It Is But A Little Sin!

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Ah! says Satan, "It is but a little sin"...a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc.

You may commit it without any danger to your soul.

It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.

Consider, that here is Great Danger, yes, many times Most Danger-in the smallest sins.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump!

1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

If the serpent sneaks in his head...he will draw in his whole body after him.

Greater sins sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do.

Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and in-discernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul!

Many are eternally undone by the 'little sins', as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.

A little hole in the ship, sinks it.

A small breach in a dyke, carries away all before it.

A little stab at the heart, kills a man. 

A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man! 

~Thomas Brooks~

This Is The Way Walk Ye In It!

Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

When we have doubts or are facing difficulties, when others suggest courses of action that are conflicting, when caution dictates one approach but faith another, we should be still.

We should quiet each intruding person, calm ourselves in the sacred stillness of God’s presence, study His Word for guidance, and with true devotion focus our attention on Him.

We should lift our nature into the pure light radiating from His face, having an eagerness to know only what God our Lord will determine for us. 

Soon He will reveal by His secret counsel a distinct and unmistakable sense of His direction.

It is unwise for a new believer to depend on this approach alone. 

He should wait for circumstances to also confirm what God is revealing. 

Yet Christians who have had many experiences in their walk with Him know the great value of secret fellowship with the Lord as a means of discerning His will.

Are you uncertain about which direction you should go?

Take your question to God and receive guidance from either the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal. 

You must get alone with Him, where the lights and the darknesses of this world cannot interfere and where the opinions of others cannot reach you.

You must also have the courage to wait in silent expectation, even when everyone around you is insisting on an immediate decision or action. 

If you will do these things, the will of God will become clear to you. 

And you will have a deeper concept of who He is, having more insight into His nature and His heart of love.

A Shepherd Secures Them

Zep 3:13  The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Yesterday we thought of the afflicted and poor people whom the LORD left to be a living seed in a dead world. 

The prophet says of such that they shall not work iniquity nor speak lies. 

So that while they had neither rank nor riches to guard them, they were also quite unable to use those weapons in which the wicked place so much reliance...

They could neither defend themselves by sin nor by subtlety.

What then? 

Would they be destroyed? 

By no means! 

They should both feed and rest and be not merely free from danger but even quiet from fear of evil. 

Sheep are very feeble creatures, and wolves are terrible enemies...

Yet at this hour sheep are more numerous than wolves...

And the cause of the sheep is always winning, while the cause of the wolves is always declining. 

One day flocks of sheep will cover the plains, and not a wolf will be left. 

The fact is that sheep have a Shepherd, and this gives them provender, protection, and peace. 

"None"...which means not one, whether in human or diabolical form "shall make them afraid." 

Who shall terrify the LORD's flock when He is near? 

We lie down in green pastures, for Jesus Himself is food and rest to our souls. 

~Charles Spurgeon~ 

Contentment

Contentment is one of life's greatest blessings.                                                                            

But contentment is not something that can be sent down, nicely wrapped up like a Christmas gift from Heaven. 

It is a state of mind and heart.

It is not dependent upon our situation or our circumstances. 

Many people are contented and happy in circumstances - where others would be thoroughly discontented. 

Some people are discontented under the most favorable circumstances. 

Contentment is a structure we build ourselves. 

It is a state of mind we develop. 

It is an attitude toward things which comes to us through careful cultivation. 

It is something which lives inside us...not something that circumstances and conditions create.

If happiness has not its seat and center in the heart - we may be wise, or rich or great...but never can be blessed.

Contentment is sometimes spoken of as a lazy virtue. 

Perhaps that is because some people are content with things with which they ought not to be content. 

We should never be satisfied to permit things to exist, which ought not to exist. 

We should never be satisfied to be less than our best. 

There are wrongs which need righting. 

There are conditions which need improving. 

There is progress which needs to be made. 

A sort of contentment that can view these things with indifference, ignore responsibility, evade duty - should be called by an entirely different name. 

When we have done our duty, met our responsibility, corrected those things that need correction so far as is possible for us...then we may have real contentment. 

Contentment does not mean surrender to conditions. 

It does mean being satisfied in the circumstances and conditions which exist, for which we are not responsible.

Contentment is a lesson to be learned. 

Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11). 

He goes on to tell some of the things he has learned. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (verses 12, 13).

