This is the eighth  post in a series of discussions centered upon a devotional classic, The Bruised Reed, by puritan author, Richard Sibbes. I am participating in an online book club of sorts called “Reading Classics Together,” hosted by Christian blogger and author, Tim Challies. Here are my previous posts in this series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII.

This week’s reading from chapters 14 & 15 was very encouraging.  Chapter 14 discusses ways to ensure victorious Christian living.  Chapter 15 speaks to the issue of Christ’s imminent return and reign upon the earth and the practical ramifications of living in the light of that expectation.

If a Tree Falls In the Woods…

One particularly helpful image from chapter 14 is employed underneath the heading, “Reasons for Seeming Lack of Progress.”  There Sibbes suggests two primary reasons why a Christian may not be experiencing growth in their spiritual life:

1. Because spiritual growth often requires much work with little immediate reward
2. Because there is sin in the camp (see Joshua 7:1ff)

The beneficial illustration Sibbes uses is that of a tree being chopped down.  This image is compared to the process of spiritual growth. Sibbes writes that,

“The tree falls upon the last stroke, yet ll the strokes help the work forward.”

If you’ve ever chopped down a tree you know exactly what Sibbes means.  The first few swings of the axe yield what appear to be great results.  The bark is broken through easily.  The girth of the tree appears to shrink more and more with every chop.

But just before reaching halfway the tree begins to seem more resistant to the idea of being cut down. It appears that the chops are loosing their effect. Maybe its because the axe is getting dull.  Maybe its because by now you’re getting somewhat winded from the constant swinging and your strength has began to weaken.  Each swing is starting to be more difficult than the one before.  There’s a period there of several cumbersome chops where it seems as though nothing is happening.

This is precisely what Sibbes is getting at with his illustration.  Some people are in a place where there spiritual lives feel like the axe-swinger who is tired and seems trapped swinging away in the middle of the tree.  Sibbes’ point is that every swing counts! So keep on swinging. The tree will soon fall and you’ll see that there was never a swing in vain.

Three Related & Helpful ‘Nothings’

In chapter 15 there is a string of paragraphs where Sibbes emphasizes the word “nothing”.  In a section referred to by the heading, “We Must Not Look To Ourselves,” Sibbes capitalizes on the word “nothing” in at least three different ways:

Nothing #1

“Nothing is stronger than humility, which goes out of itself, or weaker than pride, which rests on its own foundation.”

Nothing #2

“Christ says, ‘Without ye me’, the apostles, who were in a state of grace, ‘can do nothing‘ (John 15:5).  He does not say you can do a little, but nothing.”

Nothing #3

“Satan knows that nothing can prevail against Christ, or those that rely upon his power.  Therefore his study is how to keep us in ourselves…”

The point of these “nothings” is to get us to trust in Christ, not ourselves.  Is that ever a reminder that we need to hear!

What About You?

What images or anecdotes reached out and comforted or challenged you from this week’s reading?   Mine were the tree-chopping and the “nothings”.  You’ll notice that my post isn’t really a summary, as much as it is a list of personal highlights.  What were your favorite phrases or images from Sibbes this week?

Make Sure to Check Out My Friends!

Over the course of this series of posts I’ve had the privilege of meeting a few new online kindred spirits. They too are reading and blogging their way through this book.  Make sure to click through to their sites and check out what they have to say about this week’s reading.  They are Audrey, Becky, Kevin, Lisa, and Paul.