07 THE EXPOSTULATION

THE EXPOSTULATION "O you of little faith—why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31

Many aged Christians give way to doubt . They yield to fear. They are more affected by their own feelings—than they are by God’s Word. They judge more by what passes within them—than they do by what God has said to them. This casts them down, this disquiets them. Peter doubted, because he was on an unnatural element, and in new and trying circumstances. But Jesus reproves him for doubting, and he will reprove you. "O you of little faith—why did you doubt?"

Ah, you say, "My sins are so many and so aggravated!" But Jesus promises to pardon them.

"My imperfections and infirmities are so great!" But Jesus will clothe you in his righteousness.

"My prayers are so broken and so lifeless!" But Jesus pleads for you as your ever-living intercessor.

"But I seem to be everything I ought not to be—and nothing at all that I ought." But Jesus will completely save you.

You see your sins—because he has given you light.

You feel your imperfections—because he has given you life.

You are dissatisfied with yourself—because he has shown you his beauty.

You complain of your prayers—because his grace prompts you to desire perfection.

You loathe yourself—because he has partly sanctified you, and implanted within you the desire to be exactly like himself.

Why do you doubt? Has he not promised . . . that he will never cast you out, ever; that where sin abounds—his grace shall much more abound; that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord—shall be saved?

Now, you know that you come to him daily in desire and simple prayer; you know you pant and plead that grace may reign in your heart; you know that you call upon his dear name. Doubt not, then.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God!" Psalms 43:5