A Ribband of Blue, and Other Bible Studies — John Shaqi
A Ribband of Blue, and Other Bible StudiesTaylor, James Hudson
Religion
A Ribband of Blue, and Other Bible Studies
Taylor, James Hudson
Bible -- Study and teaching
This distinction is very important to make. We are not to think that
our holiest service is free from sin, or can be accepted save through
JESUS CHRIST our LORD. We are not to suppose that sins of omission,
any more than sins of commission, are looked lightly upon by GOD:
sins of forgetfulness and heedlessness or ignorance are more than
frailties--are real sins, needing atoning sacrifice. GOD deals very
gently and graciously with us in these matters; when transgression or
iniquity is brought home to the conscience, "if we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness." Even when walking in the light, "as He is
in the light," we are not beyond the need of atonement. Though our
fellowship with GOD be unbroken by any conscious transgression, it
continues unbroken only because "the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON is
cleansing us from all sin."
The man, however, who would presume on GOD's forgiveness, and despise
GOD's holiness and His claim upon His people, by doing deliberately
the thing that he knows to be contrary to GOD's will, that man will
find spiritual dearth and spiritual death inevitably follow. His
communion with GOD is brought to an end, and it is hard to say how
far Satan may not be permitted to carry such a backslider in heart
and life. It is awfully possible not merely to "grieve" and to
"resist," but even to "quench" the SPIRIT of GOD.
We have a solemn example of presumptuous sin in the case of the man
found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. He was not--he could not
be ignorant of GOD'S ordinance concerning the Sabbath. The gathering
of sticks was not to meet a necessity; his case was not parallel with
that of the poor man who perhaps had received his wages late on
Saturday night, and has had no opportunity of purchasing food in time
to prepare it for the day of rest. To the Israelite, the double
supply of manna was given on the morning of the day before the
Sabbath; and as the uncooked manna would not keep, it was necessary
that early in that day it should be prepared for food. He had,
therefore, no need of sticks to cook his Sabbath's dinner. And the
country was so hot that no man would kindle a fire from choice or
preference. His object in gathering sticks was simply to show, openly
and publicly, that he despised GOD, and refused to obey His holy
ordinance: rightly, therefore, was that man put to death.
But occasion was taken in connection with this judgment to introduce
the wearing of the
"RIBBAND OF BLUE."
GOD would have all His people wear a badge. Throughout their
generations they were to make them fringes in the borders of their
garments, and to put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of
blue, that they might look upon it and remember all the commandments
of the LORD, and do them, and might be a holy people, holy unto their
GOD, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, to be their GOD.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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