A Heavenly Life Now
MAY, 2009 “...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”
(Galatians 2:20).
A Heavenly Life Now ~ Leonard Davis
Peering out the window as the rain falls hard to the ground, I notice how dark the clouds and how gloomy outside. It seems like the sun’s rays cannot penetrate those clouds, yet there is light. Above those clouds, the sun is as bright as ever which seems to brighten my spirits. The natural eyes do not always see things as they really are, but with spiritual eyes, I understand what is above those clouds. The sun will prevail and shine once again upon God’s creation—the grass, the trees, the flowers, all that depends upon it even me. The rain was necessary for the nourishment of the earth, and the sun is needed to make all things grow. What a beautiful picture!
A child of God would find his walk hard in this low land of sin and sorrow without the prospect of seeing the “SON.” OH, but yes, the spiritually discerning child can see a beautiful picture of heavenly life, with its radiant glory of Jesus brightening the halls of eternity. This carnal existence may slumber awhile here and only view things with these carnal eyes, not recognizing the beauty of God’s handiwork all about us. God, the SON, neither slumbers nor His radiance, decrease in brilliance nor is overshadowed by anything. Jesus prayed unto the Father that those whom the Father gave Him, would be with Him and behold his glory. Jesus is the light of men—the spiritual illumination of His children enlighten a dark, natural world in which they live.
Yes, a heavenly life exists now for His children. The Father knows all our needs, yea, more than we know. He has abundant mercies for His children all for the asking. Although His children are born of the earth earthly, they shall also bear an image of the heavenly. Jesus promised and provided the Comforter, a heavenly blessing, teaching us all things concerning Jesus and blesses us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. The “born- again,” elect of God will experience that heavenly kingdom right here on earth. Jesus said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17). King David left us these words, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Ps. 73:25).
As long as the children of God seek to honor and praise Him for what He has done for them, it is a heavenly life now. Nothing gives a child of God more comfort, peace and joy, than feeling the Spirit of the Lord within their hearts and souls. King David said, “...so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (Ps. 103:11). Here in this life to know the Lord promised to preserve us in His heavenly kingdom, makes life more heavenly than walking in darkness, with no understanding of the word of God. “Our help is in the name of the LORD….Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Ps. 124:8, 148:13) writes King David. Only the child of God can claim “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds to a believer’s ear.” Solomon writes the Lord assurance to His children, “To every thing there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). God prepares an order in things, unlike the chaos that comes with man. In the assurance of God there is hope for tomorrow. A child of earthly parents well grounded and settled in the home environment feels safe and secure. The same holds true with God’s children. They know the Lord will show them the path of life and the fullness of joy by His presence.
Jesus is the fountain of life in this world making it a heavenly life now. His loving-kindness toward us creates a song within our hearts, even when things may seem to cast a shadow of sin and sorrow about them. When His children feel the mercies of the Lord, read His promises in the gospel and hear it preached to them, their hearts are uplifted. All things seem to be well with them again. King David wrote, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1) “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6). The wicked seek not God, their ways are grievous to the children of the Lord, for they are full of deceit and fraud. His child puts his trust in the Lord and seeks His ways. The cords of hell can not cut off the children of God, for He is their strength and stay. The earth and all the fullness belong to Him. We are to fear Him and obey his commandments and so doing He will keep us under His watchful eye. What a joy, relief and security when the Lord says, “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful” (Ps. 101:6) those that make up the household of God.
