October 27

The Lord is my strength.—Psalms 18:14.

THE soul in its natural state is without gracious strength. We have sufficiency of power to do evil, but are totally destitute of ability to love and serve God. It is when we believe in Christ that this power is received. Then Christ imparts unto us that strength which is essential to the christian life and character. We require standing strength, so as not to be moved from the hope of the gospel. We can only stand fast in the Lord, — he keeps our feet, so that none of our steps do slide. We require walking strength. Religion is a work of holy progression: we must pass on from stage to stage, until the journey is finished, and we appear perfect before the God of gods in Zion. Now as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so are we to walk in him. He not only calls upon us to folow him, but gives us ability to do so. We require labouring strength. Power to work out our salvation and to labour in his vineyard. In vain we try to labour, unless we are strengthened by his Spirit in the inward man. The builders attempt to build the house in vain, unless the Lord build it. We require fighting strength. Enemies must be encountered, and overcome. The christian life is a continued warfare, and we must overcome, and be more than conquerors through him that loved us. We require suffering strength. The way to the crown is by the cross, and the cross must be taken up, and it must be borne, and sometimes it is heavy and oppressive. The Lord's gold must pass through the fires that it may be refined, and made fit for his heavenly use. How necessary then is divine strength to uphold, to make us resigned, and holy, and happy. How comfortable is the reflection amid all the vicissitudes of life, that the Lord is our strength.