Personal Appreciation
The sermon emphasizes the importance of appreciating Christ as a Person, not just for what He can do or give, and the value of nearness to Him in our lives.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of walking in Christ as we have received Him, being rooted and built up in Him. He challenges believers to express their appreciation to Jesus by making inner life and communion with Him the true source of their activities, rather than seeking His patronage for personal gain. Stanford highlights the Lord's desire for genuine fellowship over being followed or admired for His miracles, stressing the significance of appreciating Jesus' Person to glorify the Father.
Text
"As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him " (Colossians 2 7).
We appreciate His benefits toward us, but are we appreciative do we express to Him our appreciation? "Let us be very watchful that the inner life, communion with the Lord Jesus, be the true source of our activities. "
The Lord Jesus longs for fellowship with us. He does not want patronage. It does not meet the desire of His heart to be followed, or admired, or gazed at, because of what He can do or give. He delights in a heart taught of the Spirit to appreciate His Person, for this glorifies and gratifies the Father. He retires from the gaze of an excited and tumultuous throng who would fain make Him a king, because they had eaten of the loaves and were filled; but He could turn with touching earnestness to the little band of disciples who still remained, and challenge their hearts with the question, 'Will ye also go away?'
"Love could never be too near to its object. Nearness to the Lord Jesus is the instinct of divine life, as we see in the first question of the two disciples who followed Him, 'Where dwellest Thou?' Why is not this the first question now? Because there is not simple devotedness of heart to the Lord Jesus Christ."
There is nothing in all the world so precious to the Father as a heart that, in any measure, appreciates His Son. "
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and l will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Sermon Outline
- Appreciation of Christ
- Importance of Inner Life
- Fellowship with Christ
- Nearness to Christ
- Instinct of Divine Life
- Devotedness of Heart
Key Quotes
“Love could never be too near to its object.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Nearness to the Lord Jesus is the instinct of divine life, as we see in the first question of the two disciples who followed Him, 'Where dwellest Thou?'” — Miles J. Stanford
“There is nothing in all the world so precious to the Father as a heart that, in any measure, appreciates His Son.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Make an effort to cultivate a heart that appreciates Christ's Person, not just His benefits.
- Prioritize nearness to Christ in your life, and seek to deepen your communion with Him.
- Recognize that the Father values most a heart that appreciates His Son, and strive to develop this kind of heart.