Lay Aside the Sin That So Easily Entangles You

Lay Aside the Sin That So Easily Entangles You

"Lay aside ... sin which clings so closely." Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Many of you have come to love the book, THE VALLEY OF VISION (The Banner of Truth) which contains prayers of the Puritans. I just received a brand new devotional book from Banner of Truth, VOICES FROM THE PAST -- PURITAN DEVOTIONAL READINGS, and brothers, this is a must get for your devotional readings!!! I will make i available on the Keswick On-Line Bookstore.

The Puritan preachers did not beat around the bush! They spoke the truth, and we need more preachers today who will not be afraid to declare the truth of God's Word. Here was the reading from Preacher John Gibbons (1659-1689) which I believe is one of great importance for us:

At times temptation presses in with violent demands. To combat the power and force of these we must prepare our hearts with strong antidotes beforehand. Fix your heart upon your true treasure, your fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

Flee to God to hide you. Here the tempter cannot reach you. Be much in communion with God, and the devil will have little communication with you. If he does try, he will have little effect. The soul is secure under the deep, warm, and constant sense of God's being your all in all.

What powerful ammunition this is against the assaults and incursions of the tempter. Take up your wings, O Christian, and fly away that you may be at rest (Isaiah 40:31). When the soul has taken its flight, O how easily does it soar above the smoke and the dust of fleshly lusts! Rusty spots on cold metal disappear when it is heated and burns red hot.

Get your heart on fire and you will be Elijah-like in a flaming chariot of longings after God. Love your dear Master, and you will not find a love for sin. Consider also that things morally good or evil are not so just because one is commanded and the other forbidden, but it is what they are essentially and unalterably. They are fixed in their natures.

Bathe your soul with the everlasting beauty of holiness, and the horror of ugliness of all iniquity. Also, understand your own self. Do not be a stranger to yourself. Unlock your bosom, and ransack every corner of your heart. Make a diligent search. Feel the pulse of your own soul. Don't let any region of your mind be undiscovered. Watch how the tempter has taken advantage of you in the past. Make these searches daily and compare them to the eternal law of God. These considerations will greatly help in the prevention and cure for the sins which so easily best us.

That last paragraph is one that should be burned on the hard drive of our minds today. Take a piece of paper or a 3X5 card and turn that paragraph into a prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to work that into your soul today. Are we willing to let Him ransack every corner of our heart today? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 26; Psalm 40-42; Acts 27:1-26

Dig This Quote: The blessed, fruitful, victorious experiences of yesterday are not only of no value to me today, but they will actually be eaten up or reversed by today's failures, unless they serve as incentives to still better, richer experiences today. S. D. Gordon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 73:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11