We experience that heavenly life now as evidence of the words that Jesus spoke, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). His children have a life that everyone cannot lay claim to—a spiritual life of seeing, hearing and perceiving God’s wonders. We are encouraged to seek more knowledge concerning “Our Father which art in Heaven” turning to His wisdom which establishes the foundation of that heavenly life now. We soon learn that inner peace is more valuable that the peace this world offers. We are constantly borrowing on the promises of tomorrow to live in the present. Is it not secure to rely upon the One who holds tomorrow in His hands and sets the scales of the past and present? The Apostle Paul exhorted the family of God to love of the brethren; fellowship among them is a type and foreshadow of that to come, but can be experienced here and now. “Love not the world, (this carnal world) neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I Jn. 2:15). The family of God is to avoid all things contrary to the word of God. They are to be humble people resisting the proud and presumptuous. Jesus told His children how to find rest from this world: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Mt. 11:29). What is this life of carnality but a vapor that appears for a little time then vanishes away, as compared to the heavenly life in eternity? The children of Israel led and instructed by God learned that the land that He promised them was bountiful beyond their expectations. Is it not reasonable for His children to expect the same from Him in that heavenly home? Does not this life seem more heavenly when we understand the Lord to be in control and nothing can wrestle it from Him? Is not this life more heavenly when we can see and recognize the mercies and grace He bestows on the undeserving?
Does not this life seem more heavenly when we enter into His service humbly and gratefully, finding a sense of delight in the sweetness of knowing the Lord and sitting at His table? Yes, we can experience a heavenly life now but only in Jesus Christ.
AMEN & AMEN
Beset on Ev'ry Hand ~ Philip Doddridge
Beset with snares on ev'ry hand in life's uncertain path I stand;
Saviour divine, diffuse Thy light to guide my doubtful footsteps right.
Engage this roving, treach'rous heart, to fix on Christ the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day, for joys that none can take away.
Then let the wildest storms arise; let tempest mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear, but all my treasures with me bear.
If Thou, my Jesus, will be nigh, cheerful I live and joyful die;
Secure, when mortal comforts flee, to find ten thousand worlds in Thee.
Hindrances to a Heavenly Life on Earth ~Richard Baxter (1615-1691)
If you value a heavenly life on earth, I must charge you to avoid
some dangerous hindrances.
·Living in Any Known Sin is a great impediment to a heavenly life. If this be your situation, I dare say that heaven and your soul are strangers. These beams in your eye (Mt. 7:4) will not let you look to heaven. They will be a cloud between you and God. When you attempt to study eternity and gather refreshment from the life to come, your sin will look you in the face and say, “These things do not belong to you.” How can you take comfort from heaven when you take so much pleasure in the lusts of the flesh? Every intentional sin will be to your happiness as water to the fire. It will quench your joy. It will disable you, so that you can no more ascend in divine meditation than a bird can fly with clipped wings. We surely need to pray daily, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mt. 6:13).
·An Earthly Mind is another hindrance to be avoided. When the heavenly believer is rejoicing in hope of the glory to come, perhaps you are blessing yourself with thoughts of worldly prosperity. You are rejoicing in hopes of earthly success. When he is comforting his soul with the views of Christ, of angels and saints, with whom he shall live forever; you are comforting yourself with your money, and in thinking of the advancement of your family. Your earthly mind may coexist with church membership and formal religious activities, but it cannot coexist with heavenly contemplation. Keep worldly matters as loose as a light jacket, that you may take it off whenever you can; but let God and heaven be next to your heart. Ever remember, that “the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jms. 4:4). “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15). This is plain speaking, and happy is he who faithfully receives it.
·Beware of the Company of
the Ungodly. Of course, I would not dissuade you from necessary dealings with the ungodly, nor from helping them, and certainly not from endeavoring to draw them to God when you have opportunity. It is the unnecessary fellowship with the ungodly from which I would dissuade you. Chiefly to be avoided are the profane, the swearer, the drunkard, and the enemies of godliness. But they are not the only ones who will prove harmful companions to us. Too frequent fellowship with people whose conversation is empty, will also divert our thoughts from heaven. We need all the help we can get in living the heavenly life on earth.
