Holiness - Ryle - IX - Chapter 8

Required reading
Holiness by J C Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 8, 'Moses - an example'.

My summary
In this Chapter Ryle holds up Moses as an example of a holy man from whom we can learn what is practical holiness.

Firstly Ryle looks at what Moses gave up and refused:
(i) Rank and greatness;
(ii) Pleasure;
(iii) Riches.

Next we are shown what Moses chose instead:
(i) Suffering and affliction;
(ii) The company of a despised people;
(iii) Reproach and scorn.

Then we look at the principle which moved Moses: faith.

To conclude we are given four practical lessons:
(i) If you would ever be saved, you must make the choice that Moses made—you must choose God before the world;
(ii) Nothing will ever enable you to choose God before the world, except faith;
(iii) The true reason why so many are worldly and ungodly people is that they have no faith;
(iv) The true secret of doing great things for God is to have great faith.

What grabbed me
The last practical lesson that we need 'great' faith was well made: 'You read the lives of eminent Christians, of such men as Wesley or Whitefield or Venn or Martyn or Bickersteth or Simeon or M'cheyne. And you are disposed to say, "What wonderful gifts and graces these men had!" I answer, you should rather give honor to the mother grace which God puts forward in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews; you should give honor to their faith. Depend on it, faith was the mainspring in the character of each and all. I can fancy someone saying, "They were so prayerful; that made them what they were." I answer, why did they pray much? Simply because they had much faith. What is prayer, but faith speaking to God? Another perhaps will say, "They were so diligent and laborious; that accounts for their success." I answer, why were they so diligent? Simply because they had faith. What is Christian diligence, but faith at work? Another will tell me, "They were so bold; that rendered them so useful." I answer, why were they so bold? Simply because they had much faith. What is Christian boldness, but faith honestly doing its duty? And another will cry, "It was their holiness and spirituality; that gave them their weight." For the last time I answer, what made them holy? Nothing but a living realizing spirit of faith. What is holiness, but faith visible and faith incarnate?'

What makes great Christians?  Not great gifts, prayer lives, boldness or holiness, but great faith from which all these other things spring.  If we obtain more faith, we will obtain all the others.

Next week's reading
Chapter 9, 'Lot - a beacon'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.