the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Grace for Today
1 Corinthians 15:31
‘I die daily’
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17 to 2 Corinthians 5:10
As a believer, a man redeemed by the blood of Christ, saved, forgiven and justified by the grace of God, I purposefully endeavor to live in the habit of dying. I want to be able to say with Paul, ‘I die daily.’ Daily we must put down the passions of life in this world and die to it. A man who is dead to the world cannot be greatly charmed by it. My friend, you would be wise to hold everything in this world with a loose hand. Once a pastor was visiting one of the old men in his congregation. They were sitting in the man’s garden. He had a large estate, a fine home and a good piece of property. His wife, his children and his grandchildren were all present. And the old man said to his pastor, ‘These are the things that make it hard to die.’ Indeed, they are! But all of these things are perishing. We must hold them very loosely. Child of God, you must be ready, at a moment’s notice, to turn loose of anything in this world. For your soul’s sake, for your happiness and peace, I urge you not to build your nest in any of the trees of this world. They will all be cut down and cast into the fire.
Live in this world like a traveler staying in a motel. I am only spending a few days and a few nights in this place. So the things here should not greatly disturb me. What does the price of tea in China matter to us? What does the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of gas matter to a man who lives in the prospect of eternity?
And I try to live each day as though I knew it would be my last. This is the day the Lord has given me. I have no promise of tomorrow. I must press as much work and service for the honor of Christ into this day as I possibly can. ‘The time is short.’ George Whitefield said, ‘I try to keep all my affairs so arranged that, if I were to die at any time, they would be no trouble to those who come after me.’ I am not suggesting that we live irresponsibly or neglectfully. But I am saying this: we must be ready to die at any time. We must be united to Christ by faith. We must live for the honor and glory of Christ. We must not live for this world.
