Others May, You Cannot
by G. D. Watson
Video
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)
If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. God’s call will put such demands of obedience on you that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians. At times, He will let other people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians who seem very religious will push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans. You cannot, and if you attempt it, you will meet with failure and rebuke from the Lord.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you to despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor. God wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may demonstrate His faithful love for you in supplying your needs day by day.
God may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity in order to produce some fragrant fruit for His coming glory which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it now. The reward for your work is held in the hands of Jesus and you will not see it until He comes.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with a jealous love. He will rebuke you for the little words and feelings or for wasting your time. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He does not owe you an explanation of these mysteries. But if you give yourself to be His child, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and give you the precious blessings for those who belong, heart and soul, to Him.
Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit. It is His option to tie your tongue, or chain your hand, or close your eyes in ways that He does not seem to use with others. And when you are so possessed by the living God that your heart delights over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.
What is your only comfort in life and death?
That I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and He has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven. In fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.—Heidelberg Catechism
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. —Philippians 3:8
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Comments (5)
I ditto the comment from "Lisa M" in that this is "my favorite gospel tract of all"! I will definitely copy this and give
to those the Holy Spirit directs. Not many I know who CALL THEMSELVES 'Christian' struggle with this; but there are those WE WOULD CALL 'genuine Christians' who do! Both need to hear this (for a rebuke on one hand; and an encouragement on the other). I looked for this tract online today as it pairs so well with the study of 'commands' in the Bible (esp. those of Jesus). Not every command is a straight-forward pattern for all! Jesus commanded some: "Go and tell.." but to others, "Say nothing.."! In I Corinthians 7:19 God tells us that keeping the commandments is what matters - not the rigid 'Do this and don't do that' kind of command. As this tract clearly says: "..you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit. It is His option to tie your tongue, or chain your hand, or close your eyes in ways that He does not seem to use with others." That is why we're not to focus so much on what other Christians do - but what WE are doing for the LORD. It is a vertical relationship, not a horizontal. Those who are more 'horizontal' may read this tract and be convicted of their sins of omission; while those with a closer vertical relationship with God may be encouraged to stay vertical and not feel tempted to jealousy or pity for the 'others'. We are all at a different growing rate! Therefore, "those who are stronger, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak." (Romans 15:1) Thank you all for posting!
my favorite gospel tract of all ..making copies to send to everyone
There is no human comfort in this life. Our savior tried to warn us. ❤️
I heard this tract mentioned in a Paul Washer sermon, and I wanted to get it, I think it will be of very much use for the ministry we do in Romania, or the leaders of the churches we work with in the south east.
Excellent video of this writing. I was always so blessed to read it. I've kept it for years after receiving it as a tract. There is so much truth to it.