Redeemer. This will greatly kindle that love which brings its own evidence of its truth. This will make God appear more amiable in your eyes, and then you will love Him more abundantly; and as your conscious love to Him increases your doubts and apprehensions will give way. So much love, so much comfort. 3. Every day renew your apprehensions of the truth and value of the promised felicity. Consider the end of your faith, in order to see the vain and delusive character of things below. Let not heaven lose with you its attractive force through your forgetfulness or unbelief. 4. Guard against those snares and temptations which you know to be most hurtful to the life of religion in the soul. 5. Gather up and improve your own past experience of God's mercy towards you and others. What a wrong it is to God in your next trial to forget His last deliverance! Have not mercies come so unexpectedly, and in such a wonderful manner, that you have (as it were) the name of God written on them? (Judges 13:23). (S. Thodey.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. |
    |