“The Joyful Christian”

The blog Of First Importance boasts authors from Thomas Watson and Charles Spurgeon to JI Packer and Sinclair Ferguson. Every day, the owners of this blog post thoughts from these esteemed men on the topic of greatest importance: the gospel. Several days ago they posted this illuminating quote by Thomas Brooks. I immediately printed it out and pinned it up on the bulletin board above my desk:

“That Christian who has free grace, who has free justification, who has the mediatorial righteousness of Christ, who has the satisfaction of Christ, who has the covenant of grace most constantly in his sight, and most frequently warm upon his heart—that Christian, of all Christians in the world, is most free from a world of fears, and doubts, and scruples which do sadden, sink, perplex, and press down a world of other Christians, who daily eye more what Christ is a-doing in them, and what they are a-doing for Christ, than they do eye either his active or passive obedience.

Christ has done great things for his people, and he has suffered great things for his people, and he has purchased great things for his people, and he has prepared great things for his people; yet many of his own dear people are so taken up with their own hearts, and with their own duties and graces, that Christ is little eyed by them or minded by them!

This is the great reason why so many Christians, who will certainly go to heaven—do walk in darkness, and lie down in sorrow.”

- Thomas Brooks, A Cabinet of Choice Jewels

I'm one of those Christians who is often more focused on what Christ is doing in me or what I should be doing for Him than the great things He has already suffered and done for me. I want to take this advice to heart and daily walk in the joy of my salvation.