September 18 - Morning"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." — Galatians 5:25
The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and
the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from
being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a
Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on
the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for
its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those
who seek after the one without the other!
There are some who cultivate
faith and forget holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they
shall be very deep in condemnation, for they hold the truth in
unrighteousness; and there are others who have strained after holiness of
life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees of old, of whom the
Master said, they were "whitewashed sepulchres." We must have faith,
for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the
superstructure. Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a
man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself therein? He wants a house
to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house.
Even so we need the
superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort in the day of
doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a
house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation
on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of
an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming
from the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of
the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from
the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered
by heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within, and it will reveal
itself without to Thy glory. September 18 - Evening"And they follow me." — John 10:27
We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their
shepherd, for He has a right to lead us wherever He pleases. We are not
our own, we are bought with a price — let us recognize the rights of the
redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his
master, much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a
purchased possession. We are not true to our profession of being
Christians, if we question the bidding of our Leader and Commander.
Submission is our duty, cavilling is our folly. Often might our Lord say to
us as to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me." Wherever Jesus
may lead us, He goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know
with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of
the road? The journey may be long, but His everlasting arms will carry us
to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation,
because He lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity
and faith, because the paths in which He leads us all end in glory and
immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths — they may be
covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the "city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
"All the paths of the Lord
are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant." Let us put full trust
in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness
or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and
that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We
shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when
rain and snow blow into our faces, His dear love will make us far more
blest than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire.
To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we
will follow our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after
Thee. September 18 |