Paul had learned a great secret. 

It was the secret of adapting himself to conditions, and being at rest in those conditions.

He could enjoy to the full, the things that afforded him enjoyment. 

He could suffer patiently, the things that came upon him to suffer. 

But whether rejoicing or suffering - he had that inner contentment of spirit... the calmness and peace of which enriched his soul and made quite tolerable a life that otherwise would have been intolerable.

We, too, need to learn the lesson of contentment. 

The command to Christians is, "Be content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5). 

Speaking further upon this subject Paul says, Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

Having food and clothing, let us be therewith content.

A godly life is productive of contentment...but there are many Christians who at least in some respects are discontented.

This discontent produces a constant urge to rebel against things.

It is a singular fact that many of the most contented people are those who live in poverty.

In fact, the working people are the most contented of all people. 

Those who live on the common levels of life, are the truly happy...provided they have the attitude of contentment.

There are many things people desire which can never give them contentment. 

One man says, "If I had a million dollars I would be contented." 

Another thinks if he had political preferment - that would satisfy his ambition and he would be content. 

Another has another thing to attain to make him content. 

These things when attained...do not bring contentment.

As already pointed out contentment is a lesson learned, a state of the heart, an attitude toward things.

Riches do not bring contentment. 

Andrew Carnegie, known to all for his wealth and a man who should have known what he was talking about, said, "Beyond a competence for old age, and that may be very small...wealth lessens rather than increases human happiness. 

Millionaires who laugh are rare!

Many of us would do well to pause here and carefully study this saying of a wise and prudent Scotchman.

Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about food and clothing and such things and added, "After all these things, the Gentiles seek" (Matthew 6:32).  

Possession of worldly things, is a goal set before them by the unsaved. 

The question asked about a man often is, "How much money does he have?" 

His supposed happiness is usually rated by the size of his bank account. 

No greater error in the choice of a standard for measurement of happiness, could be made. 

The command of the Scriptures is, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." 

We should put first things first. 

If we do this...then our needs will be few, and our desires not much greater.

The basis of contentment is simplicity of desire. 

One of the things that is ruining more happiness than anything else, is the desire to excel others. 

We must keep up with the Jones, is an attitude of mind fatal to contentment. 

It has caused more heartaches, destroyed more happiness, ruined more homes, produced more divorces, perhaps than any other one thing!

This strife to excel, often leads people into sin.

The wife would outstrip her neighbors, so she makes large demands upon her husband for money. 

Thus pressed, he sometimes adopts business methods that are highly improper. 

In many cases it has led to shame and disgrace. 

In any event, it leads to unhappiness for both husband and wife and for the whole family.

Through envy, jealousy of others, and coveting what they don't have...many people have been brought to bitterness of soul and utterly to hate life. 

Better contentment in a cottage than discontent in a mansion!

Very often prosperity in temporal things destroys the happiness which has already existed in a less prosperous condition.

Years ago in one of our northern States, a man engaged in the lumbering business in a small way, built a cozy cottage on the shore of a bay into which he brought his bride. 

They both worked, he in his sawmill, and she in her cottage and were both happy. 

The years passed. He prospered in business and became rich. 

Then he built a fine mansion in the city and moved into it. 

After living there for some time and mingling with the society into which his riches gave them entrance...in speaking to a friend one day he said, "We are not as happy as we were in our little cottage on the bay."

A few months ago I heard Charles M. Schwab make an address over the radio. 

In that address he told of his big house in New York City and of another great house which he owned in the country. 

He said, "I don't own them. They own me."

The only satisfaction I have in them, is that I have enough money in the bank to pay the taxes on them.

He has to look to other sources rather than to his possessions, for contentment and happiness.

Contentment is not built of gold or of precious gems. 

It is not constructed of honors or fame or the applause of the multitude. 

It does not come from out shining others. 

These may bring a sort of satisfaction but not contentment. 

Contentment belongs to the meek and lowly in spirit. 

Pride is destructive to it. 

Arrogance annihilates it. 

Covetousness curses it. 

Hatred poisons it. 

Malice thrusts a sword through it. 

Contentment can thrive only with the Christian virtues. 

Faith, hope, and charity abide with it. 

Peace broods over its domicile. 

Blessed forevermore is he who has a contented spirit.

So many nourish discontent. 

They are all the time looking at the things they do not possess and coveting them. 

