LAY HOLD AND GROW

By on Dec 26, 2012 in Devotions

Grow

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

How is eternal life grasped? Well, it is laid hold of by faith as Christ. It is a very simple thing to trust the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet is the only way of obtaining the eternal life.

Jesus saith, “he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

By faith we have done with self and all the confidences that can ever grow out of self, and we rely on the full atonement made by the Lord Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation: it is thus that we come to live.

Faith and new life go together and can never be divided. This life, once laid upon, is exercised in holy acts. From day to day we lay hold on eternal life by exercising ourselves unto godliness in deeds of holiness and loving kindness.

Let your life be one of prayer and praise, for these are the breath of the new life. We still live the animal and mental life, but these must be the mere outer courts of our being: our innermost life must be spiritual and be wholly consecrated to God.

Henceforth be devotion your breathing, faith your heartbeat, meditation your feeding, self-examination your washing, and holiness your walking. In laying hold upon it, remember that it is increased by growth.

Zealously grasp more and more of it. Do not be afraid of having too much spiritual life. Lay hold on it, for Christ has come not only that we may have life, but that we may have it more abundantly. ((Charles Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005], December 26.))

Charles Spurgeon

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