This poem/hymn was written by Robert Murray McCheyne, minister of St. Peter’s Church, Dundee until his death in 1843. One of the greatest ministers Scotland has ever produced (which is saying something), McCheyne used one of the great watchwords of the Reformation in this poem. Jehovah Tsidkenu is one of the Names for God in the Hebrew Bible and translates as ‘God [is] our Righteousness’. It helpfully reminds us that we have no righteousness of our own – that we can do nothing to please/attract God. But that, knowing this, God himself gifts and clothes us with his very own righteousness – in Christ – and so we know security, and relationship with God as his children. Awesome.

The poem is a profound and beautiful faith story, testimony of grace in his life. Praise God this Grace is free and offered to all and everyone. We don’t have to be good, or clever, interested. Its the same offer to straights, the poor, lesbians, rich folks, bisexual, black, white, gay, Asian etc. There is nothing that disqualifies us. Its free. If you’ve never tested it before – go on, find out for yourself. If you have, remind yourself it is all of Him and not of you. Remember the freedom and joy that gives us.

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to sooth or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But e’en when they pictured the blood sprinkled tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu ’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life giving and free
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field,
My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,
This watchword shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be.

What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more.
Robert Murray McCheyne

Robert Murray M’Cheyne was Minister of St. Peter’s Church, Dundee until his death in May, 1843.  One of the leading lights of the Evangelical Party of the Church of Scotland he remains one of Scotland’s most beloved Pastors.  He wrote many poems and this one has been set to music as well.  The title is Jehovah Tsidkenu – God is our Righteousness.  It was one of the phrases used by the Reformation as their Watchword.  I grew up with it; it blew me away then and does now.  Enjoy!

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to sooth or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But e’en when they pictured the blood sprinkled tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see,
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life giving and free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field,
My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,
This watchword shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be.

I once was a stranger
To grace and to God,
I knew not my danger
And felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture
O Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu
Was nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters
Of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters
Went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins
Had nailed to the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu
Twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me
By light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me,
I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety,
In self could I see,
Jehovah Tsidkenu
My Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished
Before the sweet name,
My guilty fears banished,
With boldness I came
To drink at the fountain,
Life-giving and free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu
Is all things to me.

As you are making your New Year’s Resolutions you should add the resolution to read through the entire Bible in 2009.  As a matter of fact, make this your number one resolution.  There is no other that will benefit you more.  To accomplish this goal I suggest the excellent Bible reading plan of Robert Murry M’Cheyne.  By following his reading schedule you will read through the entire Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalm twice in the year.  My good friend Jimmy Burchett and I will be using this reading schedule in 2009 to read through the Bible together.  Perhaps the task seems daunting to you, challenge a friend to read with you as you hold one another accountable.

M’Cheyne lists some advantages of following such a plan:

1. The Whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. – The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible, and yet it is all equally divine. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some parts of Scripture we will be incomplete Christians.

2. Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read.  – Often believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once in a very simple manner.

3. The pastor will know in which part of the pasture the flock are feeding. – He will thus be enabled to speak more suitably to them on the Sabbath: and both pastor and elders will be able to drop a word of light and comfort in visiting from house to house, which will be more readily responded to.

4. The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened. – We shall often be lead to think of those dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, who agree to join with us in reading these portions. We shall oftener be led to agree on earth, touching something we shall ask of God. We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same confessions, praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the same words of eternal life.

While studying this afternoon I stumbled upon this thought from J.I. Packer:

It is not too much to say that God made us to pray; that prayer is (not the easiest, but) the most natural activity in which in which we ever engage; and that prayer is the measure of a man in God’s sight. ‘What a man is alone on his knees before God,’ said the saintly Murray McCheyne, ‘that he is, and no more.’

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to sooth or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But e’en when they pictured the blood sprinkled tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu—’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see—
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life giving and free—
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field,
My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,
This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be.

Be Found in Christ.

