t
the outset" says our Directory,
"let everyone examine his heart,
to see whether he be grieved on
account of his sins, and humble
himself before God." This is the
first element of genuine
self-examination. It cannot
indeed be otherwise. The
salvation of the Lord Jesus is a
salvation from sin. The power,
the grace, the Blessing of Jesus
are exhibited in the taking away
of sin out of us, and the
implanting within us instead of
the holiness and the life of
heaven. And it is because the
Lord's Supper is intended to
serve as a renewed and an
increased participation of the
life of Christ, that a new and
deeper acknowledgment of sin is
the most desirable preparation
for the Supper. It is not merely
he that is still seeking for
forgiveness who must think of
and confess his sins. No: it is
especially the believer that has
need to acknowledge aright and
with all earnestness the sins
which he still commits and their
antipathy to God. The more he
really despairs of himself, the
more glorious will Christ become
in his eyes. The more keenly he
feels every sin, the more will
Jesus become to him. Every sin
is a need that calls for Jesus.
By the confession of sin, you
point out to Him the spot where
you are wounded, and where He
must exhibit the healing power
of His blood. Every sin that you
confess is an acknowledgment of
something which Jesus must cast
out, and the place of which He
is bound to fill up with one of
the lovely gifts of His
holiness. Every sin that you
confess is a new reason why you
should believe more and ask
more, and a new reason why Jesus
should bless you.
Christian, prepare yourself for
the Holy Supper by thinking of
your sins. Be not afraid to make
mention of them by name before
Jesus. Point out to Him that
which you desire He should
change in you. Sin which is not
confessed is also not combated.
When a saved soul goes to Jesus
to speak with Him about sin, and
to make it known to Him, it
breaks sin's power and makes Him
more precious. The very same
light that enables you to feel
the curse of sin more deeply,
enables you also to discern the
perfect and final victory over
it. The experience, utterly
lost, prepares the way for the
experience utterly redeemed.
Beloved child of God, you do not
perhaps yet know what a source
of blessing a deep conviction of
sin is. Do not be afraid of it:
do not turn away from it. The
blessed Spirit of God will give
it to you. Through the
increasing grace of Jesus in
you, through your deepening
fellowship in the life of
heaven, He will so discover its
incurable sinfulness, that this
very experience shall lead you
to that entire surrender to
Jesus which is so gloriously
sealed in the Lord's Supper. |
PRAYER.
Lord God, Thou searchest and knowest us. Thou art He that knowest the
hearts and triest the reins. Before Thee, there is no creature that is
not made manifest: but all things are naked and open before the eyes of
Him with whom we have to do. Thine eyes see through the heart alike of
the ungodly and the righteous. Thou art the Omniscient One, the Searcher
of hearts.
Lord, how terrible is Thine omniscience for Thine enemies. That eye which
burns in heaven as a flame of fire is always upon them. They would fain
flee away from it, but they are never able. But for Thy people, Thine
omniscience is a comfort and a refuge. Thou art He who can help them
against themselves and the deceitfulness of their own hearts. They
invite Thine omniscience to search their heart and to cleanse them from
their secret faults.
Holy God, I too place myself in Thine hands. Search me, O God, and know my
heart. With fear, and yet from the depths of my heart, I say unto thee:
Holy God, I wish to tolerate no single sin, however secret or deeply
rooted it may be. Lord, I crave Thy help: I place myself in the light of
Thy flaming eyes, before which no sin can stand. Search me, O God, and
know my heart.
I Know, Lord, that the answer is oftentimes terrible: "By terrible things
Thou wilt answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation." I know,
when Thou dost suffer man to enter into temptation and let him see what
is in his heart, that the humiliation and the shame and the sorrow are
often deep and bitter. I know that when Thou trustest Thy mighty hand
into the bosom to root out the almost unknown and yet deeply-rooted sin,
flesh and blood must then fail. And yet I cry: Search me, O God, and
know my heart.
Lord, make me know the sin to which I am blind: my characteristic sins
also, about which I am so sensitive when any other speaks of them,
whether it be the love of money with its seduction, or the love of the
world with its vanity, or the love of self with its entanglement, make
me to know it. Lord, use friend or foe: use what means Thou wilt, O my
Father: only search me and know my heart: cleanse me from secret errors,
and let no hurtful way abide with me, but lead me in the way that is
everlasting.
Yes, gracious Lord, give me such an overmastering conviction of the entire
corruption of my nature that I shall be constrained to receive in its
completeness the perfect redemption of Christ. Amen. |