Final Chapters and Final Thoughts

By
Image
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...
Post a Comment

About

By

This blog is an extension of a small church Care Group in Riverside California. Although adjustments needed to be made during this time of Covid, we meet regularly for prayer, and fellowship over God’s Word. Enjoying good books together provides an additional opportunity for fellowship and joy in the Lord. All are welcome to join us!

The name of the blog was inspired by a verse from the hymn, Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken.

Haste thee on from grace to glory
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer
Heavens eternal days before thee
Gods own hand shall guide us there
Soon shall close thy earthly mission
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days
Hope shall change to glad fruition
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise

Of course, we also have John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress to thank for inspiration as well. It is recognized that The Pilgrim’s Progress is second only to the Bible in printed distribution.

Most importantly we find pilgrim language used in Scripture itself:

1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV) — Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
Hebrews 11:13, 16 (NKJV) — 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth... 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

These truly are our Pilgrim Days. We are temporary residents in this world on our way to the Celestial City. Whatever stage we are along that journey, may we fix our eyes on Christ, looking to Him for strength and to His word to light our way.







 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bound Hand and Foot by Satan

By
Image
Hello everyone, I would like to highlight one portion of Sibbes’ introduction, To the Christian Reader , that gives me much comfort and food for thought. (By the way, I don't think Puritans believed in paragraphs 😉): The more glory to God, and the more comfort to a Christian soul, arising from the belief and application of these things , the more the enemy of God's glory and man's comfort labours to breed misconceptions of them, that if he cannot keep men from heaven, and bring them into that cursed condition he is in himself, yet he may trouble them in their passage. Some, and none of the worst, Satan prevails with so far as to neglect the means, upon fear they should, being so sinful, dishonour God and increase their sins; and so they lie smothering under this temptation, as it were bound hand and foot by Satan, not daring to go to Christ, and yet are secretly upheld by a spirit of faith, showing itself in hidden sighs and groans unto God. These are abused by false...
Read more

How Not to Kill a Fly on the Forehead

By
Image
Was chapter five of The Bruised Reed  a difficult read (no pun intended)? Don’t feel bad. So far, I found this chapter the most challenging to comprehend. The modern English edition was very helpful this week. Having said that, some of the quotes I furnish here will be from the modernized version. In previous chapters Sibbes examined how tenderly Christ shepherds us. In Chapter five, he considers how pastors should treat those they shepherd and how we should treat each other in light of who Christ is and how He deals with us. Christ came down from heaven and emptied himself of majesty in tender love to souls. Shall we not come down from our high conceits to do any poor soul good? Shall man be proud after God has been humble?[1] Christ is the ultimate example of humility (Phil. 2:5-8). He came from the highest heaven to dwell on earth among fallen men. Even more, He bore our sin and shame. Indeed, should we be proud after God has been humble? Sibbes also reminds us that, “Conscience...
Read more

Feeling Bruised?

By
Image
2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NKJV) — Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Here are a few quotes I would like to share from chapter one of  The Bruised Reed :  God's children are bruised reeds before their conversion and oftentimes after. Before conversion all… are bruised reeds, yet in different degrees, as God sees fit. And as there are differences with regard to temperament, gifts and manner of life, so there are in God's intention to use men in the time to come; for usually he empties such of themselves, and makes them nothing, before he will use them in any great services.[1] After conversion we nee...
Read more

...in Christ Mystical?

By
Image
There is no more shocking truth about believers than that God has loved them even as He has loved His own Son.[1] – The Moody Bible Commentary This week we are reading chapters one and two of The Bruised Reed. In Chapter one there is a curious phrase that was unfamiliar to me:  For his love rests in a whole Christ, in Christ mystical , as well as Christ natural, because he loves him and us with one love.[2]   What is meant by "Christ mystical"? In our day and age, it sounds kind New Agey. If you Google Christ mystical (and Googled it I did) you will find a long list of aberrant teachings about “Christian mysticism”. You will also find that the term was popularized by Pope Pius XII in 1943. However, after some searching, I came upon another passage from Sibbes that was more helpful.  Does God delight thus in Christ, in his person, or considered mystically? I answer; both. God loves and delights in Christ mystical, that is, in Christ and his members, in whole Christ. 'Thi...
Read more

