Final Chapters and Final Thoughts

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The Bruised Reed (TBR) has been on my “to read” list for many years and I’m glad to have finally read it. I have profited greatly by doing so. With that said, I know there is so much I missed along the way, and much I failed to convey in my chapter summaries. But like any good book, I'm sure a reread would open new vistas of understanding. Perhaps I will do that someday. But for now, here are a few of my highlights from the final two chapters. One recurring theme that I found particularly encouraging in TBR was a long view of Christian growth and sanctification. Sibbes repeatedly reminds us of small beginnings and growth over time. See a flame in a spark, a tree in a seed. See great things in little beginnings. Look not so much to the beginning as to the perfection, and so we shall be, in some degree, joyful in ourselves, and thankful to Christ.[i] Another thing I appreciate about Sibbes is that, although he recognizes our frailty, sin, and weakness, there is no coddling of sin. He...
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Small Beginnings

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Greetings all, I hope you are having a blessed week. We are currently reading chapters three and four of The Bruised Reed. Once again, I would like to share a couple of quotes (from chapter three).

Things of greatest perfection are longest in coming to their growth. Man, the most perfect creature, comes to perfection by little and little; worthless things, as mushrooms and the like, like Jonah's gourd, soon spring up, and soon vanish. A new creature is the most excellent creature in all the world, therefore it grows up by degrees. We see in nature that a mighty oak rises from an acorn.[1]
 
Let us not therefore be discouraged at the small beginnings of grace, but look on ourselves as elected to be `holy and without blame' (Eph. 1:4). Let us look on our imperfect beginning only to enforce further striving to perfection, and to keep us in a low opinion of ourselves. Otherwise, in case of discouragement, we must consider ourselves as Christ does, who looks on us as those he intends to fit for himself. Christ values us by what we shall be, and by what we are elected unto. We call a little plant a tree, because it is growing up to be so. `Who has despised the day of small things?' (Zech. 4:10). Christ would not have us despise little things.[2]

These are great reminders. Sometimes our Christian walk can be a bit frustrating. At best, growth seems slow, at worst it is two steps forward and three steps back. But in this chapter Sibbes reminds us that the best things take time to grow. Only worthless things like weeds and nettles sprout up quickly.

Another encouragement, Christ looks on us “by what we are elected unto.” Or put another way, Jesus sees us in light of what we will ultimately become by His grace. That is a great comfort and encouragement! Pastor Milton made a similar point in a sermon he preached back in April about Christ’s restoration of Peter (A Beautiful Rescue). It is worth a relisten if you have the time. 

As someone once said, “We’re not what we ought to be, we’re not what we wanna be, and we’re not what we’re gonna be. But thank God, we’re not what we were." And that is great encouragement indeed. 


________________

[1] The Bruised Reed (p. 18). Kindle Edition. 
[2] The Bruised Reed (p. 19). Kindle Edition. 

Comments

  1. Daniel BendshadlerOctober 2, 2020 at 4:35 PM

    "Christ refuses none for weakness of parts, that none
    should be discouraged, but accepts none for greatness, that none should
    be lifted up with that which is of so little reckoning with God."

    What an encouragement in our failures! What protection from feeling disqualified or deserving!

    I think this is a good season to take up his suggestion

    "It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no
    offence, and the other to labour to take none."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joe W.October 3, 2020 at 2:23 PM

      Thanks for sharing that Daniel! That is definitely a timely reminder during a season in which so many seek not only to offend, but to be easily offended. It reminds me of another quote from (wait for it…) C.S. Lewis:

      “We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives with the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment.”

      Delete

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