How hot is your fire?

~ Thoughts from The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
6. Marks of the smoking flax
7. Help for the weak

Are you still on fire for the Lord?
Richard Sibbes says don’t measure that by your feelings, “for in temptations we shall see nothing but smoke of distrustful thoughts.”

And you can’t trust comparisons either. If your fire isn’t as bright as your neighbor’s, that doesn’t mean you’re not on fire at all. Don’t bear false witness against yourself in that way.

Instead, trust grace. But don’t try to measure that either. If you have grace, you have grace, just as a spark of fire is still fire. There is as much grace in the spark as in the flame.

A weak hand may still receive a rich jewel.

You are under the covenant of grace, which will not quench any smoking flax, not the covenant of works, which breaks all bruised reeds.

What is the origin of your fire?
Your fire comes from the Father of heavenly lights. He who kindles it is also he who feeds it. He puts a light in every converted man to see with spiritual eyes—able to distinguish between flesh and spirit, between good and bad, between gold and dross.

But what if you truly are weak?
Then detest your temptations and run to Christ. Complain to him about them. Fly under his wings and let him fight on your behalf against yours and his common enemy.

But don’t be too troubled by seeing your sin. The more you see it, the more you’ll hate it, “and therefore it is less.”

Remember, the nearer you come to God, the worse your sin looks to you. You are most aware of your sin when your soul is most alive. Otherwise, your sins wouldn’t even bother you if you were only trying to please self.

Let such know that if the smoke be once offensive to them, it is a sign that there is light.

It is better to enjoy the benefit of light, though with smoke, than to be altogether in the dark.

Should weakness deter you from doing good?
No. Don’t wait until you can do something with perfection before you attempt it at all. Christ can see the good your heart intends, even amongst the bad, and he will blow on your little work until it flames brightly.

He can make sense out of a confused prayer, and he can and does give grace enough to cover your inabilities and imperfections.

Don’t be cruel to yourself when Christ is being gracious.

‘Lord, I believe’ (Mark 9:24), with a weak faith, yet with faith; love thee with a faint love, yet with love; endeavor in a feeble manner, yet endeavor.

A little fire is fire, though it smokes.

* * *

COMING NEXT:
8. Duties and discouragements
9. Believe Christ, not Satan

This is Week 4 of Tim Challie’s “Reading Classics Together.”
Download The Bruised Reed free online from Monergism.com, or grab a hardcopy, and read along with us.

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