PUTTING ON TO PUT OFF

PUTTING ON TO PUT OFF

Running the race is maintaining what is characteristic of or due to Christ down here; studying Him is learning Him; you must be with Him to study Him. But if you are in the race, really running on to Him, He is more attractive to you than anything else. Do you see Him as your mark? Then things here are superseded for you. If you study Him you set aside yourself, and if you see Him as the mark, you feel He commands your heart, and things here are left behind. Be armed, going round the city, sound the trumpets — pray unto God — and the wall of the city will fall down. See Joshua 6.

^[p. 231] I am afraid that real self-denial is too much overlooked. With the knowledge that we have nothing to do to secure the safety of our souls, I fear we are too ready to carry this into everything. We really are delivered from the old man, and the judgment on him, in order that we should refuse him at every turn; and live the new man, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is one continued struggle, a thrusting out of the old leaf — by the force of the new leaf supplanting it. Hence it is that he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. This is to be your daily study — cultivating the new leaf which will thrust out the old leaf. The new is the Lord Jesus Christ and this can only be effected by constantly having the eye of your heart on Him. This is a great and increasing occupation! Better is he that ruleth his own spirit than he that taketh a city. Self-surrender is, after all, the greatest work, as well as the greatest service. See 1 Corinthians 13. The man who has charity — love, is the greatest benefactor because he is rid of himself!