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March 14 |
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Morning Reading |
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Evening
Reading |
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"Let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall." |
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1 Corinthians 10:12 |
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It is a curious fact, that
there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man
says, "I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little
faith may, but I never shall." "I have fervent love,"
says another, "I can stand, there is no danger of my
going astray." He who boasts of grace has little grace
to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces
can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow
constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook
will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes
not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will
smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take
heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all
thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and his
strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling.
Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy
adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and
constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer
to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let
your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts
be perfumed with affection for men's souls. So live that
men may take knowledge of you that you have been with
Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day
shall come, when he whom you love shall say,
"Come up higher," may it be your happiness to hear
him say,
"Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy
course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown
of righteousness which fadeth not away." On,
Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and
trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone,
and let your constant petition be,
"Uphold me according to thy word." He is able, and
he alone,
"To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." |
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Evening Reading |
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"I will take heed to my ways." |
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Psalm 39:1 |
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Fellow-pilgrim, say not in
your heart, "I will go hither and thither, and I shall
not sin;" for you are never so out of danger of sinning
as to boast of security. The road is very miry, it will
be hard to pick your path so as not to soil your
garments. This is a world of pitch; you will need to
watch often, if in handling it you are to keep your
hands clean. There is a robber at every turn of the road
to rob you of your jewels; there is a temptation in
every mercy; there is a snare in every joy; and if you
ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine grace
to be ascribed entirely to your Father's power. Be on
your guard. When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand,
he should mind that he does not go near a candle; and
you too must take care that you enter not into
temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools;
you must mind how you handle them. There is nothing in
this world to foster a Christian's piety, but everything
to destroy it. How anxious should you be to look up to
God, that he
may keep you! Your prayer should be,
"Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Having
prayed, you must also watch; guarding every thought,
word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose
yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if
you are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never
venture forth without your shield; for if once the devil
finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his
hour of triumph is come, and will soon make you fall
down wounded by his arrows. Though slain you cannot be;
wounded you may be. "Be sober; be vigilant, danger may
be in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee."
Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer.
No man ever fell into error through being too watchful.
May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways, so shall
they always please the Lord. |
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