Morning, June 2
Go To Evening Reading
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh.”
Galatians 5:17
In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle
between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very
active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons
of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the
other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist
and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer,
and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it
takes unto it the “whole armour of God,” and wrestles
earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to
struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of
“Christian” with “Apollyon” lasted three hours, but the
battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from
the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so
securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven
out while we are in this body: but although we are closely
beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty
helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is
ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually
come off more than conquerors through Him. With such
assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its
foes. Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are
Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not
discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with
you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the
healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for
who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “looking unto Jesus;”
and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be
the victory, and glorious the promised reward. “From
strength to strength go on; Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down, And win the
well-fought day.”