A backslider, if there be a spark of life in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the same grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word of the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we will soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirits energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great and the flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let our personal weaknesses, as Christians, be an argument to make us pray earnestly to our God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with renew a right spirit within me. Let not the doctrine that we, unaided, can do nothing, make us sleep; but let it be a goad in our side to drive us with an awful earnestness to Israels strong Helper. Oh that we may have grace to plead with God, as though we pleaded for our very life; Lord, renew a right spirit within me. He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honestly by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer, live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven our Lord from us; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has His own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and we will be ready when He passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish our dying graces and knowing that all the power must proceed from Him, cease not to cry, Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 Roland
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:52:58 +0000