'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 23

To stand is opposed to sleep and sloth. Standing is a waking, watchful posture. When the Captain sees his soldiers lying secure upon the ground asleep, he bids them to 'Stand to your arms, and watch!’ In some cases it is death for a soldier to be found asleep, because his sleep may cost the army their lives. Watchfulness is even more needful for the Christian because the enemy is ever awake and making his rounds to devour. If Satan is always awake, it is dangerous for the Christian at any time to be spiritually asleep, secure and careless. The Christian is seldom worsted by his enemy unless he is negligent in his spiritual business and the enemy is upon him before he is thoroughly awake to draw his sword. There must be preparation for battle by a living and active grace. The saint's sleeping time is Satan's tempting time. Every fly dares to venture on a sleeping lion. Every temptation, though weak, is strong enough to foil a Christian who is napping in security. Samson was asleep, and Delilah cut his locks. Saul was asleep, and his spear was taken from his side. Noah was asleep, and his graceless son had opportunity to discover his father's nakedness. Eutychus was asleep, and fell from the third loft. The Christian asleep in security may soon be surprised and lose much of his spiritual strength. The Christian may so fall from a high loft of profession into such scandalous practices, that others may even question whether there is any life of grace indeed in him. We must stand alert. Sleep creeps upon the soul as it does on the body. Take heed that you do not indulge yourself in a lazy distemper, but stir up yourself to action, and stand up. Yield to idleness and sloth, and it will grow upon you. Stir yourself up and use all the care and diligence possible to stand firm.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, I:285-286
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.