Help in Time of Trouble

By
Image
Psalm 46:1 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Once again, I offer the following quote without comment. It is from chapter eight of The Bruised Reed . OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENTS Suffering brings discouragements, because of our impatience. `Alas!', we lament, `I shall never get through such a trial.' But if God brings us into the trial he will be with us in the trial, and at length bring us out, more refined. We shall lose nothing but dross (Zech. 13:9). From our own strength we cannot bear the least trouble, but by the Spirit's assistance we can bear the greatest. The Spirit will add his shoulders to help us to bear our infirmities. The Lord will give his hand to heave us up (Psa. 37:24). 'Ye have heard of the patience of job,' says James (James 5:11). We have heard of his impatience too, but it pleased God mercifully to overlook that. It yields us comfort also in desolate conditions, such as contagious sicknesses and the like,...
Read more

Introduction

By
Image
When the beauty of Christ is unfolded, it draws the wounded, hungry soul unto him. The preaching of the word doth that that shows the sweet love of God in Jesus Christ. – Richard Sibbes Richard Sibbes (1577 - 1635) was a Puritan lecturer, theologian, and pastor. Although a prolific writer (as were many Puritans) his best known work is The Bruised Reed.  Highly regarded for his pastoral heart and gracious manner, Sibbes became known as “the heavenly Doctor”. Among those who have been refreshed and profoundly moved by Sibbes’ writings include Richard Baxter, C. H. Spurgeon, and Martin Lloyd Jones. J. I. Packer wrote, “Sibbes concentrated on exploring the love, power and patience of Christ, and the riches of the promises of God. He was a pioneer in working out the devotional application of the doctrine of God’s covenant of grace.” * In terms of pages, The Bruised Reed is actually a rather short book. But in my limited experience reading the Puritans, the truth being communicated i...
Read more

Be of Good Comfort

By
Image
Greetings all, For chapter two, I just wanted to share a couple of impactful quotes that have encouraged me this week. I could easily include more, but I will limit myself to these:  Are you bruised? Be of good comfort, he calls you. Conceal not your wounds, open all before him and take not Satan's counsel. Go to Christ, although trembling, as the poor woman who said, `If I may but touch his garment' (Matt. 9:21). We shall be healed and have a gracious answer. Go boldly to God in our flesh; he is flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone for this reason, that we might go boldly to him. Never fear to go to God, since we have such a Mediator with him, who is not only our friend but our brother and husband. Well might the angel proclaim from heaven, `Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy' (Luke 2:10). Well might the apostle stir us up to `rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice' (Phil. 4:4).[1] If Christ be so merciful as not to break me, I will not bre...
Read more

Final Chapters and Final Thoughts

By
Image
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...
Read more

Where Love and Mercy Meet

By
Image
This week, in chapters nine and ten, Sibbes continues to encourage us to gaze at the tender mercies of Christ. As we see the best affections of mere men, be they father, husband, or brother, let us remember that these are but dim reflections of Christ’s benevolence toward us. We are the body of Christ, surely he will not mistreat His own. If the sweetness of all flowers were in one, how sweet must that flower be? In Christ all perfections of mercy and love meet. How great then must that mercy be that lodges in so gracious a heart? Whatever tenderness is scattered in husband, father, brother, head, all is but a beam from him; it is in him in the most eminent manner. We are weak, but we are his; we are deformed, but yet carry his image upon us. A father looks not so much at the blemishes of his child as at his own nature in him; so Christ finds matter of love from that which is his own in us. He sees his own nature in us: we are diseased, but yet his members. Who ever neglected his own m...
Read more

And So It Begins...

By
Image
  We’re off to the races! Today is the first day of our nine-week journey through The Bruised Reed . You can use this blog to post your thoughts, insights, and quotes as we read through the book and Scripture passages. You can also share videos and articles you have benefited from along the way. The posts can be as long or short as you like.   If you have not received your invitation to post, please send me an email through the Cornerstone portal. Lastly, you can respond to posts in the comment section below. You can also respond via “Reactions” at the bottom of each post. The options are Amen , Like , and TFS! (Thanks for Sharing!).
Read more