This is a ministry newsletter from 1969. We found it while working on my autobiography. I hope it will be of some blessing to you.
1706 Jackson Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Dear Friends,
Some of you have written of the blessing received through the Scriptures shared in previous letters, so we shall continue to do this.
Those of you who know Jim at all remember that in conversation and in messages he dwells on the need for obedience to Christ and/or instant confession of sin for restoration to fellowship with Christ. These are truths running through the Word of God which are basic to a close walk with the Lord. But how easily and imperceptibly we drift into a careless state of soul! “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If we spent as much time working on preventive maintenance as we do analyzing our problems, we would come out way ahead. We pray this consideration will come as a great help to many of you.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
God’s grace is available, effective, and transforming. We sing about it, listen to sermons about it, (in this case write about it), but we do not take hold of it. Let us stop right here and ask ourselves where we are lacking God’s grace at this moment. Do we need grace to “get along” with another person? Do we need grace for some of the resentments that come because of the wrong-doing of another? Do we need grace to accept ourselves as objects of God’s love and care? Many more questions could be asked. But look at that invitation above again and remember that it is a throne of grace. Remember Paul in 11 Cor. 12:9 telling about his three-time prayer request which was answered with, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It must have been more than sufficient, for he went on to say, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (I feel like adding “don’t knock it until you have tried it.”)
Some have said to me that it does not work. May I give a personal testimony? It has never failed to work for me when I start from a cleansed position, in fellowship with my risen Lord. Many times, I feel hopeless before I start this honest appraisal, but “having obtained mercy” as the verse suggests it seems an easy transition to go to Him with my need in mind; and with my faith nourished by the Word of God, I am able to appropriate His grace. We cannot sit and expect that grace to fall from heaven. We must go to the Lord, confess any known sin, tell Him we want to obey Him because we love Him, and then ask Him through His Word to strengthen us in our faith to receive the grace He has promised.
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God.” (Hebrews 4:15)
“Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably.” (Hebrews 4:28)
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you.” (Isaiah 30:18)
Don’t keep Him waiting.
In His Grace,
Jim and Bessie Wilson
1706 Jackson Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Dear Friends,
Some of you have written of the blessing received through the Scriptures shared in previous letters, so we shall continue to do this.
Those of you who know Jim at all remember that in conversation and in messages he dwells on the need for obedience to Christ and/or instant confession of sin for restoration to fellowship with Christ. These are truths running through the Word of God which are basic to a close walk with the Lord. But how easily and imperceptibly we drift into a careless state of soul! “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If we spent as much time working on preventive maintenance as we do analyzing our problems, we would come out way ahead. We pray this consideration will come as a great help to many of you.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
God’s grace is available, effective, and transforming. We sing about it, listen to sermons about it, (in this case write about it), but we do not take hold of it. Let us stop right here and ask ourselves where we are lacking God’s grace at this moment. Do we need grace to “get along” with another person? Do we need grace for some of the resentments that come because of the wrong-doing of another? Do we need grace to accept ourselves as objects of God’s love and care? Many more questions could be asked. But look at that invitation above again and remember that it is a throne of grace. Remember Paul in 11 Cor. 12:9 telling about his three-time prayer request which was answered with, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It must have been more than sufficient, for he went on to say, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (I feel like adding “don’t knock it until you have tried it.”)
Some have said to me that it does not work. May I give a personal testimony? It has never failed to work for me when I start from a cleansed position, in fellowship with my risen Lord. Many times, I feel hopeless before I start this honest appraisal, but “having obtained mercy” as the verse suggests it seems an easy transition to go to Him with my need in mind; and with my faith nourished by the Word of God, I am able to appropriate His grace. We cannot sit and expect that grace to fall from heaven. We must go to the Lord, confess any known sin, tell Him we want to obey Him because we love Him, and then ask Him through His Word to strengthen us in our faith to receive the grace He has promised.
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God.” (Hebrews 4:15)
“Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably.” (Hebrews 4:28)
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you.” (Isaiah 30:18)
Don’t keep Him waiting.
In His Grace,
Jim and Bessie Wilson
Comments