Daily Devotionals

Devotional: January 27th

"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." - 1 Corinthians 10:12.

By standing is here meant standing in the favor of God. This is the position of the believer. It is right for a man to think that he stands, if there he sufficient reasons for him so to think. It is not in itself a fault to entertain the idea that we stand. We are not told to renounce that opinion. "We may entertain it even with the greatest confidence, the most unwavering assurance. The words of the text suppose indeed that the party spoken of does stand ’, for it is only one that standeth that needs an admonition to beware of falling. He that is down needs fear no fall. He has not recovered from the great lapse; and he need not fear to lose that which he has never gained. The admonition he needs is, " to stand." " Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." There are very many who regard themselves as standing, without any evidence whatever, to authorize this opinion. The words of the apostle do not seem to relate to them. This idea seems rather to be, " Let him that thinketh he standeth, make manifest that his opinion is well-founded, by taking heed lest he full." The true believer, one that truly standeth, is one that takes such heed. The mere pretender to faith is one that thinks it quite unnecessary to take heed; for he says, " I stand."

The true ’believer takes heed, by considering, and ever remembering, the number and strength of the powers that are bent on making him fall. He understands that a hostile force is out against him; and is bringing incredible craft, industry, and might to bear upon one point - his overthrow. he is aware that his enemy can assume all sorts of disguises; and can approach him as a minstrel, playing seraphic airs upon the harp, and singing the Psalms of David. He knows, too, that these foes have the enormous power that resides in invisibility, and can launch their fiery darts at him with hands unseen. He has not merely learnt this from God’s word; but also from experience.

He takes heed, by remembering his own weakness. He knows that the most feeble missile in the world, the most contemptible temptation, can make him totter.

He takes heed, by availing himself of the strength of God in Christ Jesus. Daily and hourly he seeks wisdom, strength, and holiness from the Captain of his salvation. He takes heed, by following this Captain, whithersoever he leads, even though it were into the most dangerous-looking places, for the path traced by his Leader and Commander is the only path of salvation.

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