stone is as fit to rise and fly in the air, as our hearts are by nature to move towards heaven. You need not hinder the rocks from flying up to the sky. It is sufficient that you do not help them. Just as surely, if our spirits have not great assistance, they may easily be kept from soaring upwards even without great hindrances. Consider this in the choice of your company. What help will it be to your spiritual life to hear about the weather or the latest news? This is the conversation of earthlings. How will it help to raise your heart to God, to hear about an excellent book, or an able minister, or of some petty controversy? This is mainly the best conversation you are likely to hear from the formal, dead-hearted church member. Can you have your hearts in heaven while among your roaring companions in a bar, or when you work with those whose common language is profanity, filthiness, foolishness, and dirty jokes? No, the plain fact is, fellowship will be a part of our happiness in heaven; and it is now either a help or hindrance in living a heavenly life on earth.
· Avoid Frequent Disputes about lesser truths and religion that lies only in opinions. He whose religion is all in his opinions, will be most frequently and enthusiastically mouthing them; but he whose religion lies in the knowledge and love of God, will be most delightfully speaking of that happy time when he shall enjoy them. The least controversial points are usually the most important and most necessary for our souls. “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive” (2 Tim. 2:23-24). “Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9).
· Take Heed of a Proud and
Lofty Spirit. If such a spirit cast the angels out of heaven, it must keep your heart from heaven. Communion with God will keep people humble, and that humility will also promote their communion. When a man is absorbed in the study of God's glorious characteristics, he scorns himself. That self-humiliation is his best preparation for obtaining admittance to God again. Therefore, after a soul-humbling day, or in times of trouble when the soul is lowest, it has freest access to God. “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble” (Jms. 4:6).
you delighted when you hear of your popularity, and depressed when you hear that others criticize you? Do you love those best that honor you? Is your anger kindled if your will is crossed? Can you serve God in a low place as well as a high? Are you unacquainted with the deceitfulness and wickedness of your heart? Are you more ready to defend yourself than accuse yourself and confess your fault? Can you scarcely take criticism? If these symptoms persist in your life, you are a proud person. There is too much of hell abiding in you to have any acquaintance with heaven. Your soul is too much like the devil to have any close fellowship with God. A proud man makes himself his god, and sets up himself as his idol. I am saying so much about this, because it is such a common and dangerous sin.
Christian, if you would live continually in the presence of your Lord, get down on your knees in humility. Learn of Him to be meek and lowly, and you will “find rest unto your souls” (Mt. 11:29). As he that humbles himself as a little child shall hereafter be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, so shall he now be greatest in the foretastes of that kingdom. Therefore, “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jms. 4:10).
· A Lazy Spirit is another impediment to this heavenly life. Reader, heaven is above you. Do you think you can climb this steep ascent without effort and determination? Can you get that earthly heart to heaven, and bring that backward mind to God, while you take it easy? Lying down at the foot of the hill, and looking towards the top and wishing you were there, won’t do it. You talk, and trifle, and live at your ease, and say, “O that I could get my heart to heaven!” How many people read books and hear sermons, expecting to hear of some easier way. They ask for directions to a heavenly life; and if hearing will be sufficient, they will be heavenly Christians. But if we show them their work, and tell them they cannot have these delights on easier terms, then they leave us, as the young man left Christ, sorrowful (Mt. 19:22).
Was the custom of the ancient Parthians not to give their children any breakfast until they saw the sweat on their faces from some work. You shall find this to be God’s usual way, not to give His children the tastes of His delicacies until they begin to perspire in seeking them.
·Contentment with the Mere Preparation for the heavenly life. A subtle hindrance to the heavenly life is contentment with the mere preparation for it. When we are satisfied with merely studying of heavenly things, or of talking with one another about them, we miss the life itself. None are more in danger of this trap than those who are employed in leading the devotions of others, especially preachers of the Gospel. O, how easily may such be deceived! While they read and study of heaven, preach and pray and talk of heaven—is this not the heavenly life? Unfortunately, all this is only preparation. This is only collecting the materials, not erecting the building itself, let alone dwelling in it. As he that sits at home may draw exact maps of countries, and yet never see them nor travel towards them, so may you describe to others the joys of heaven, and yet never come near it yourself. This temptation is so subtle because studying and preaching about heaven does resemble a heavenly life more than does thinking and talking about the world. This is apt to deceive us. This is to die for thirst while we draw water for others.
