Satan's Favorite Employee "The Switchman"

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

One of Satan's Favorite employees is the switchman. 

He likes nothing better than to Side-Track one of God's express trains, sent on some blessed mission and filled with the fire of a holy purpose.

Something will come up in the pathway of the earnest soul, to attract its attention and occupy its strength and thought. 

Sometimes it is a little irritation and provocation. 

Sometimes it is some petty grievance we stop to pursue or adjust. 

Sometimes it is somebody else's business in which we become interested, and which we feel bound to rectify...

And before we know, we are absorbed in a lot of distracting cares and interests that quite turn us aside from the great purpose of our life.

Perhaps we do not do much harm, but we have missed our connection. 

We have got off the main line.

Let all these things alone. 

Let grievances come and go, but press forward steadily and irresistibly, crying, as you haste to the goal, "This one thing I do."

~A. B. Simpson~

Take Everything To God In Prayer

An important help in the life of prayer is the habit of bringing everything to God...

 

Moment by moment, as it comes to us in life.

This may become a habit the same way all habits are formed...

 

Repeated and constantly attended, moment by moment...

 

Until that which is at first an act of will becomes spontaneous and second nature.

If we will watch our lives, we shall find that God meets the things that we commit to Him in prayer with special blessing.

He often allows the best things that we have not committed to Him to be ineffectual...

 

Simply to remind us of our dependence upon Him for everything.

It is very gracious and thoughtful of God to compel us gently to remember Him.

He would hold us so close to Himself that we cannot get away for a single minute from His all-sustaining arm. 

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Let us bring our least petitions, Like the incense beaten small...

All our cares, complaints, conditions Jesus loves to bear them all.

~A. B. Simpson~

Purity Of Heart And Life

 Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Purity, even purity of heart, is the main thing to be aimed at. 

We need to be made clean within through the Spirit and the Word...

And then we shall be clean without by consecration and obedience. 

There is a close connection between the affections and the understanding...

If we love evil we cannot understand that which is good.

If the heart is foul, the eye will be dim. 

How can those men see a holy God who love unholy things?

What a privilege it is to see God here! 

A glimpse of Him is heaven below! 

In Christ Jesus the pure in heart behold the Father. 

We see Him, His truth, His love, His purpose, His sovereignty, His covenant character, yea, we see Himself in Christ. 

But this is only apprehended as sin is kept out of the heart. 

Only those who aim at godliness can cry, "Mine eyes are ever towards the LORD." 

The desire of Moses, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," can only be fulfilled in us as we purify ourselves from all iniquity. 

We shall "see him as he is," and "every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself." 

The enjoyment of present fellowship and the hope of the beatific vision are urgent motives for purity of heart and life. 

LORD, make us pure in heart that we may see Thee!

~Charles Spurgeon~