Evening, December 28
Go To Morning Reading
“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”
Matthew 10:34
The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his
objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true,
should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but
a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly,
and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have
taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war.
Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is,
the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict,
for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie
must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all
the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so
as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world
will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world
is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High,
men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony
against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do
the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue
a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe;
but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to
do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only
the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward,
but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a
brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.