December 8, 1841.

ear Friend – I send you another line to tell you of Him who is altogether lovely. I have a very dear boy in my parish who is dying just now. He said to me the other day, “I have just been feeding for some days upon the words you gave me: ‘His legs are like pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold’ (Song of Solomon 5:15); for (said he) I am sure He is able to carry me and all my sins.” You may say the same, if your eyes have been opened to see the beauty, fullness, freeness, and compassion of the Lord Jesus. Nothing but the hand of God can open your eyes to see your lost condition as it truly is. Flesh and blood cannot reveal Him unto you, but my Father. Oh, call upon Him to do this for you! A spiritual discovery of yourself and of Jesus is better than a million of worlds to you, and to me also. Remember, you cannot be fair in yourself before God. Song of Solomon 1:6 must be all your prayer: “Look not upon me.” Take yourself at your best moments, you are but a vile worm in Jehovah’s sight, and so am I. Remember you may be “perfect in Christ Jesus.” Allow yourself to be found in Christ. Oh, what will come of you if you are found in yourself? Where will you appear? You will shrink back, and call on rocks and mountains to fall upon you and cover you. But if you are hiding in Jesus – if your eye and heart are fixed upon His wounds made by our sins – if you are willing to be righteous in His righteousness, to die down under the stream of His blood, and to be clothed upon with the snowy fleece of the Lamb of God – then God will love you with His whole soul exceedingly. The pure, full love of God streams through the blood and obedience of Jesus to every soul that is lying under them, however, vile and wretched in themselves. Have you tried – have you tasted the holy love of a holy God? Thy love is better than wine. It is better than all creature love or creature enjoyments. Oh, do not live – oh, do not die, out of this sweet, sweet, sin-pardoning, soul-comforting love of God! Remember, Jesus is quite willing to gather you under his wings (Matthew 23:37). Put that beyond all doubt. Remember, also, the present is your only time to be saved. There is no believing, no repenting, no conversion in the grave – no minister will speak to you there. This is the time of conversion. We must either gain you now, or lose you forever. Oh that you would use this little time! Every moment of it is worth a world. Your soul is very dear to me – dearer far to Jesus. Look to Him and you will be saved.

Ever yours,

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

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The letter above is from a series of five letters written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1841 to a soul seeking Jesus. The letters can be found in Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar.

Taste that Christ is Precious.

December 1841.

ear Friend – It is written, “Unto you who believe He is precious;” and if you are a child of God, you will know and feel what the words mean (1 Peter 2:7). At one time Christ was “like a tender plant” to you, and like “a root out of a dry ground.” You saw “no form nor comeliness in Him, no beauty that you should desire Him.” At that time you were at ease in Zion – you had no concern for your soul. Do you remember that time? It is otherwise with you now? Have you been pricked in your heart by the Holy Spirit? Have you been made to see how impossible it is for man to be just with God? And has the Spirit drawn away the veil from the fair face of Immanuel, and given you an unfeigned glance at the brow that was crowned with the thorns, and the cheek from which they plucked off the hair? Has the Spirit opened a window into the heart of Jesus, and let you see the fountain-head of that love that “passeth knowledge”? Then you will be able to say, “To me He is precious.” If you see plainly that all your standing before God is in Him, that He is your foundation-stone, your fountain, your wedding garment, then you will feel Him to be precious. Most people refuse to come to Christ. Read Luke 14:16-24 – “They all with one consent began to make excuse.” Why is this? Just because they do not see and feel that He is precious. But oh, if you, my dear friend, feel that He is your only righteousness – your only fountain of living water – your High Priest – your Shepherd – your Advocate, then you will say, “He is precious!” You will never say, “Have me excused.” I carry to you the sweet invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready.” Jesus is ready to wash and clothe you in His own blood and righteousness. The Holy Spirit is ready to come into your heart and make it new. The Father is ready to put His arms round your neck, and kiss you (Luke 15:20). The angels are ready to give thanks for you, and to love you as a child for eternity. Now will you come, for all things are ready? Are you now saying in your heart, “I cannot but believe I am the chief of sinners, and Jesus offers to be my refuge, my Mediator, my all in all; I feel He is precious”? Oh, dear friend, I trust you do. This only will make you happy in living, and blessed in dying. This is a poor dying world. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. There is no part here that death cannot take from us. But if you have Christ, you have the only imperishable portion! Oh, may the Holy Spirit give you a firm hold of Jesus! Then we shall meet in that sweet place, where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. The Lord deal kindly and gently with you, both soul and body. Farewell, dear friend.

