F.B. Meyer
When nothing on which to lean remains,
When strongholds crumble to dust;
When nothing is sure but that God still reigns,
That is just the time to trust.
It’s better to walk by faith than sight;
In this path of yours and mine;
And the darkest night, when there’s no outer light
Is the time for faith to shine.
“What was the Fall, then? It was more than a stain or a blemish. The fall of man in our first parents was a complete and utter revolt against the person of God as revealed by His sovereignty, supremacy, authority, and will. John Murray says that the Fall was ‘an assault upon the divine Majesty, repudiation of His sovereignty and authority, doubt of His goodness, dispute with His wisdom, [and a] contradiction of His veracity.’ We simply cannot come to a biblical understanding of man nor to a biblical appreciation of salvation if we do not come to grips with the awfulness of man in rebellion, separation, and death. We are profoundly fallen. Man’s arrogant desire for autonomy from God, which was an act of rebellion against the Creator’s authority and benevolence, has caused havoc. The curse that resulted ‘affected not only man’s spiritual relationship with God and his personal and social relationships, but also his whole economic and material environment.’”
-The Majesty of Man by Allen
“Speaking of self-esteem as man’s greatest need is akin to an observer at a funeral parlor remarking, ‘How wonderfully lifelike!’ as he views the corpse. We need to face the issue squarely: Dead people need life, not make-up; fallen people need redemption, not self-esteem. Jesus did not come to earth to make dead people feel better about themselves. He came to dead men to give them life (Luke 19:10; John 10:10).”
-The Majesty of Man
“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide Your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalm 61
“1 Hear my cry, O god,listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of Your wings! 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over Him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to Your name, as I perform my vows day after day.”
Psalm 39:4-7 “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, You have made my days a few handbreaths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”
Psalm 37:3-7
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
As a follower of Christ, you have been bought with a price and belong to God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (ESV).