Signs of Living to Please God ~ Richard Baxter
See therefore that you live upon God’s approval as that which you chiefly seek,
and will suffice you: which you may discover by these signs.
1. You will be most careful to understand the Scripture, to know what doth please and displease God.
2. You will be more careful in the doing of every duty, to fit it to the
pleasing of God than men.
3. You will look to your hearts, and not only to your actions; to your ends, and thoughts, and the inward manner and degree.
4. You will look to secret duties as well as public and to that which men see not, as well as unto that which they see.
5. You will reverence your consciences and have much to do with them and will not slight them: when they tell you of God’s displeasure, it will disquiet you; when they tell you of His approval, it will comfort you.
6. Your pleasing men will be charitable for their good, and pious in order to the pleasing of God, and not proud and ambitious
for your honour with them, nor impious against the pleasing of God.
7. Whether men be pleased or displeased, or how they judge of you, or what they call you, will seem a small matter to you, as their own
interest, in comparison to God's judgment. You live not on them. You can bear their displeasure, censures, and reproaches, if God be but pleased. These will be your evidences.
Strange Piety ~ John Angell James
Amidst much that is cheering, there is, on the other hand, much that is discouraging and distressing to the more pious observer. We behold a strange combination of zeal and world-mindedness; great activity for the extension of religion in the earth, united with lamentable indifference to the state of religion in the soul; in short, apparent vigour in the extremities, with a growing torpor at the heart. Multitudes are substituting zeal for piety, liberality for mortification and a social for a personal religion. No careful reader of the New Testament, and observer of the present state of the church, can fail to be convinced, one should think, that what is now lacking is a high spirituality.
The Christian profession is sinking in its tone of piety; the line of separation between the church and the world becomes less and less perceptible; and the character of genuine Christianity, as expounded from pulpits and delineated in books, has too rare a counterpart in the lives and spirit of its professors.
Help Us
Jesse S. Stanaland
Help us dear Lord to see Thee this day. Help us to know that as we look at one another we are looking at Thee.
Help us to understand that by serving one another we are serving Thee. Tender our hearts with the thought
that as we tend to the needs of the least of Thine we are tending to Thee.
Help us to see Thy blessing in the trials that come our way in this life.
Help us to know that no matter how sore the trial or hard the sting of life You are there and You will not leave us alone.
Help us to receive strength from the understanding that You are God and that besides Thee there is none other.
Help us to keep these thoughts in our minds as we live through this day. Amen
Monday, May 10, 2004
Happily Entitled to Heaven ~ Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
There are some persons living on earth, to whom the happiness of the heavenly world belongs as much, yea, much more than any man’s earthly estate belongs to himself. They have a part and interest in this world of love, and have a proper right and title to it, for they are of the number of those of whom it is written (Rev. 22:14), “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” And, doubtless, there are such persons here amongst us. And oh! how happy are all such, entitled as they are to an interest in such a world as heaven! Surely they are the blessed of the earth, and the fullness of their blessedness no language can describe, no words express. But here some may be ready to say, “Without doubt they are happy persons that have a title to such a blessed world, and are soon to enter on the eternal possession of its joys. But 1. Who are these persons? 2. How shall they be known, and 3. By what marks may they be distinguished?” In answer to such an inquiry, I would mention three things that belong to their character: —
First, they are those that have had the principle or seed of the same love that reigns in heaven implanted in their hearts, in this world, in the work of regeneration. They are not those who have no other principles in their hearts than natural principles, or such as they have by their first birth, for “that which is born of the flesh is flesh.” But they are those who have been the subjects of the new birth, or who have been born of the Spirit. A glorious work of the Spirit of God has been wrought in their hearts, renewing them by bringing down from heaven, as it were, some of the light and some of the holy, pure flame that is in that world of love, and giving it place in them. Their hearts are a soil in which this heavenly seed has been sown, and in which it abides and grows. And so they are changed, and, from being earthly, have become heavenly in their dispositions. The love of the world is mortified, and the love of God implanted. Their hearts are drawn to God and Christ, and for their sakes flow out to the saints in humble and spiritual love. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible” (1 Pet. 1:23); “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).