Ever yours,

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

________________________________

The letter above is from a series of five letters written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1841 to a soul seeking Jesus. The letters can be found in Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar.

Joy in Believing.

Dundee, 1841.

ear Friend – I send you another line to tell you Jesus is the way. I would like much to hear how your weak body prospers, and whether your soul is resting under the apple-tree (Song of Solomon 2:3); but till some opportunity occurs, I must just content myself with committing your soul and body in to the hand of Jesus, your faithful creator (1 Peter 4:19). We are now looking forward to another communion season, and I am busy instructing young persons for that holy and blessed ordinance. I think you said you were a good deal impressed at our last communion, and wished that you had been one of those seated at the table: perhaps your first communion may be in glory. There is a text in Romans 15:13, which expresses all my desire for you: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” You see here who is the author of conversion – “the God of hope.” He must open your heart to attend to the things that are spoken. The truths that are presented to you will not convert your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your heart and water it oft. Then see how He gives you joy and peace – “in believing.” When Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas (John 20:28), Thomas cried out with joy, “My Lord and my God!” If Jesus reveal Himself to you in all the glory of His person, the completeness of His work, and the freeness of His love, you too will be filled with appropriating, joyful faith, and will cry, “My Lord and my God!” It is a difficult thing to explain what it is to believe – I suppose it is impossible. But when Jesus unveils His matchless beauty, and gives you a sweet glimpse of His matchless face that was buffeted and spit upon, then the soul joyfully clings to Him. This is believing, and this is joy and peace in believing. The truest, purest joy flows from a discovery of Jesus Christ. He is the hidden treasure that gives such joy to the finder (Matthew 13:44). Do you think you have found that treasure? Touching question! For if not, you are poor indeed. But how much joy may you have in Christ? “The God of hope fill you with all joy.” You need not be afraid to take the full joy that Jesus gives. If you really come unto Christ, you come unto the love of Jehovah, and that is a filling love. The love of the creature does not fill the heart; but God’s love coming full upon the soul gives fullness of joy (1 John 1:4). It is holy love, sovereign love. I have been interrupted several times in writing this little note. I will not be long in writing you again. So you decide the question of your eternity. One thing is needful! Have you closed with the great Mediator? Have you got saving knowledge of Jesus? Then only will death lose its power, and the grace become the bed of peaceful rest.

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

Lean all your care for time and eternity on Jesus; that is the softest of all pillows – the bosom of our guardian Immanuel.

I am, ever yours,

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

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The letter above is from a series of five letters written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1841 to a soul seeking Jesus. The letters can be found in Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar.

Seek the Righteousness of Christ.

Dundee, 1841.

