July 4

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25.

Christians live in the Spirit because they are endowed with the Spirit of God. Their heart is the temple of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit dwells in their hearts, applying to them the salvation through Christ and urging them to do the will of God.

But what must we do to keep the Spirit with us? We must walk in the Spirit! What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? To walk means not to stand still, but to move on. To walk in the Spirit means to move on upon one's way to heaven, to grow in faith, to abound yet more and more in love, to do those things which the Spirit urges us to do. A Christian does not rest, does not stand still, on the way to eternal life. He goes forward. He presses onward. He grows in sanctification. He increases in love and in all Christian virtues. So Paul writes Philippians 1:9: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." You must grow in knowledge, so that you may truly say: "I know whom I have believed." To this end you must be a regular attendant at the divine services and a diligent reader of your Bible. And see that you grow in all judgment, in the ability to tell what you are to do in doubtful circumstances, "that you may approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the Day of Christ." See that you increase in holiness of life, in love to God and to your neighbor, in prayer, in divine worship, and in doing good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith. "Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. And let us not be weary in well-doing." Let us not stop walking in the Spirit.

Prayer.

O Jesus, my Redeemer, let Thy holy, joyous, and life-giving Spirit lend gladness to my distressed soul and contrite heart. The bruised reed Thou wilt not break, O Lord, and the smoking flax Thou wilt not quench. Thou wilt not cast me away from Thy presence, of this I feel confident. Thou wilt not suffer me to despair, but wilt renew me with Thy right Spirit, who will kindle

and confirm the true faith and comfort in my heart. Let me sow to the Spirit and of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Amen.

And if a longer life Be here on earth decreed me And Thou through many a strife To ripe old age wilt lead me,

Thy patience in me shed, Avert all sin and shame, And crown my hoary head With pure, untarnished fame.