They are always reaching out, stretching themselves to gain something which they cannot attain. 

They find fault with the things they possess instead of enjoying them. 

They minimize the simple good in things. 

They see all the faults and failures. 

They often feel that their rights are being trespassed upon. 

There is a frown in their hearts and a frown upon their faces.

Who is to blame for all this? 

The individual himself! 

He has adopted a wrong attitude of mind and heart. 

He is facing the wrong way. 

He has the wrong standard. 

He cannot be happy. 

He needs to turn about, face the other way, adopt a different attitude, look at things from a different angle, and set different standards for himself. 

He needs to learn the secret of the simple life simple desires, temperate aspirations, bridled ambitions.

In the valley of contentment is calmness, sweetness of spirit, and rest of soul. 

Through it flow the peaceable waters of quietness. 

In this valley, the song-birds joyfully sing. 

The heart mounts up to God in praise.

In it lies the spring of joy which bubbles up in gladsome song.

The valley of contentment is not a place of inactivity. 

When we have learned to be content with such things as we have, and in our situation in life and in our circumstances...that does not mean that we lose all aspirations or that all effort ceases. 

By no means. 

To be content with today, does not mean to be content with the same thing tomorrow. 

The right sort of contentment demands continual progress in the lines in which progress is possible.

In fact, we cannot be contented not to make proper progress. 

In the valley of contentment, we are not to sit down idly dreaming away our days. 

On the contrary...there is a path which runs through this valley, and we are to walk in this path, ever forward, ever upward.

If we would be truly happy, if we would sing the songs of the joyous life...then we must learn the lesson of contentment. 

We must learn what desires to gratify and what desires to repress. 

We must learn what things can bring contentment and what things destroy it. 

We must avoid the latter, while we seek the former. 

We must cultivate our hearts. 

We must trust in God. 

Then and only then, shall we have that source of contentment and happiness within, which inspires us to sing the song of glad rejoicing!

~Charles Naylor~

FRUITS Of The Worry Tree

Self-preservation is the first law of nature. 

Everything has some method of protection. 

Even the plants have "defense mechanisms."

Animals have shells, teeth, sharp claws, or are swift of foot or wing. Some of them produce noxious odors. 

Some of them are unpleasant to the taste. The octopus secretes an inky fluid with which to color the water. 

Some animals have great skill in hiding themselves. Some have electric defenses. Some are covered with prickles. 

Man has a natural instinct of self-preservation. He will run or fight or hide himself...or use other methods of defense. 

This law of defense is manifest in man's physical contact with nature. This is known too well to need explanation. 

He has also various mental defense mechanisms.

Likewise in spiritual things he seeks to protect himself.

These various defense mechanisms have a powerful effect upon our conduct. 

When we are brought into a trial, threatened by something that will hurt or annoy us, or when we are afraid...our defense mechanisms begin at once to function. 

The first impulse is to run away, to escape from the trouble. 

We shrink from what hurts. 

We try to avoid trials and all hard or unpleasant things.

It is often the part of wisdom to avoid unpleasantness as far as we can, without sacrificing something vital. 

But if we give away too much to this disposition to shrink and run away — then we shall become cowards. 

We lose strength of character, courage, and the qualities that win in life. 

A coward can never feel self-respect; and if we are spiritual cowards, we shall be lacking in manhood and womanhood. 

We cannot respect cowardice, even when it is in ourselves.

This disposition to escape unpleasantness, often leads to an unfair excusing of ourselves in things in which we have been at fault. 

It often leads to our putting a wrong spin on happenings, to exaggeration, to minimizing the facts, or even to plain lying. 

These are the natural fruits of fear and worry, and they undermine spiritual character. 

They take the joy out of life. 

We need to watch our defense mechanisms, and be sure that we use right methods of defense — methods that build up the character, rather than tear it down; methods that increase courage, faith, and determination. 

We should conquer the instinctive cowardice of our natures.

Safety first may be a good slogan...but safety through the faulty measures mentioned, is not real safety. 

It is only exchanging one kind of danger for another.

Another defense mechanism is the tendency to resistance. 

When we adopt proper measures of resistance, the results will probably be good. We are likely to be strengthened, encouraged, and helped. 

It is likely to bring out the best in us. 

