the Third Week of Advent
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do It to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1 Corinthians 9:25. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Revelation 3:5-12.
There is no doubt that he who lives in Christ gets no rest either from the devil or the world or his own flesh. These three enemies have formed a black alliance against you. If you would stand your ground and not fall into their hands again, you must enter into a holy alliance with Christ and His Spirit. You must put on the full armor of God and always appear in it. You must be equipped with the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, always watchful and ready to repulse and tread down everything that the world, the flesh and hell may offer or tempt you to do. But beware of beating the air; it does not injure the enemy nor do you yourself profit by it. St. Paul says, ’So fight I, not as one that beateth the air" (1 Corinthians 9:26). One often fights hard against the enemies that are outside of the house without heeding the enemy that is in the house. One denies himself outward things and nourishes and nurses inward enemies. Whoever fights in the right manner is temperate in all things; he denies himself, his egotism, his greed for honor in every form; his covetousness; worldliness, sensuality, gross or subtle; his pride, self-importance, spiritual or worldly. He that overcometh all, even himself, shall be crowned; but if there be one single enemy that you have not conquered, you are no conqueror and can not receive the crown. If you let a single evil inclination rule in your heart, then you have a thief in the house, an enemy within the boundaries of your kingdom, who will contest your quiet and peace, and will not permit you to win a complete victory, nor to obtain the triumph and the crown.
Oh, for a faith that will not shrink.
Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!
Lord, give us such a faith as this,
And then, whate’er may come.
We’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
