When once one finds that they are not only sinners, but lost sinners, what is there under heaven so sweet as this message from God to such a one about "the precious blood of Christ"? for by it the lost soul is redeemed, as the text states—"redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ." Man is never brought back to God by works, by prayers, nor yet by happy feelings; man being away from God, and "without strength," needs help from outside of himself altogether. This is where God meets him and saves him on the ground of what His blessed Son has done on the cross. Now, not only is the Savior precious to the saved one—the Redeemer precious to the redeemed—but the price He paid we can in a measure realize as His "precious blood." Eternity will never exhaust the praises that will go up to God from the lips of the redeemed for "the precious blood" that "cleanseth from all sin."
If in the first we get the blood (the work of Christ), here we get Himself (the Person of Christ). Is the Person any less precious than the price He paid? No; if His blood is counted precious, He Himself becomes much more precious. The pr ice being now paid for my redemption, I am thus set free by God to enjoy the preciousness of Christ Himself (my Redeemer). "Which is greater?—the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift. The altar, surely; so the blood has been given upon the altar for us, and now the greater and more precious is Christ Himself. Thus God makes Christ, His blessed Son, precious to us. When I am thus enjoying the preciousness of Christ, the world has less charms for me; when passing through trials, they have little effect upon me, except to bring out more of that preciousness to me in them. God makes His beloved Son so precious to my soul, that while passing through "deep waters," I fear not, for He is with me.
MORE PRECIOUS THAN OF GOLD... THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE," etc.
Now, in these trials, our faith becomes precious. If they bring out Christ's preciousness to me, they also bring out the preciousness of my faith to God. Do we not often forget this, and look only at our side. and if we get blessing, we rejoice? but, remember, out of those very trials God gets His pleasant fruit, His heart is refreshed. We should rejoice in this, and think, when so tried, all is for our good and for His praise and glory; and when the furnace is passed, the faithful heart that trusted Him, clung to Him, enjoyed Him, was satisfied with Him. His faith, which is now "much more precious than of gold" will "be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
Days of trial, surely, for a faithful heart! Unfaithfulness on every hand—the priest away from God—the lamp going out-the clouds of judgment gathering, soon to burst upon them—now, at this time, His word is precious. Is it not thus with us? Do not those very trials bring out the preciousness of the Word of God? "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:1212Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12)). When thus tried by God, His Word, when fed upon, strengthens and thus sustains us; the trial increases its preciousness to us. Next, trials from without make the Word precious whether they be from our brethren or from the world. See Jer. 15:16-2016Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. 17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? 19Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 15:16‑20). A faithful heart, taught of God to walk in separation from all contrary to God, says, "Thy words were found and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." Do we, my brethren, thus enjoy the preciousness of the Word, so that it becomes our food, and hence our strength and joy?
Next, Psalm 119:126-128126It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. 127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:126‑128). Another faithful heart taught of God; he looks abroad and sees His Word made void, and the sight leads him nearer to God; and he earnestly calls upon Him to work—"It is time for Thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void Thy law." Precious lesson for us in this day of ours-an earnest care for the Word of God! Do we not much need this, in the language of today, to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints"? And again, "Hold that fast which thou halt, that no man take thy crown." "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." The indifference, the carelessness, the opposition of the time, instead of carrying him along with it, caused him to cleave closer to the Word. "Therefore I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right." So again, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." May God keep us in this spirit, so that we may value and rejoice in the Word as one of His precious gifts to us.
When feeding upon and rejoicing in the Word, can we fail to see the many promises there are for us? I will mention but two, and pass on. To the tried saint, the last words of Jesus before He ascended up on high are very strengthening—"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Next, to one that longs to see the blessed Savior, His last words to His servant John, from glory, were, "Behold, I come quickly." Yes, "and My reward is with Me." May the Lord awaken in our hearts a deep, deep desire to live for Him the little while; then, O my soul, thou shalt spend an eternal day in the presence of thy blessed Lord and Savior.
Who can tell the result of a few kind words spoken for the Lord Jesus in meekness? Sow the seed, scatter the seed, and pray thy Lord to give the increase; it may be, going forth with weeping often, but soon to return with the fruit -the ripe fruit-bringing the sheaves with you.
Jas. 5:7, 87Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:7‑8)—"BE PATIENT THEREFORE, BRETHREN, UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD. BEHOLD, THE HUSBANDMAN WAITETH FOR THE PRECIOUS FRUIT OF THE EARTH, AND HATH LONG PATIENCE.... BE YE ALSO PATIENT; STABLISH YOUR HEARTS: FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH."
May the Lord give us to be earnest, to try to lead some poor wanderer to the feet of Jesus, and then we will see the precious fruit, first, of the toil of our blessed Master, and then, of any kind word spoken or act done in and for the precious name of Jesus.