Required reading
The Christian's daily walk, in holy security and peace by Henry Scudder (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 11 (Of uprightness) by reading up to Section 5 (Dissuasives from hypocrisy, and motives to uprightness).
My summary
Today we begin a chapter on uprightness.
Firstly Scudder gives us reasons for the necessity of uprightness:
(i) your God with whom you walk is upright;
(ii) it is to no purpose to do that which is right if your soul is not upright;
(iii) the best actions without uprightness lose their goodness and are abominable evils.
Secondly Scudder teaches us that holy uprightness expresses itself in:
(i) a well grounded and unfeigned purpose and resolution to cleave to the Lord and to do God's will;
(ii) an unfeigned desire and longing of the heart to attain this good purpose and resolution;
(iii) a true endeavour and exercise to do God's will.
Thirdly Scudder provides some rules/marks of uprightness:
(i) it is not fully perfect in any man in this life;
(ii) a man is not to be called upright because of a few actions of hypocrisy;
(iii) it is to be judged by the inward frame of the heart toward God.
Fourthly Scudder gives some particular marks of uprightness:
(i) From universality of respect to all God's will;
(ii) From a special respect to such things as God requires especially;
(iii) From a will and desire to please God in one place as well as another; in secret as well as openly;
(iv) From a constancy of will to please God at one time, as well as another;
(v) From the true causes from whence good actions flow;
(vi) From the effects that follow well doing;
(vii) From the effects that follow evil doing;
(viii) From the conflict which shall be found between uprightness and hypocrisy.
What grabbed me
I found helpful the reminder that hypocrisy mixed with religious duties makes them evil: 'The best actions, without uprightness, do not only lose their goodness ; but in God's account are esteemed abominable evils. Such were the prayers and sacrifices of the hypocritical Jews, Isa. i. 13, 14, Ixvi. 3. For God judges such actions, and such services, to be mere flattery, lying, and mocking him to his face, Psa. Ixxviii. 34, 36, 37.'
A stunning thought. If you deliberately sin repeatedly against God, your prayers become evil.
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 11 (Of uprightness).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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