Thursday, June 21, 2012

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINCERE


“Do not my words do good to him that walks uprightly Micah 2:7. But surely it is a dangerous walk when there is no word from God to guide our way.
To those of you whose diligent inquiry has shown sincerity from a pure heart, I counsel you to gird the belt of truth close and walk in the daily practice of uprightness. You are not ever dressed in the morning until this girdle has been put on, for the proverb is true which says, "Un-girded, and unblessed."
God's promises, like a box of precious ointment, are collected to be broken over the head of the sincere man; "Do not my words do good to him that walks uprightly?" Micah 2:7. But surely it is a dangerous walk when there is no word from God to guide our way. It is a foolish man who dares go on when God's Word lies across his path. Where the Word does not bless, it curses; where it does not promise, it threatens. But God's approval keeps an upright soul safe.
The sincere Christian is like a traveler going about his business from sunrise to sunset; if harm tries to touch him God Himself will take care of it. The promise is on the saint's side, and by pleading it he may recover his loss at God's expense, for the Father stands bound to keep him protected. With this assurance in mind, let us look at several ways to walk in the exercise of sincerity.
What Luther said is most true: all the commandments are wrapped up in the first one. He pointed out that every sin is contempt of God; and so if we break any commandment we have broken the first. "We think amiss of God before we do wrong against God." Therefor the Father commended a sovereign word to Abraham to preserve his sincerity: "Walk before me, and be perfect" Genesis 17:1.
Uprightness before God kept Moses' girdle close to his loins. He was neither bribed by the treasures of Egypt nor browbeaten out of his sincerity by the anger of such a powerful ruler, "for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible" Hebrews 11:27. He could see One greater than Pharaoh and this vision showed him the right path.” 

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

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