Holy Living In Preparation of Christ's Appearing # 2

Holy Living In Preparation of Christ's Appearing # 2

Hence you must by all means seek to realize and be filled with the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. Remind yourself frequently of your need of His power and grace. Let it be your persistent, believing cry that the Father would send the Spirit to work mightily in you. Let it be your greatest sorrow in any way to grieve that blessed Spirit, either by willful sin or by slighting His motions in your heart. Often breath forth a longing desire for His humbling, comforting, enlightening ray.

"O most blessed Light Divine,
Shine within these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
Where You are not, man has nothing,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill."

Very various and manifold are the agencies the Spirit employs. Very frequently, it is a season of suffering or sorrow. The soul is brought low in the valley of humiliation. Comforts are removed and troubles increase. Then...
heavenly things become more real,
God is known more fully as a sure Refuge,
the promises stand out with clearer brightness.

As the late Dean Champneys put it, the railway light is only seen as you enter the dark tunnel. Just so, in the dark moments of adversity, the bright lamp of promise shines out with double glory. Never forget, Christian, that there are two promises which go side by side along the road to Zion. One is, "In the world you shall have tribulation," and the other, "In Me you might have peace" (John 16:31). And the Holy Spirit very frequently uses the first, to bring the second. It is by the teachings of sorrow, that a deeper and surer peace is wrought in the soul.

No less does the Holy Spirit use the Word of God as a great instrument of sanctification. Our Lord's prayer is being constantly fulfilled. "Sanctify them through Your truth - Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). Every line of Holy Scripture teems with warning, promise, doctrine, or example that has a sanctifying tendency when it is received in meekness and obedience.

There is not a single passages bearing on the person, offices, or character of Christ, but has been used by the Spirit to draw souls closer to Him, and so detach them from the world.

There is not a precept but has been employed by the Spirit, to quicken some Christian in the way of God's commandments.

There is not a privilege revealed as the portion of God's children, but has been an instrument for encouraging some of God's saints in running the heavenly race.

There is not a view of God's holiness or justice or character, but has been useful in implanting or nourishing in some soul a godly fear which has been a wholesome restraint in the hour of temptation.

Therefore, in the cultivation of holiness, let the quiet, meditative study of Scripture hold a high place. Consider it as one of Christ's pasture-fields, to which He would daily lead you, and there make you to taste afresh the sweetness of His grace.

Ponder the Scripture until it reaches the very depth of your heart. Do not leave the passage until you have found...
some kindling of love to Christ,
some thought to strengthen your faith,
some reminder of a precious promise,
some aspiration of a holier walk.

A few of the practical details of a holy life may be named as requiring continual watchfulness.

The careful use of TIME touches every part of the Christian life. A beautiful illustration has been given of this:

The hours are like a chain of little golden vessels passing before you day and night.
You cannot arrest their progress.
You can put something into each as it passes.
You can put in a good thought or word or deed - or a bad thought or word or deed.
Or you can let it go empty.
Once past, you cannot recall it.
Twenty-four vessels every day!

Eight of them pass while we are asleep - one third of them empty.

Alas! how many more through our negligence and sloth every day pass empty! 

Alas! for the contents of many of them!

Alas! for the contents of many of them!
Golden vessels filled with wood, hay, stubble!
Some of them filled with what is worse than worthless - evil thoughts and words and deeds.

But they pass on continually until they come before the throne of God.
And their account is taken of their contents.
Of how many are you satisfied that God should note their contents?

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of you time!" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom!" (Psalm 90:12).

~John Angell James~

(continued with # 3)