THE MISUNDERSTOOD

HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matthew 27:40

Too often is the old taunt repeated still.

This is the cry of the self-ignorant soul. It does not understand its great sinfulness and need — nor yet the justice and holiness of the God with whom it has to do. It lives in a fool’s paradise and anticipates no danger. It is like the citizens of Pompeii, rejoicing in the gaiety of the town, and never thinking of the ruin the volcano would bring. So it sees no urgent necessity for the agony of the Saviour on the Hill of Reproach, nor for the accursed Tree.

This is the cry, too, of the self-righteous soul. It believes that it can merit and achieve its salvation. It is not willing to be indebted, first and last, to the doing and the dying of Another. It shrinks from classing itself among the chief of sinners, who owe everything to the precious blood of the Lamb of God. It is a traveller to an El Dorado which it cannot discover, but it will not admit its inability and failure. So it has its quarrel with Calvary and the Sufferer there.

Trending

BROKENNESS: THE PATH TO WHOLENESS

And this is the cry of the self-indulgent soul. It feels little love for a Saviour who summons it to participate in His sorrows. It recoils from that stern commandment of His — If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. It clings fast and eagerly to its ease and the half-hearted and indeterminate religion of the majority. So it would gladly have a Redeemer who does not drink the bitter cup.

From spiritual shallowness,

from spiritual pride,

from spiritual sloth and ease

— O Lord, deliver me!