Second, they are those who have freely chosen the happiness that flows from the exercise and enjoyment of such love as is in heaven, above all other conceivable happiness. They see and understand so much of this as to know that it is the best good. They do not merely yield that it is so from rational arguments that may be offered for it, and by which they are convinced that it is so, but they know it is so from what little they have tasted of it. It is the happiness of love, and the beginning of a life of such love, holy, humble, divine, and heavenly love. Love to God, and love to Christ, and love to saints for God and Christ’s sake, and the enjoyment of the fruits of God’s love in holy communion with God, and Christ, and with holy persons—this is what they have a relish for; and such is their renewed nature, that such happiness suits their disposition and appetite and wishes above all other things; and not only above all things that they have, but above all that they can conceive it possible that they could have. The world does not afford anything like it. They have chosen this before all things else, and chosen it freely. Their souls go out after it more than after everything else, and their hearts are more eager in pursuit of it. They have chosen it not merely because they have met with sorrow, and are in such low and afflicted circumstances that they do not expect much from the world, but because their hearts were so captivated by this good that they chose it for its own sake before all worldly good, even if they could have ever so much of the latter, and enjoy it ever so long.
Third, they are those who, from the love that is in them, are, in heart and life, in principle and practice, struggling after holiness. Holy love makes them long for holiness. It is a principle that thirsts after growth. It is in imperfection, and in a state of infancy, in this world, and it desires growth. It has much to struggle with. In the heart in this world there are many opposite principles and influences; and it struggles after greater oneness, and more liberty, and more free exercise and better fruit. The great strife and struggle of the new man is after holiness. His heart struggles after it, for he has an interest in heaven, and therefore he struggles with that sin that would keep him from it. He is full of ardent desires, and breathings, and longings and strivings to be holy. And his hands struggle as well as his heart. He strives in his practice. His life is a life of sincere and earnest endeavor to be universally and increasingly holy. He feels that he is not holy enough, but far from it; and he desires to be nearer perfection, and more like those who are in heaven. And this is one reason why he longs to be in heaven, that he may be perfectly holy. And the great principle which leads him thus to struggle, is love. It is not only fear; but it is love to God, and love to Christ, and love to holiness. Love is a holy fire within him, and, like any other flame which is in a degree pent up, it will and does struggle for liberty; and this its struggling is the struggle for holiness.
From Heaven, A World of Love
The Garden of Daily Living ~ Author Unknown
(with Scripture references added)
Plant three rows of peas:
1. Peace of mind: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
2. Peace of heart: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15).
3. Peace of soul: “He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me” (Ps.55:18).
Plant four rows of squash:
1. Squash gossip: “But let none of you suffer as a busybody in other men’s matters” (I Pt. 4:15).
2. Squash indifference: “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof: And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, not inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” (Prov. 5:12-13).
3. Squash grumbling: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?...He that backbiteth not with his tongue” (Ps. 15:1-3).
4. Squash selfishness: “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Lk. 6:31).
Plant four rows of lettuce:
1. Lettuce be faithful: “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me” (Ps. 101:6).
2. Lettuce be kind: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).
3. Lettuce be patient: “...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1).
4. Lettuce really love one another: “ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 Jn. 4:11-12).
No garden without turnips:
1. Turnip for meetings: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25).
2. Turnip for service: “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Eph. 6:7).
3. Turnip to help one another: “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).
To conclude your garden you must have thyme:
1a. Thyme for God: “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deut. 13:4).
