"Your faith has saved you; go in peace!" Luke 7:50
Saved! This poor, shame-soiled, sin-ruined thing, whom the Pharisee would have thrust out of his house into the street — saved! Never to go back any more to her old life! An heir of Heaven now, destined to walk the heavenly streets in white!
There is an old legend that Mohammed once in passing along the way, touched a noxious plant — and it became a geranium, and has ever since been a geranium, pouring fragrance everywhere. The legend does not matter at all — but Christ did something far more wonderful on the day of our story. He touched this sinful soul — and it was transformed into beauty! That woman has been in glory for eighteen centuries. That is what Christ does for every one who creeps to his feet in penitence and faith.
Peace came with the forgiveness. There could be no peace — until she was forgiven. No one has any right to be at peace — while the guilt of sin remains uncancelled. But when Christ has forgiven us — we should be at peace. Why or of what should we then be afraid? What is there for us to fear in this world, or the next?
There is a story of one, in the olden days, who had committed a capital crime. He was the king's friend and favorite; and when his trial came on, although the case went sorely against him, he manifested no fear. The evidence accumulated. There was no loophole of escape from conviction. His friends had no hope — yet they marveled at his calmness — he was at perfect peace. He was convicted, and was about to be sentenced; still there was no trace of alarm. At the last moment, the secret was revealed. He drew from his pocket a paper, and handed it to the judge. It was the king's pardon. With that in his possession, he had no cause for fear. And with our King's pardon, no matter how guilty we are — we have no need to be afraid, and may be at peace.
Be the first to react on this!
J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.