Mature Living
Bible-believing Christians must cultivate sober graces and live among men like sons of God, despite the world and the church's opposition.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for spiritual devotion in the modern church, which has become complacent and dismissive of virtues like meekness, humility, and obedience. He warns that the current trend of self-promotion and trivial pursuits in religion is detrimental, and urges believers to take action before it's too late. Tozer likens spiritual neglect to a farmer ignoring his fields, stressing that Christians must cultivate the sober graces and live as true heirs of God. He encourages the faithful to rise above societal pressures and remain steadfast, reminding them that with God on their side, they can overcome any opposition.
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The absence of spiritual devotion today is an omen and a portent. The modern church is all but contemptuous of the sober virtues--meekness, modesty, humility, quietness, obedience, self-effacement, patience. To be accepted now, religion must be in the popular mood. Consequently, much religious activity reeks with pride, display, self-assertion, self-promotion, love of gain and devotion to trivial pleasures.
It behooves us to take all this seriously. Time is running out for all of us. What is done must be done quickly. We have no right to lie idly by and let things take their course. A farmer who neglects his farm will soon lose it; a shepherd who fails to look after his flock will find the wolves looking after it for him. A misbegotten charity that allows the wolves to destroy the flock is not charity at all but indifference, rather, and should be known for what it is and dealt with accordingly.
It is time for Bible-believing Christians to begin to cultivate the sober graces and to live among men like sons of God and heirs of the ages. And this will take more than a bit of doing, for the whole world and a large part of the church is set to prevent it. But if God be for us, who can be against us?
Sermon Outline
- The Absence of Spiritual Devotion
- The Urgency of the Situation
- The Call to Cultivate Sober Graces
- Living among men like sons of God
- Overcoming the world and the church's opposition
Key Quotes
“A farmer who neglects his farm will soon lose it; a shepherd who fails to look after his flock will find the wolves looking after it for him.” — A.W. Tozer
“It behooves us to take all this seriously. Time is running out for all of us.” — A.W. Tozer
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Take spiritual devotion seriously and prioritize it over popularity.
- Cultivate sober graces such as meekness, modesty, and humility in your life.
- Do not neglect your spiritual responsibilities, as time is running out for all of us.