Strength & Continuance

This post is an excerpt from Living at the Mercy Seat by R.C. Chapman.

It is Christ’s hold upon us that enables us, by faith, to
lay hold on and to keep hold of Him. “Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12).

They who seem the most tried are not always those that have
the sharpest warfare.

Sometimes things appear to us so difficult that we are
daunted; at other times so easy that we think we are equal to them; and thus in
either case we fail.

He that is running a race looks not at witnesses admiring,
but only at the mark.

We need to “discern the Lord’s body,” i.e., Christ having
been crucified (1 Cor. 11:29) for steadfastness of communion with God, no less
than to trust in His blood to obtain salvation from wrath to come (John 6:54,
56).

The fulfilling of God’s promises depends not upon the
creature’s strength, and cannot be prevented by the creature’s weakness.

We need a close walk with God, a having respect to all His
commandments, if we would obtain of Him whatsoever we ask.

True persevering diligence in spiritual things always begins
in self-abasement.

It is one mark of growth in spirituality to be more
afflicted by the pleasing—than by the distressing—temptations of Satan.

We should always take great trials and great temptations as
the forerunners of great blessings and growth of fellowship with God.

The obedience of grace obtains for us the profitable knowl­edge
of truth, and teaches us to prize it more than much fine gold. Mere knowledge
puffeth up, and the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (Prov. 14:23).

Deep spirituality of mind is only obtained by a thorough
crucifixion of self: self-denial is discipline for life—the work of every hour.

To make a good soldier, put him in front of the battle; a
good seaman, let him brave the storm: so with the Christian.

True readiness to confess sin, and joy in self-abasement,
mark a growth in grace and knowledge of the character of God.

I know of no one who, with so little promise in his
beginnings of faith, had a sunset so glorious as had Jacob (Gen. 48, 49).

It is the constant crucifying the flesh in little things
that makes a giant in the Christian warfare. But true self-crucifix­ion is a
thing impossible, save by grace; and to have the needful supplies of that grace
we must be in perpetual communion with God: it is only thus we shall overcome
in little things.

It is a great salvation wrought for us, if the soul be
resolved to suffer the will of God, cost what it may.

Do you desire a humble mind, a soft heart, an obedient
spirit? Ask and receive, that your joy may be full. But remember, “The soul of
the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing” (Prov. 13:4). Be the clean vessel that
God delights to fill and use.

Not God’s answering prayer in respect of earthly things and
earthly gifts, but growth of the new man, is the true proof that we please God.

We are commanded to lay aside every weight, and the sin that
does so easily beset us: if we contend not against the latter—that is
unbelief—how shall we rightly deal with the former? We have every one in
himself his own peculiar hindrances—weights which, if not laid aside, will clog
the soul in her race. 

How shall I run my race and not stumble? How shall I have
Christ’s approval in the day of His appearing? are questions to be daily put by
every child of God to his own soul.