'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 17
Jesus said to him...'What is that to you? You follow me!'—John 21:22
We need to stand in the way God has directed us to walk. We are so prone to desire another's work than our own. That which is the Commander's business is not the Private's. The service you do out of your own path is not acceptable to God. God will not thank you for doing that which he did not ask you to do. You might have good intentions, as Uzzah in staying the ark, but God was not pleased with his zeal (2 Sam. 6:7). Saul could make a good excuse for his sacrifice, but it did not serve him well. We must ask ourselves ‘Who required this at our hands?' In moving out of our proper calling, we move out of God's protection. If we love to walk in God's company, we must abide in our place and calling. Every step from that is a departure from God. It is better to stay at home in a humble place and low calling where we may enjoy God's sweet presence than to go to court and live there without him. What a bold adventure it is to stay where you cannot expect his presence! It is dangerous to do what we are not called to do, or to neglect our duty. The earth could not bear with Korah and swallowed him up. The sea bore witness against Jonah the runaway prophet. The ruin of many souls breaks in upon them at this door. We are judged for our own stewardship, and not that of another. God only requires faithfulness in our place. We do not find fault with an apple tree if it is laden with apples and not figs. It is an erratic spirit that carries men out of their place and calling. They may be proud and discontent with the place God has set them. The whole world is too narrow a walk for a proud heart. Shall they be hid in a crowd when they can show the world their worth? No, they cannot stand it. But man always prospers better in his own soil.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian In Complete Armour, I:279-284
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
William Gurnall, The Christian In Complete Armour, I:279-284
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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2024
January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
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