Morning, March 5
Go To Evening Reading
“Let us not sleep, as do others.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6
There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the
rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning
the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards
the Celestial City, said to themselves, “To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.” Christian enquired, “Brother, where shall we begin?” And Hopeful answered, “Where God began with us.” Then Christian sang this song—
“When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.
Saints’ fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.”
Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable
to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful
by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the
road to heaven. But as you thus take “sweet counsel” with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your
converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking
unto him; let your heart be full of him; let your lips speak of his
worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going . If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not
sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and
the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer
sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge
before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are
open—the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them—a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue
to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.