ear Friend – I was glad to hear of your safe arrival, and that your health had not suffered by the voyage. I trust the Lord is dealing gently with your frail body, so that your mind may get leave freely to fix itself on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Above all, I pray that the Holy Spirit may sweetly and silently open your heart, to relish the way of salvation though the blood and obedience of Immanuel. Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things (Acts 13:38, 39). You would be deeply concerned to hear that your roommate has been so suddenly and awfully called away. Should it not be a solemn warning to you? Oh that you may be even now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus! So that, if you were called away, you may meet God in peace, and hear Jesus say, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” In yourself you never will stand righteous before Jehovah. Psalm 143:2 answers your case, “Enter not into judgment with me,” must be your cry. In your nature, in your past life, in your breaking of the holy law, in your contempt and neglect of Jesus, in your indwelling sin, God can see nothing but what He must condemn. Oh that you would be of the same mind with God about your own soul! Do not be afraid to look upon its loathsomeness; for God offers to clothe you in Jesus Christ. “By obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). There is only one in all the world on whose face God can look and say, “He is altogether lovely.” Jesus is that one. Now God is willing that you hide in Jesus. I feel at this moment that He is my righteousness. “This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness,” (Jeremiah 23:6). I feel that the love of God shines upon my guilty soul through Jesus. This is all my peace. Your tears will not blot out sin; they do nothing but weep in hell, but that does not justify them. Your right views of the gospel will not justify you; you must be covered with a spotless righteousness. Your change of heart and of life will not justify you; it cannot cover past sins – neither is it perfect. Your amended life is still fearfully sinful in Jehovah’s sight, and yet nothing but perfect righteousness can stand before Him. Jesus offers you this perfect righteousness; in Him you may stand and hear God say, “Thou art all fair, my love.” There is no spot in me. Do you thus look to Jesus? Do you believe the record that God has given concerning Him? Do you receive Christ with open arms? Do you cry, “My Lord and my God;” my Surety – my all? Dear friend, do not tarry. Eternity may be near. Now is your best time, perhaps your only time, of closing with Christ. How many worlds would a lost soul in hell give for such an opportunity of cleaving to Christ as you have now! “He that hath the Son hath life.” This is all my prayer and desire for your precious, precious soul.

Ever yours in the gospel,

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

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The letter above is from a series of five letters written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1841 to a soul seeking Jesus. The letters can be found in Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar.

Seek to Know Your Corruption.

Dundee, 1841.

ear Friend – According to promise, sit down to talk to you a little concerning the great things of an eternal world. How kind it is in God that He has given us such an easy way of communicating our thoughts, even at a distance! My only reason for writing to you is, that I may direct your soul to Jesus, the sinner’s friend. “This man receiveth sinners.” I would wish much to know that you were truly united to Christ, and then, come life, come death, you will be truly and eternally happy. Do you think you have been convinced of sin? This is the Holy Spirit’s work, and His first work upon the soul (John 16:8; Acts 2:37, 21:29, 30). If you did not know your body was dangerously ill, you would never have sent for your physician; and so you will never go to Christ, the heavenly Physician, unless you feel that your soul is sick even unto death. Oh, pray for deep discoveries of your real state by nature and by practice! The world will say you are an innocent and harmless; do not believe them. The world is a liar. Pray to see yourself exactly as God sees you; pray to know the worth of your soul. Have you seen yourself vile, as Job saw himself? (Job 11:3, 5, 13:5-6); undone, as Isaiah saw himself? (Isaiah 6:1, 5). Have you experienced anything like Psalm 51? I do not wish you to feign humility before God, nor to use expressions of self-abhorrence, which you do not feel; but oh, pray that the Holy Spirit may let you see the very reality of your natural condition before God! I seldom get more than a glance at the true state of my soul in its naked self. But when I do, then I see that I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). I believe every member of our body has been a servant of sin (Romans 3:13, 18) – throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes. Every faculty of our mind is polluted (Genesis 4:5). Besides, you have long neglected the great salvation; you have been gainsaying and disobedient. Oh that you were brought to pass sentence on yourself, guilty of all! Hear what a dear believer writes of himself: “My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought and imagination, like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. When I look into my heart and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely deep, and yet it seems to me that my conviction of sin is exceeding small and faint.” Perhaps you will ask, Why do you wish me to have such a discovery of my lost condition? I answer, that you may be broken off from all schemes of self-righteousness; that you may never look into your poor guilty soul to recommend you to God; and that you may joyfully accept of the Lord Jesus Christ, who obeyed and died for sinners. Oh that your heart may cleave to Christ! May you forsake all, and follow Jesus Christ. Count everything loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. You never will stand righteous before God in yourself. You are welcome this day to stand righteous before God in Jesus. Pray over Philippians 3:7, 9. I will try and pray for you. Grace be with you.

