Morning By Morning #154

The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:17

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is still very active and wastes no opportunity to employ all of its deadly weapons of war against newborn grace, while the new nature is constantly on watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us employs prayer, faith, hope, and love to cast out evil. It “put[s] on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:11) and earnestly wrestles. And these two opposing natures will never cease to struggle as long as we are in this world.

In The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1628 – 1688), the battle between Christian and Apollyon lasts only three hours, but the battle between Christian and himself lasts all the way from the Wicket Gate in the river Jordan. Our enemy is so securely entrenched within us that it can never be driven out while we remain in this body. Yet, even though we are severely attacked and often in great conflict, we have an almighty Helper—Jesus, the Captain of our salvation—who is always with us and who assures us that eventually we will be “more than conquerors through him” (Rom. 8:37). Thus, with such great assistance, the newborn nature is more than a match for its foes.

Are you fighting with your adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh all coming against you? Don’t be discouraged or dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah-Nissi “is [your] Banner” (Ex. 17:15) and Jehovah-Rapha is He “who heals” (Ex. 15:26) your wounds. So do not be fearful; you “will overcome” (Rev. 17:14), for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “fix[ing] [y]our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2). Although the conflict is long and hard, how sweet will be the victory and how glorious the promised reward!

From “strength to strength” (Ps. 84:7) go on;

Wrestle, and fight, and pray,

Tread all the powers of darkness down,

And win the well-fought day.

Charles Wesley, 1707 – 1788

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Sometimes the road ahead seems far too treacherous to continue, to the point we worry and obsess over what tomorrow may hold.

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?…But seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Matthew 6:25, 27, 33 – 34

And all too often the road we walk seems far too long. At those times, remember the admonition and encouragement of James, who wrote:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:13–14

Lord, help me to “fix [my] eyes on Jesus” and to remember this life is but a vapor when compared to eternity that lies just beyond the horizon of today’s trial.