Morning By Morning #97

Let us, then, go to him outside the camp.

Hebrews 13:13

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Jesus carried His cross “outside the camp” to suffer. And the reason a Christian goes “outside the camp” of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be different, but because it is what Jesus did, and a disciple must follow his Master. Christ was “not of the world” (John 17:14). In fact, His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never before was there such an overflowing love for people as was found in Him, yet He was separate from sinners. In the same way, Christ’s people must “go to him,” taking their position “outside the camp” as witnesses for the truth and must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts that love Christ first and His truth second—loving Him and His truth above everything else in the world.

Jesus desires that you as His child “go to him outside the camp” for your own sanctification, for you cannot grow in grace to any great degree if you remain conformed to the world. This life of separation through sanctification may be a path of sorrow, but it is a highway of safety. And although the separated life may cost you a great deal of pain and make every day a battle for you, it is still a life of abiding joy. In fact, no joy could ever exceed the joy of a soldier of Christ, for Jesus reveals Himself to him so graciously, continually providing such sweet refreshment, that His warriors experience more calm and peace in their daily fight than unbelievers do during their times of rest.

The highway of holiness is also the highway of communion and fellowship with Christ. And it is by following this highway we have the hope to “receive the crown of life” (James 1:12), but only once we are enabled by His divine grace to faithfully follow Christ “outside the camp.”

This crown of glory comes to us after the cross of separation. Yet even a mere moment of shame will be well compensated with eternal honor, and a little time of bearing witness for Him will seem like nothing once we are “with the Lord forever” (1 Thess. 4:17).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Our text today commands believers to “go to [Jesus] outside the camp,” and Spurgeon states we must love “Him and His truth above everything else in the world.” And if Jesus is the Word incarnate—“The Word became flesh…full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)—we cannot separate Him from His truth. In fact, He said, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6) and prayed to His Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Thus, Jesus equals the Word, the Word equals truth, and truth equals Jesus; and if we truly love Him, we will love His Word and vice versa.

In light of this, each of us should examine our own hearts this morning and ask ourselves, “Do I love the Lord Jesus and His Word above everything else on earth?” But before we answer too quickly and superficially, let us consider how to measure our devotion to Him. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).

I ask myself, “How do I invest my time? Is more of it invested in the treasure of God’s Word or in the so-called treasures of the world? Can I say with the psalmist, ‘Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long’” (Ps. 119:97)?