"Our Works Are All Broken And Faulty"

Up to now, I've been reading a really good devotional book called, "Christ is All! " which are choice gleanings from the diary and letters of Ruth Byran. I have been truly encouraged and challenged through reading through it up to now. It has spoken a lot to me particularly concerning Christ's love for us, which is so precious and amazing! He gives us the love with which we may love Him and keep His commandments, He fills us with His joy and peace! The Lord has been really merciful and gracious to guide us and lead us into a new and living way. I too often struggle while trying to lean on the merits of my own righteousness which are but filthy rags, and not look to Christ as my Substitute on the Cross... and yet thanks be to God that there is victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! There is now no condemnation to those who are in Him, who walk according to the Spirit and trust in His Salvation, and that through Him we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord never leaves us alone, but guides us to Himself, that we may see Him in His beauty, His holiness and love.

I do believe that repentance and godly sorrow over sin to be very important too. It can be hard to balance the two poles together, of having confidence in Christ as a new creation and also humbling ourselves before the Lord and repenting with godly sorrow... but they do not contradict each other; both are so true! Dad often quotes to us a saying from Charles Simmon, and I find it so true. Unfortunately I cannot quote it word for word because I can't remember it :). But it goes something like this: "The more we dig deeper down in repentance we will rise up in adoration to Him."


Well, I just wanted to share a quotation from the book, "Christ is All!" from pg. 59-60 that spoke to my heart and reminded me of the truth of trusting in Christ for everything. "He is the Rock, His work is perfect,"! I hope you will be blessed and challenged by it too. It actually is a letter. Here it is:

"As long as we look to 'our evidences' for comfort, we shall be full of disquiet, for we discover... such weakness in our faith, such wavering in our hope, such coldness in our love, yes, such shortcoming in everything, that we cannot find here any rest for the sole of our foot as regards spiritual confidence.

It must be all in Christ! "He is the rock, His work is perfect," while our works are all broken and faulty. Oh! may the blessed Spirit set your feet upon this Rock, and establish your goings there. May He enable you to make the venture of faith, just as you are, with wants and woes, sins and fears. 

The bitten Israelites were not healed by looking at their wounds--but at the brazen serpent, which was a type of Christ. And so while you are poring over your sins and yourself you will only sink lower.

May the blessed Spirit enable you to look forth with the eye of faith to the Lamb slain, and to come away from self and all besides--to Jesus.

Oh that I could speak of the worthy Lamb as to set your heart on fire with love to Him and longing after Him! Adieu, dear friend. The Lord bless you, and in His own time strengthen, establish and settle you.

With kind love in our adorable Emmanuel, I remain, though most unworthy, yours affectionately,

Ruth Bryan."

Be blessed in Him and may we by His abundant grace, keep our eyes, turned away from self, the world and all besides, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NKJ

Love,

~Joy