But sometimes this instinct of resistance manifests itself in murmuring, complaining against circumstances or against people, blaming others for our plights or our troubles, or shifting responsibility. 

These may become chronic fault-finding and result in such a critical attitude that we are hard to please, contentious, and ill-tempered. 

We may become disposed to impatience, and find it hard to practice self-control. 

We may harbor resentment against others, and become unkind and uncharitable in our attitude.

Not only do non-Christians have such trouble...but many Christians are tempted in this way. 

They worry and fear. 

They become discouraged, and then the bad characteristics mentioned above begin to manifest themselves in them. 

They have to fight to overcome them.

They wonder why they are impatient, why it is hard to be kind, and why they feel resentful.

They need not be surprised, however. 

The impatience and resentment merely indicate an effort to escape from some unpleasant situation. 

So you need not be surprised if you have a conflict within, when you worry and give way to discouragement. 

To get rid of the conflicts...get rid of your worry, your fear, and your discouragement. 

Then these tendencies will naturally disappear.

But if you are given to worry...then do not expect to escape wholly from tenseness and conflict.

Indeed you are likely to have much trouble with them. 

These are not necessarily the result of sin. They are the result of worry and fear. 

They come from a wrong attitude of mind, a wrong outlook on life, and a wrong way of trying to overcome difficulties.

In such a situation, the outlook is negative. 

We need to change to a positive attitude. 

We need to put faith, in the place of doubts. Trust, instead of worry. 

We need to look on the bright side, instead of the dark side.

A negative attitude destroys our faith and robs us of courage, so we can bear little. 

It covers the bright picture of hope, with sackcloth. It banishes peace. 

Instead of soul rest, we have turmoil and trouble. 

It robs us of balance and poise. Confidence fades away. 

It gives place to distrust. We lose our power of initiative.

In fact, worry and fear rob us of all the choice blessings we might possess. 

They prevent us from using our powers...and make us pygmies instead of giants.

The triumphant life results from courageous action...and courageous action is always based on faith. 

It has a hopeful outlook. 

It faces the future with confidence. 

This is the normal attitude of the Christian.

But worry causes heaviness, discouragement, dissatisfaction, despondency, and perhaps despair. 

Long giving way to worry, will change the character. 

The blithe gaiety of childhood, the courageous strength of manhood, the joyful song of victory...will give way to moroseness and gloom.

Clouds will cover the sky and we will forget that the sun shines anywhere. 

We will ruin our influence with others. They feel more like shunning us, rather than being in our society. 

Worry shackles our hands. 

It robs life of what is most worthwhile. 

If we cultivate a worry tree or a number of them...then we must expect that they will bear this sort of fruit.

Worry also has another extremely bad result. It dishonors God. 

We say God is our Father, that he is taking care of us. 

We say we have faith in him. We say we believe God is faithful. 

Then we act in a way altogether contrary to this! 

If God is our God, and if he is taking care of us, if we are safe in his care, if no evil can come to us without his permission...then what are we worrying about? 

If God really is what he says he is, and what we believe he is...then we have no reason to worry. 

Things are bound to come out all right. God will find some way to bring us through to victory. 

He will work for our good, in whatever life may bring. 

If we really believe that God is true and that he is true to us...then there is not a reason under Heaven for us to spend one moment worrying.

Again, worry dishonors God's Word. 

He has made definite promises. These promises are either true or they are not true. 

If they are not true then we may have cause for worry. 

But if they are true then let us act like it.

Do we actually believe God's Word? 

If so, when we are tempted to worry, let us sit down, take that Word, and read its promises. 

Then let us believe them and act as though we believe them. When we do this, there can be no room for worry.

Worry ignores the help God has given us in the past, and the victories he has given us through his grace. 

When we are tempted to worry, we should sit down and look over the past and see how many circumstances came out better than we expected they would. 

We should observe how God has helped us in the past and say with one of old, "Hitherto has the Lord helped us!"

It will do us great good, when we are tempted to worry to recount our past victories; to look back and see that our past worries were all for nothing.

When did worrying help anything for you? 

When did worrying keep anything from coming upon you that otherwise would have come? 

When did worry shield you from any trouble?

Get rid of your worry tree! Get out from under its shadow. 

Get into God's sunshine. 

If you will do this...then it will not be long until the song of victory flows forth from your lips, and peace and courage and hope spring up anew in your heart!

~Charles Naylor~