September 13
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeEighth Friday after Trinity
He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. 1 S. John 2:6.
CHRIST came into the world "to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life." He came to die for our redemption, to live for our example. Through Christ we gain justification and sanctification; or in other words, acceptance with God and holiness. We gain an atonement wrought for our sins, and we gain the power of conquering sin by the Holy Ghost working in us the likeness of Christ. It is not enough to have Christ for our "sacrifice" unless we also have Him for our "example;" or rather we should say, we cannot have the benefit of that "sacrifice" unless we also copy that "example." We may not accept one part of Christ's work for us, and refuse another part. Christ is "made unto us sanctification and redemption." We may not claim the redemption and pass over the sanctification. The two things must stand or fall together. If we have any part in the "sacrifice," we shall also be made like to the example. The youngest child can understand how pure, holy, patient, and forgiving Jesus Christ was. There is nothing hard here. Let a man only wish to take Christ for his example, and he cannot fail to read that example aright. But there is the real difficulty in the wish. So few really wish to take Christ for their example. If they wish to be religious, they wish for an easier religion than one which sets them so pure and perfect a pattern.
O may we follow undismayed Where'er our God shall call! And may His Spirit's present aid Uphold us lest we fall!
R