Your friend in Jesus,

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

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The letter above is from a series of five letters written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1841 to a “soul seeking Jesus.” The letters can be found in Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar.

“My dear flock, the approach of another year stirs up within me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved,” began Robert Murray McCheyne before his congregation, December 30, 1842.

That day, he presented a scheme of Scripture reading “so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year [the Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice], and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.” In order to competently rejoice in our great salvation, it is important we read the declarations and promises the Word of God make known about it from cover to cover, to be “acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15; cf. v. 16).

Martin Luther similarly remarked, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me, it has feet, it runs after me, it has hands, it lays hold on me” (Commentary on Galatians). I intentionally open this post in this manner in order to set our great salvation in Christ in its only proper context. Belief comes from hearing the living Word of God preached concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that is where a post concerning the gospel should begin.

Christ Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law

With that set for our context, consider Galatians 3:1-14. On Sunday morning, I preached this text before a small congregation at First Baptist Church, Claytonville. However, few texts have weighed on my shoulders as heavily as the book of Galatians. In a few brief chapters, Paul exposes the hugely devastating doctrinal error that salvation is something to be attained by the works of the Law, and he then dismantles it. It is no exaggeration to suggest that the error he rebukes in this text is the most commonly believed heresy today. In fact, since the days of Genesis 3, the belief that somehow we can obtain salvation apart from grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone has manifest itself in nearly every context and church, both loudly and softly, with chameleon-like craftiness. It occurred in the churches at Galatia and it does also today.

See what is at stake. Paul begins in 3:1, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” A few paragraphs earlier, in chapter 1 verse 6, Paul sets the table for chapter three by marking a dividing line between those who preach the biblical gospel of salvation in Christ and those who preach another gospel. The language is intense: “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (1:9). The Greek word translated accursed literally means, “let him be anathema” or “let him be damned.” Few instances warrant Paul’s language, but this is indeed one of them. The gospel is at stake in Galatia and Paul is incensed.

Therefore, when he turns again to this, he questions, “Who has bewitched you?” They were a bewitched congregation. It is so remarkable that the believers in Galatia had turned their ears to another gospel that Paul wonders if it is the result of witchcraft. Perhaps those startling words, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” makes the point clear: justification by faith is altogether different from a false belief that we are justified by keeping the works of the Law. For that reason, the apostle “confronted the Galatians with their folly so that by this means he might win them back to the truth they were in danger of forsaking” (Timothy George, Galatians, NAC, 206).

I will continue this exposition of Galatians 3:1-14 in my next post.

Robert Murray McCheyne

    Prezint aici viata unui om care a facut din sfintenie si din apropierea de Dumnezeu, tinta   propovaduiri dar mai ales a trairii sale. Robert Murray McCheyne, s-a nascut in anul 1813, la Edinburgh, in Scotia.

    Putin cunoscut astazi, Robert McCheyne, a fost pentru foarte multi un model de vestitor dar si de implinitor a adevarului Scripturii. Viata lui de sfintenie, total predata Domnului, a inspirat generatii la rand, sa caute pe Dumnezeu si sa traiasca intr-o asa sfintenie si dependenta de El, ca si cum ar fi ultima zi din viata.

    In 1836 a fost ordinat ca pastor la Biserica Sfantul Petru, din Dundee. Dorinta puternica de a creste in sfintenie a fost cuplata cu pasiunea de a vedea suflete convertite si pacatosii mantuiti. “Nimanui nu-i pasa de sufletele noastre”, e scris pe fruntea fiecaruia dintre ei, spunea McCheyne. “Cum sa mai pierd in lumea mea pretioasele zile si ore, cand chiar la usa mea incepe o alta lume.”

    A fost numit unul din cei mai importanti oameni care a trait si lucrat vreodata in orasul Dundee.

