Suffering Loss By Conferring With Flesh And Blood
“Henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh; yet now henceforth know we him no more.:—2 Corinthians 5:16
How eminent did the grace of God shine in the conduct of Levi, when the glory of Jehovah was at stake, when his honour was to be vindicated against those who had sinned with a high hand. ‘He said to his father and mother, I have not seen him.’ That is, no one that mine eye shall pity, nor my hand spare, who has transgressed in this matter.‘ Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor know his own children.’ Deut. 33:9. The Lord our God is a jealous God. It behoves his children to be valiant for the truth as it is in Jesus. It is our duty to face all opposition against it; to stand in defence of it from every quarter, and to know no man after the flesh, so as to give up the truth for fear of him. This is our highest honour, and is highly acceptable in the sight of our God. ‘Those who honour me I will honour,’ saith the Lord. But ‘knowing men after the flesh, proves a snare to the soul: many have suffered loss by it. While they have conferred with flesh and blood, listened to the wisdom of carnal men, and consulted the judgment of the wise of this world, how have their minds been drawn from the simplicity that is in Christ! The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, the righteousness of the flesh is an abomination in his sight. The Spirit of inspiration hath taught us this profitable lesson, to glory only in Christ as our wisdom and righteousness. This sweet mystery of faith makes us dead to the life of the flesh, the lust of the flesh, and the glory of the flesh; yea, it gives us the victory over the flesh. So we live in a spiritual kingdom, glory in Jesus as a spiritual Saviour, are delighted with spiritual companions, and are made comfortable by spiritual gifts and graces.
While a pharisee, Paul gloried in carnal privileges and the attainments of the flesh; but being apprehended of Christ Jesus, in his way to Damascus, ‘behold he prayeth.’ Acts 9:11. His prayer also was addressed to him, as the Lord his God, and as the fountain of grace and mercy. Blessed proof of a new-born soul, when it soars to Jesus, and is dissatisfied with all the objects of nature, time and sense, and incessantly cries, ‘I count all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ.’ Phil. 3:8.
To know my Lord in mortal flesh,
Doth ev’ry comfort bring:
After the flesh to know the Lord
Is quite a carnal thing.
With spiritual views my soul delight,
Of Jesus’ lovely face,
Oh heav’nly Dove; so make me run
With joy my heavenly race.
M.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
