Fired by the heroic self-sacrifice of our King! Alexander the Great, when his army grew sluggish because laden with the spoils of their enemies, to free them from this encumbrance, commanded all his own treasures to be set on fire, that when they saw the king himself devote his rich treasures to the flames, they might not murmur if their mite and pittance were consumed also. Just so, if Christ had taught us contempt of the world, and had not given us an example of it in His own person — His doctrine would have been less powerful and effectual. But what an example we now find in Him, seeing He had nowhere to lay His head in life, nor a rag to cover Him in death, nor anything but a borrowed grave in burial. What kind of people ought we to be? We ought to live holy and godly lives, when we have such a Lord! He has not said to us in matters of self-denial, Take up your cross and go, but Come, take up your cross, and follow Me. Fired by the heroic self-sacrifice of our King, the sternest abnegation of self, and the severest renunciation of the world — should become an easy matter. Well may the soldiers endure hardness, when the King himself roughs it among us, and suffers more than the lowest private in our ranks. My soul, I charge you, endure hardness — and look not for ease, where Jesus found death! (C.H.S.)
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 00:46:56 +0000