Wolincircus.com

Love as a Motivation

More “doing” for Christ is the universal demand of all the Churches. It is the one point on which all are agreed. All desire to see among Christians, more good works, more self-denial, more practical obedience to Christ’s commands. But what will produce these things? Nothing, nothing but love. There never will be more done for Christ until there is more hearty love to Christ Himself. The fear of punishment, the desire of reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments, in their way, to persuade people to holiness. But they are all weak and powerless, until a person loves Christ. Once let that mighty principle get hold of a person, and you will see their whole life changed.
~ J.C. Ryle

The Strangeness of Self-Awareness

If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents – the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts – i.e., Materialism and Astronomy – are mere accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk-jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset. C.S. Lewis

How to Determine the Will of God

Below is how George Muller recorded he determined the will of the Lord:

• I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
• Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
• I seek the will of the Spirit of God through or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them
• Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
• I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

• Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgement according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective. – George Muller from “Answers to prayer”, edited by A. E. C. Brooks

Pride Kills

It is so evident in the history of the kings of Israel and Judah that pride is the self imposed stake through the heart. Seriously, it is amazing how the text goes out of its way to make this point, time and time again. Consider 2 Chronicles 26:16 as an example among many

“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.”

Amazing. It is a true gift of God to have power and money and not be proud. Only God can do that.

The Life of Asa

There are really some interesting lessons to be learned in the life of Asa. He started out so well. He removed his queen mother Maacah from being queen on the throne. The nation of Israel turned to God and as 2 Chron. 15:15 says they “sought him with their whole desire.” The Lord gave them rest all around. But…

He acted foolishly by relying upon the king of Syria and did not rely upon the Lord. He trusted in money and power and not in God. Even as he got sick in his later days, he did not rely upon the Lord but on physicians. Prosperity is so dangerous because as men we are so prone to lean on anything but the Lord.

Bible Reading Thoughts

I am reading through the Bible in a year and thought I would just write down some of my thoughts as I go. I am really starting half way through the program, but better now then never.