Morning By Morning #65

Let us not be like others, who are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 5:6

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

There are many ways to encourage alertness among Christians. Allow me to strongly recommend one: believers should openly share with each other about the ways of the Lord. In The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1628 – 1688) Christian and Hopeful say to each other as they travel toward the Celestial City, “To prevent drowsiness along the way, let’s have a good conversation.” Christian asks, “Brother, where should we begin?” And Hopeful answers, “Where God began with us.” Then Christian sings this song:

When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,

And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;

Yes, let them learn of them, in any wise,

Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb’ring eyes.

Saints’ fellowship, if it be managed well,

Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.

Christians who isolate themselves from others and walk through life alone are likely to be drowsy. But if you fellowship with other Christians you will stay wide-awake, will be refreshed and encouraged, and will make faster progress along the road to heaven. Yet as you meet with others to discuss the ways of God, take great care that the subject of your discussions remains the Lord Jesus. Let your eye of faith be continually focused upon Him, let your heart be full of Him, and let your lips always speak of His great worth.

Dear friend, if you live close to the cross, you will not sleep. Constantly strive to deepen your understanding of the true value of the place where you are going. If you remember your destination is heaven, you will not sleep along the road, and if you remind yourself that hell is behind you and that the Devil is pursuing you, you will not linger. Would a killer fall asleep, knowing his avenger is close behind him and that the city of refuge is just ahead?

Dear Christian, do you desire to sleep while the pearly gates of heaven are open before you, while the songs of angels await your voice, and while a crown of gold awaits your head? No! Instead, through saintly fellowship continue to “watch and pray so you will not fall into temptation” (Matt. 26:41).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Fellowship is the result of walking in the light and, conversely, isolation is the consequence of sinfulness, or walking in darkness. Here is how John stated this important truth: “If we walk in the light, as [God] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7). The results of fellowship include encouragement, godliness, and spiritual growth. According to God’s Word, fellowship is not optional.

When we fellowship with others, sharing how God is working in our life, we grow each other’s faith. Thus, it becomes a means of encouragement, as we see from the following: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Heb. 10:24 – 25).