    Alaturi de Andrew Bonar si William Burns, Robert McCheyne a fost unul din cei mai mari lideri prin care miscarea Evanghelica din Scotia a cunoscut o mare trezire spirituala. Obisnuia sa spuna prietenilor lui lucratori urmatoarele: “predicile voastre dureaza o ora sau doua, insa viata voastra predica toata saptamana”, iar celui care l-a inlocuit ca pastor, cand s-a imbolnavit: “explica scripturile cat mai mult si nu uita ca sufletele se sfintesc prin adevar si nu prin discursuri despre adevar”.

    Unul din versetele lui preferate era Romani 1:16. Iubea mult acest pasaj din Scriptura. Incurajat de alti prieteni, dar mai ales de cuvintele “intai iudeului, apoi…” Robert a plecat impreuna cu Andrew Bonar sa vesteasca evreilor din Palestina si din intreaga Europa ca Isus este Mesia Cel Promis. A predicat Evanghelia tuturor evreilor pe care-i intalnea, avand un success neasteptat. A infiintat misiuni in Polonia si Ungaria. “In calatoria noastra misionara am poposit in Moldova, Valahia si Austria, locuri pline de intuneric si umbra mortii. Cu toate ca sunt total straini de adevarul care este in Hristos, locuitorii acestor taramuri, foarte superstitiosi incearca totusi sa fie crestini”. In urma raportului misionar pe care l-a facut la intoarcere acasa, Biserica Scotiana a decis in 1841 sa stabileasca la Iasi o statie de misiune permanenta, condusa de reverendul Daniel Edward.

    Sa strigam dupa sfintenie personala si apropiere permanenta de Dumnezeu! Sa ne lasam incalziti de razele Lui, sa ne sprijinim pe bratul Lui iubitor, sa ne umplem de Duhul Sfant; daca nu vom proceda astfel, orice success obtinut prin propriile puteri in lucrare nu va contribui decat la vesnica noastra confuzie.

    Robert McCheyne a murit la 25 Martie 1843, suferind de febra tifoida. Dar a murit rugandu-se. Cei care l-au vazut in ultimele clipe ale vietii au spus ca McCheyne si-a ridicat mainile a rugaciune si a exclamat: “aceasta biserica, Doamne, acesti oameni, acest loc!”

    Vrei sa cunosti secretul lui McCheyne? spunea ingrijitorul parohiei lui, ani mai tarziu, vizitatorilor. Aseaza-te la biroul lui, pune-ti capul in maini si plangi! Asa a facut pastorul nostru. Apoi mergea la amvon si spunea: “Pune cotul tau aici, aseaza-ti capul in mana si plangi. Asa facea pastorul nostru. Acesta e secretul!”

   In urma lui Robert Murray McCheyne, a ramas dorinta dupa sfintenie permanenta si deopotriva strigatul plin de dragoste si compasiune pentru sufletele pierdute. Fie ca si noi, sa nu ne dorim doar sfintenia ci sa ne si luptam sa fim disciplinati si aproape de Dumnezeu, niste oameni transformati, asemenea lui Christos.

Tony Kummer at Said at Southern, is challenging people to read the entire Bible in the month of January.  He has called it Bible Reading Plan: Southern Seminary Style.  He has devised a plan that enables you to read the entire Old and New Testament by only spending 2 hours and 26 minutes per day.  This is a great plan and one that will require the utmost discipline and dedication. 

If you don’t think this would be possible for you, there are many Bible reading plans that allow you to read the entire Bible through in one year.  One of my favorites is a plan devised by Robert Murray M’Cheyne that allows you to read the Old Testament once, Psalm and the New Testament twice in one year.  As we come to the close of 2007 it is time to think of putting a Bible reading plan in place that will allow you to read the Bible more consistently in 2008.  I would like to challenge all readers of Pastor and People to commit themselves to read the entire Bible in 2008.  I will posting more on this in days to come.