Proverbs 30:8 (NIV)
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither
poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
but give me only my daily bread.
Psalm 38:21 (NIV)
21 Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from
me, my God.
Here we have two great lessons—what to deprecate and what to
supplicate. The happiest state of a Christian is the holiest state. Just as
there is the most heat nearest to the sun, so there is the most happiness
closest to Christ. No Christian enjoys comfort when his eyes are fixed on
falsehood—he finds no satisfaction unless his soul is quickened in the ways of
God.
The world may find happiness elsewhere, but he cannot. I do
not blame ungodly men for rushing to their pleasures. Why should I? Let them
have their fill. That is all they have to enjoy. A converted wife who despaired
of her husband was always very kind to him, for she said, "I fear that
this is the only world in which he will be happy, and therefore I have made up
my mind to make him as happy as I can in it." Christians must seek their
delights in a higher sphere than the tasteless trifles or sinful enjoyments of
the world. Empty pursuits are dangerous to renewed souls.
We have heard of a philosopher who, while he looked up to
the stars, fell into a pit; but how deeply do they fall who lookdown. Their
fall is fatal. No Christian is safe when his soul is lazy, and his God is far
from him. Every Christian is always safe as to the great matter of his standing
in Christ, but he is not safe as regards his experience in holiness and
communion with Jesus in this life.
Satan does not often attack a Christian who is living near
to God. It is when the Christian departs from God, becomes spiritually starved,
and tries to feed on lies that the devil discovers his moment of advantage. He
may sometimes stand foot to foot with the child of God who is active in his
Master's service, but the battle is generally brief. He who slips as he goes
down into the Valley of Humiliation will find that with every false step he invites
the devil's attack. O for grace to walk humbly with our God!
Thought for today:
Do I make it a practice to seek God’s will?
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