◄ Freely Come; Freely Abide ►

That our God may make you worthy of His call, and by His power fully satisfy your every desire for goodness" (2 Thess. 1:11a, Wms.).

If we are born into the Lord Jesus by sheer grace, surely He can manifest Himself in us on the same principle.

"It is this quiet expectation and confidence, resting on the Word of the Lord Jesus that in Him there is an abiding place prepared, which is so sadly wanting among Christians. The idea many have of grace is that their conversion and pardon are God's work, but that now, in gratitude to Him, it is their work to live as Christians. There is always the thought of work (law) that has to be done, and even though they pray for help, still the work is theirs. They fail continually, and become helpless; and the despondency only increases the helplessness.

"Abiding in the Lord Jesus is not a work that we have to do as the condition for enjoying His salvation, but a consenting to let Him do all for us and in us, and through us. It is a work He does for us - the fruit and power of His redeeming love. Our part is simply to yield, to trust, to abide, and to wait for what He has engaged to perform. As it was the Lord Jesus who drew thee when He said Come,' so it is the Lord Jesus who keeps thee when He says Abide.'" -A.M.

"The heart is constantly looking to God to give a testimony about itself; but the Father is giving a testimony concerning His Son, and not about what we are; if He were to give a testimony about us, it must be about our sin and unbelief of heart. But no; and it is of great importance in this day of infidelity to see that if the Father gives a testimony, it is about His Son, and what He is to the sinner. If you believe that, you will have peace." -J.N.D.

"And complete every activity of your faith, so that the Name of our Lord Jesus might be glorified in you" (2 Thess. 1:11b, Wms.).