Thursday, March 30, 2006

Christian Wakefulness

"Let us not sleep, as do others." --1 Thessalonians 5:6

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song--

"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, 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 and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open--the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them--a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

C.H. Spurgeon

3 Comments:

At Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:56:00 PM, Blogger Simon said...

Doug,
This is great stuff, I had forgotten how pithy Spurgeon can be.
In what way can we be drowsy in our day?
Romans 13:11-14 suggests to me that it is being attracted back into sinful attitudes and practices, so part of Christian comapanionship should include spurring one another on to holiness.

I've benefitted from your blog today, thankyou!

Simon

 
At Friday, March 31, 2006 8:27:00 AM, Blogger Jada's Gigi said...

1Cr 11:30 "For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."
You are so right that conversing with others regarding Christ helps keep the life blood flowing in our Christian lives. Sharing Him in any way is like the breaking of the bread to feed the 5000...He multiplies within us and within those we share with. This great lack in the church is the explanation for the verse above, yet so many beleivers save their Christ conversation for "church days"....so sad...and so dangerous to their spiritual lives.

 
At Friday, March 31, 2006 9:56:00 AM, Blogger Doug E. said...

Simon,

It seems to me that we can be drowsy, by spending all of our focus on the temporal things of this world. Another way to put it is that we tend to lose our passion for our first love. I agree fully with your point about spuring each other on to holiness too. I believe that is at the heart of it.

Thanks for your encouragement,

Doug

P.S. Jada, thanks for your comment too. You help to illustrate the point.

 

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