From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
August 28 "And establish you in every good word and work." 2
Thessalonians 2:17 The living family of God need to be established in the
truth, so as not ever to be "children tossed to and fro with every wind of
doctrine." It is not sufficient for a building to be raised--it must be
established before we can know whether it will stand. The most anxious
moment of the builder is to see how it will settle; how the walls will bear
the roof, and every part stand firm and good without bulging or slipping.
When the scaffolding is taken away from a newly-built arch, how the
architect looks to see whether it will settle well and the extent of the
drop, if there be any. So in grace. It is not merely making a profession that
will serve. Many a building stands well as long as the scaffolding remains;
many an arch looks firm while the scaffolding supports it. So many seem to
stand well in early days, when upheld by zeal and earnestness, or
strengthened by the support of others. But how will the soul stand when
helps are removed? Will it be established in the faith, or fall into some
error or some gross evil, and thus, like an arch badly built, drop into ruin
when the scaffolding is taken away? How we continually see those who once seemed firm in the
truth now greedily drinking down some deadly error presented to their lips
under the charm of a plausible novelty; and others fall headlong into some
open sin, or get entangled in some delusion. O that the Lord would establish
you, me, and all who desire to fear his name firmly and deeply in his
precious truth, that we may never fall a prey to evil or error, but may have
a religion of his own maintaining; that the work upon our heart may be the
genuine work of God first and last; a building of his own raising and his
own establishing, that it may stand firm amid the storms of time, and endure
for all eternity!