Basic HTML Version
On Guard Every Moment, December 22
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13
.
By every conceivable device the foe is seeking to throw us off our
guard. He may first attempt to deceive with smooth words and crafty
insinuations; and if these fail, he proceeds to open violence. He has many
a deep-laid snare for unwary feet, and those who once become entangled
find it almost impossible to extricate themselves. While he praises, flatters,
and exalts some, he hurls his fiery darts at others. We must be on guard
every moment. Days of peculiar trial, difficulty, and danger are before
us....
We must make up our minds that instead of matters taking a more
favorable turn, wicked men, seducing teachers, will grow worse and
worse, deceiving themselves and deceiving others. We may expect greater
opposition than has yet been experienced.... We must now make Christ
our refuge, or in the days before us our souls will be overwhelmed with
darkness and despair. There is a point beyond which human help cannot
avail. Every one must live by faith as he is forced into close and apparently
deadly conflict with the powers of darkness. Each must stand or fall for
himself. The arrows of the destroyer are about to be hurled against the
faithful ones, and no earthly power can turn aside the shaft. But could our
eyes be opened we could see angels of God encircling the righteous, that
no harm may come upon them....
We must look to Jesus, study His words, pray for His spirit. We should
be more frequently alone with God in meditation and prayer. Let us
pray more and talk less. We cannot trust to our own wisdom, our own
experience, our own knowledge of the truth; we must be daily learners,
looking to our heavenly Teacher for instruction, and then, without regard
to ease, pleasure, or convenience, we must go forward, knowing that He
is faithful who has called....
While we realize our weakness, let us rely upon His strength, and
overcome by the grace which He imparts.
[363]
377