Required reading
The attraction of the cross by Gardiner Spring (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 16 (Full assurance of hope at the cross).
My summary
Today Spring discusses assurance and the cross.
After speaking about the importance of assurance, Spring gives reasons why assurance is so rarely possessed:
(i) the want of knowledge;
(ii) the want of larger measures of grace;
(iii) strong impressions of subtlety and deceitfulness of hearts.
What grabbed me
I liked the exhortation at the end: 'There is one way of obtaining the full assurance of hope, which is almost always successful : it is, by growing in grace. Large and replenished measures of grace have a happy tendency in removing those doubts which distress the mind, and so often make it like the troubled sea when it cannot rest. They are naturally attended by increasing knowledge of the truth, by invigorated confidence in God, and by that heaven-imparted gratitude and cheerfulness which make the yoke of Christ easy, and his burden light. "Then shall we know if we follow on, to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning ; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth,'' That is a most precious exhortation of the affectionate apostle, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." Those seasons are the most humble, the most distinguished for prayer, the most active, and the most strongly marked by self-denying effort, that are the most full of hope. Piety is then the most winning and lovely. Assurance is no phantom. Press after it. "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." When the storm lowers, look aloft. Your shattered bark may labor and plunge, but the wind is fair, and the land is nigh.'
Assurance may be had!
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 17 (The world crucified by the cross).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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