Morning, September 18
Go To Evening Reading
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25
The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith . He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master
in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a Christian.
You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the
other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not
for its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe
unto those who seek after the one without the other! There are some
who cultivate faith and forget holiness; these may be very high in
orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in condemnation, for they hold
the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others who have strained
after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees
of old, of whom the Master said, they were “whitewashed sepulchres.” We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness
of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere
foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide
himself therein? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation
for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life
if we would have comfort in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy
life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford
no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let
faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of an
arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming
from the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars
of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams
from the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive
trees watered by heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within,
and it will reveal itself without to thy glory.