No. XX: Spiritual Strength
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No. XX
Eph. 3.16: Spiritual Strength
Weakness is often realized by the believer. Thus is it when he feels called upon to resist temptation, to make higher attainments in the divine life, or keep constantly pressing toward the prize. In God alone is his help. Human effort of itself will not give him the victory over his spiritual foes, nor make him more holy, nor enable him to be always engaged in the ways of piety. To meet his condition, the Saviour has died, the Holy Spirit is given, and truth revealed. These furnish the needed aid. Yet, as the believer is a being of intellect, choice and feeling, he is expected to observe what God has enjoined, that he may grow stronger and stronger. What, then, is the course to be pursued, whereby spiritual strength may be acquired?
One part of it is to make renewed visits to the cross of Christ.
Here is the balm, which can give healing to the needy. Vain, are the attempts of the wounded and weak to obtain relief
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from other sources. They flatter themselves to no purpose. Though, while they neglect this means of relief, they apply to their souls the pleasing notion, that all is well, it is a syren song delighting but to bewilder, and dazzling only to blind. The real remedy is but of one character, can be derived only from one quarter, and can be applied only in a certain style.
And as for health, so for strength. Admitting that any have gone to the right source for relief, they do not become strong in the inward man, unless their visits are frequent to the spot where they first found healing. Day by day let the believer resort to the same Helper, who gave light, life and peace, that his imperfection may be removed, his weakness nerved by an unearthly energy, and he be made vigorous, earnest and capable of advancing from height to height on the pathway to his eternal home.
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with all his heart and mind and soul and strength.
And the form of prayer, unless the heart be engaged, is not real prayer. Suppose the hour of secret devotion observed, the family altar duly surrounded, the place of public supplication not neglected; though the habit be good, the internal is needed as well as the external service. Many, many were the prayers of the Pharisees; but the one short, heartfelt and burdened petition of the publican had more of the true spirit than all the empty harangues of all the self-righteous of the Jewish nation.
The believer need neither utter the cry of mere fear, nor present petitions without the desires of the heart. He can send forth the promptings of the renewed spirit, as they arise when broken-hearted he bends at his Saviour's feet. And as he beseeches for personal holiness, others’ welfare, and God to make himself glorious; his strength, fed by unseen power is so increased as to meet the wants of his condition.
Looking, also, at this world in the light of eternity promotes spiritual vigor.
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The atmosphere of earth is far from being congenial to piety. Its frosts nip the tender shoots, its drought blights the promising buds; its blasts well-nigh uproot the celestial plant. Still, under the care of the divine husbandman, it not only lives, but thrives and brings forth fruit.
Of course, such a view of the world is not to be taken, as will lead to a sickly disgust with the affairs of life and removal from human society. Neither the nunnery, nor the monastery, nor the life of a hermit is essential to an advanced stage in religion. The things of the world are to be used, but not abused. Instead of being supreme, they must be secondary. Every relation of life, every pursuit, every pleasure is to be regarded respective to the glory of God; and similar self-denial is requisite for advance in the christian course, as was needed at the beginning.
If a proper view be obtained of the things of time, such a view as the truths of the Bible are adapted to present, the mind will become more familiar with spiritual and eternal objects. It is possible to live here, and still have the soul deeply impressed with [sic]