Then shall I not be ashamed

Posted : 9 Feb, 2013 05:16 AM

PSALM 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Your commandments.







The Lord expects our obedience to be not only "diligent," but

universal. Willingly to dispense with the least of the

commandments, proves that we have yet to learn the spirit of

acceptable obedience. Grace is given and suited for all, no

less than for one of them, "that we might walk worthy of the

Lord unto all pleasing." One lust "regarded in the heart" is

sufficient to keep possession for the tyrant, however others

may be restrained. Even Herod could "do many things;" and

yet his adulterous wife cherished in his bosom, too plainly

proved the sovereignty of sin to be undisturbed. Saul slew all

the Amalekites but one; and that single exception to universal

obedience marked his unsoundness, cost him the loss of his

throne, and brought him under the awful displeasure of his

God. And thus the corrupt unmortified member brings the

whole body to hell. Reserves are the canker upon godly

sincerity. A secret indulgence-"the rolling of the sweet morsel

under the tongue,"-"the part of the price kept back"-stamps

our service as a robbery, not as an offering. We may be free,

sincere, and earnest in many parts of our prescribed duty; but

this "root of bitterness" renders the whole an abomination.

Sincerity therefore must be the stamp of my Christian

profession. Though utterly unable to render perfect obedience

to the least of the commandments, yet my desire end purpose

will have respect unto them all. I shall no more venture to

break the least than the greatest of them; much less shall I

ever think of attempting to atone for the breach of one by the

performance of the rest. They are indeed many

commandments; yet-like links in a chain-they form but one

law; and I know who has said, "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." However

the professor may confine his regard to the second table (as if

the first were ceremonial, or obsolete, or the regulation of the

outward man was the utmost extent of the requirement,) I

would fix my eye with equal regard to both; yet specially

marking any command in either of them; that may appear

most directly opposed to my besetting corruptions. Thus

"walking in the fear of the Lord," I may hope to walk "in the

comfort of the Holy Spirit" and "hereby shall I know that I am

of the truth, and shall assure my heart before God."

But where, in my strictest walk, is my hope of acceptance, but

in Him, whose obedience has "fulfilled all righteousness" in

my stead, and whose death "has redeemed me from the

curse" of my unrighteousness, when repentance, prayers, and

tears, would have been of no avail? Yet it is only in the path of

holiness that we can realize our acceptance. The heart

occupied with this world's pleasure knows nothing of this

heavenly joy. Its brightness is dimmed-its freshness fades-its

life withers-in the very breath of an unholy world. A godly

assurance of the present favor of God must be weakened by

self-indulgence, unwatchfulness, allowance of secret sins, or

neglect of secret duties. "If you return to the Almighty"-said a

wise man-"you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far

from your tabernacles. Then shall you have your delight in the

Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God."

Let us then carefully examine the character of our assurance.

Does it rest simply and exclusively upon the testimony of the

Gospel? Will it abide the test of the word of God? Is it

productive of tenderness of conscience, watchfulness, and

circumspection of conduct? Does it exercise our diligence in

adding grace to grace, that we may "make our calling and

election sure," and that "an entrance may be ministered to us

abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ?" How boldly can we plead our Christian confidence in the path of godliness-"I have stuck to Your

testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame. Let my heart be

sound in Your statutes, that I be not

ashamed."



by

Charles Bridges

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