January 25th Evening Devotional from Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"Do we then make void the law by this faith? God forbid! Rather, we uphold the law." --Romans 3:31
When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish, the smallest hint of His will.
When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish, the smallest hint of His will.
Does He request you to fulfill a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father. Does He command you to seek the image of Jesus? It is not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, "Be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect"? Then not because the law commands, but because your Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in holiness. Does He invite his saints to love one another? Do it, not because the law says, "Love thy neighbour," but because Jesus says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments;" and this is the commandment that He has given unto you, "that you love one another."
Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk, but because Jesus teaches, "Give to the one who asks you." Does the Word say, "Love God with all your heart"? Look at the commandment and reply, "Ah! commandment, Christ has fulfilled you already--I have no need, therefore, to fulfill you for my salvation, but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now and He has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute."
May the Holy Spirit make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ's love, that your prayer may be, "Direct me in the path of Your commands; for there I find delight." Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the apologist of sin.
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