'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 27

Believers honour God, therefore he will honour them. Never did anyone lose by seeking to honour God. God not only will honour them in the day of visitation; he casts honour upon them in this life. One might ask, 'How does the Lord honour his faithful? Are we not made as the filth of the world?' Certainly this blessing is not absolutely complete in this life. As long as there is sin we are liable to shame. In our life we might expect mixed dispensations. Here we pass through honour and dishonour, evil report and good report. Here, God only begins to glorify and honour us. General applause can seldom be had without compliance, and without some sin (John 15:19). O that we would not give opportunity in our daily walk for the reproach of the wicked, but that our only crime would be our profession! They had nothing against Daniel but only in the matter of his God (Dan. 6:5). If we are concerned about our good report in the exercise of our faith, is this not vain-glory? We need to take care that duty comes first, and leave the blessing to God. Men usually do the opposite. They would enjoy the blessing, and neglect the duty. Some are careless of service, and yet hunt for praise. We must take heed of secret whispers of vanity, imaginations of applause, and like carnal reflections. We should seek our blessings from God, and not man. When blessings come from him out of his grace, it is for our encouragement in our faith. Certainly the glory of God should be our first and primary goal. Usually, men desire a name in the world to promote carnal advantages, but our main end should always be God's glory. We should always eye ourselves only as means to this great end. The honour we do receive is a sweet encouragement to us in the ongoing work of God, and a tender conscience will not overly glory in it.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Manton, By Faith, pp. 59-63
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