Yet Wilt Thou Plunge Me in the Ditch, and Mine
We are all sinful and need constant forgiveness, even if we're not aware of sin, because God's standard is perfection.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the continual need for forgiveness and cleansing in the life of a believer, illustrating that even on our best days, we fall short of God's perfect standard. He compares our self-perception to a piece of fabric that appears fine until examined closely, revealing our inherent sinfulness. Meyer reminds us that true humility comes from recognizing our need for God's grace, as even the most righteous among us, like the Apostle Paul, acknowledged their sinfulness. The sermon encourages believers to rely on the Lord's prayer for daily sustenance and forgiveness, understanding that we are always in need of Christ's redeeming blood.
Text
Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine
own clothes shall abhor me. Job ix. 31.
WE shall never got beyond the need of using daily the Lord's prayer. He has bound by the conjunction and the prayer for forgiveness with that for daily bread, as though to teach us that we shall need the one as Iong as we need the other. At the end of the best day that we ever spent, when we are not aware of having consciously sinned in act, or speech, or thought, we shall still have need of the precious blood. We may know nothing against ourselves, yet we shall not be thereby justified; because He that judgeth us is our holy Lord, and the standard by which we are judged is his own perfect character. A piece of cambric looks extremely fine to the eye, but how coarse to the microscope! Sheep look white against the dark ground of the early spring; but how dark if there should be a fall of snow! Our characters seem stainless, only because we compare ourselves with ourselves, or with others.
But, when our eyes are opened to see God, to behold the whiteness of the great white throne, and we stand in the searching light of heaven, we are as those who have just emerged from a ditch. I heard the other day of a woman being proud of having lived without sin for ten years! So we deceive ourselves. No, at the best we are sinful men and women, needing constant cleansing; even though we may be kept from known sin by the grace of Christ. It was at an advanced period in the life of the great Apostle, and when he lived nearest God, that he realized himself to be the chief of sinners.
"I know not what I am, but only know
I have had glimpses tongue may never speak:
No more I balance human joy and woe,
But think of my transgressions, and am meek."
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Daily Forgiveness
- The Deception of Self-Righteousness
- The Reality of Sin
- The Need for Constant Cleansing
- The Humility of the Apostle Paul
Key Quotes
“I know not what I am, but only know I have had glimpses tongue may never speak” — F.B. Meyer
“No more I balance human joy and woe, But think of my transgressions, and am meek” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Recognize your need for daily forgiveness, even if you're not aware of sin.
- Be humble and acknowledge your transgressions, rather than being proud of your self-righteousness.
- Remember that God's standard is perfection, and you need the precious blood of Christ for forgiveness.