1b. Thyme with God: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Mt. 6:9).
2. Thyme for family (church family): “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles [unto us]” (Acts14:27).
3. Thyme for friends: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (I Thes. 1:3).
Much fruit is in your garden: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (Jn. 15:4). “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).
Because you reap what you sow: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).
How Far Will You Stoop? ~ John Flavel (1671)
Did Christ for our sakes stoop from his majesty, glory, and dignity in heaven, to the mean and contemptible state of a man? What a pattern of self-denial is here presented to Christians! What objection or excuses against this duty can remain, after such an example as is here given? Brethren, let me tell you, the pagan world was never acquainted with such an argument as this to press them to self-denial. Did Christ stoop, and cannot you stoop? Did Christ stoop so much, and cannot you stoop the least? Was he willing to become any thing, a worm, a reproach, a curse; and cannot you bear any abasement? Does the least slight and neglect poison your heart with discontent, malice, and revenge? Oh, how unlike Christ are you! Hear, and blush in hearing, what your Lord saith in John 13:14. If I then, your Lord and Master, wash your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet. One said, “The example does not oblige us to the same individual act, but it obliges us to follow the reason of the example;” that is, after Christ's example, we must be ready to perform the humblest offices of love and service to one another. And indeed to this it obliges most forcibly; for it is as if a master, seeing a proud servant, that despises his work, as if it were too mean and base, should come and take it out of his hand; and when he has done it should say, Doth your lord and master think it not beneath him to do it, and is it beneath you?
“What more detestable,” says Bernard, “what more unworthy, or what deserves severer punishment, for a poor man to magnify himself, after he hath seen the great and high God so humble as to become a little child? It is intolerable impudence for a worm to swell with pride, after it hath seen majesty emptying itself, seen one so infinitely above us, stoop so far beneath us.” Does it become us to be proud and selfish, while our Saviour was lowly, meek self-denying, and of a most condescending spirit?
Be Sober, Be Vigilant ~ Robert Hawker (1753-1827)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world (l Pet. 5: 8, 9).
My soul, thou knowest, and hast long known, from the many wounds given thee by Satan, what a cruel, insidious, and powerful enemy thou hast to contend with; and thou too truly knowest, also, how sadly unequal thou art in thyself to resist his wiles. He is a prince of the power of the air: he is by nature, a spirit, and therefore invisible; thou seest not his approaches; he is a tremendous foe, full of envy, malignity, subtlety, craft, and design: and what renders him yet more formidable is, that in the corruptions and unbelief' of thy fallen nature, he hath but too many confederates in thine own heart, to aid him in his diabolical designs. Where then is thy strength to resist him? It cannot be in thyself, nor in thy best exertions. The devil would laugh at these, and all would be but as feathers to the breath of his temptations. Hear what the apostle saith: “Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” See here, where thy strength is. Faith in Jesus is the only, and it is an infallible defence against all the fiery darts of the wicked. There is nothing that Satan dreads, but the blood of the cross. There is nothing that conquers him, but faith in Jesus's blood. Tell him of the blood which cleanseth from all sin, and he will flee from thee. This was the sole power by which the holy armies in heaven cast down the accuser which accused them before our God, day and night: “they overcame by the blood of the Lamb,” (Rev. 12:9-11). and the same will give thee the victory now. Faith in the blood of the cross, is the grace by which we have access to God. It is by faith the soul looks to Jesus; by faith the soul is kept stedfastly resting on Jesus; by faith the devil is stedfastly resisted, in taking confidence in the full and complete redemption that Jesus accomplished on the cross. Look then, my soul, for ever to the cross, and while thy faith honours Jesus, Jesus will honour thee; and this will be the standard which the Spirit of Jehovah will lift up, when at any time the enemy cometh in like a flood (Isa. 59:19). Oh! the triumphs of the cross! “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb.”
Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portions