"Continue in the faith." Acts 14:22
Once again, I would like to share Spurgeon's devotion with all of you. It is meant to encourage each of us, to persevere as we await our precious Savior. I hope it blesses you.
"Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is more than a beginning in the ways of God. It is also a continuance in the faith as long as life lasts. It is the same for a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon. He said, 'Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.' So, under God, dear friend in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, 'Excelsior' (still higher). A true conqueror, who will be crowned at the last, is the one who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies.
The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if it can tempt you to cease your pilgrimage and settle down to buy and sell in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you and to prevent your pressing on to glory. The flesh says, 'It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a vacation from this constant warfare.' Satan will make many fierce attacks on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service. He will insinuate that you are doing no good and that you need to rest. He will endeavor to make you weary of suffering. He will whisper, 'Curse God, and die' (Job 2:9). Or he will attack your steadfastness by asking, 'What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as the others are, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do.' Or he will attack your doctrinal sentiments by asking, 'Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible people are becoming more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks. Get with the times.'
Therefore, Christian, wear your shield close to your armor, and cry mightily to God so that by His Spirit you may endure to the end."
"Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is more than a beginning in the ways of God. It is also a continuance in the faith as long as life lasts. It is the same for a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon. He said, 'Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.' So, under God, dear friend in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, 'Excelsior' (still higher). A true conqueror, who will be crowned at the last, is the one who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies.
The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if it can tempt you to cease your pilgrimage and settle down to buy and sell in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you and to prevent your pressing on to glory. The flesh says, 'It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a vacation from this constant warfare.' Satan will make many fierce attacks on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service. He will insinuate that you are doing no good and that you need to rest. He will endeavor to make you weary of suffering. He will whisper, 'Curse God, and die' (Job 2:9). Or he will attack your steadfastness by asking, 'What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as the others are, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do.' Or he will attack your doctrinal sentiments by asking, 'Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible people are becoming more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks. Get with the times.'
Therefore, Christian, wear your shield close to your armor, and cry mightily to God so that by His Spirit you may endure to the end."
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