Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Part First by reading Branch Third.
My summary
Today Gurnall continues to expound the words, 'be strong in the Lord'.
Gurnall's doctrine in the third branch is that the Christian's strength lies in the Lord, not in himself.
Firstly Gurnall shows that Christian looks to the Lord for strength in:
(i) prayer;
(ii) hearing the word.
Secondly Gurnall shows that his doctrine is true from:
(i) the nature of the saints and their grace;
(ii) the Christian is not only a creature, but a weak creature;
(iii) the grand design which God propounds to himself in the saint's salvation.
What grabbed me
I liked Gurnalll's point that we should be humble if we understand that our strength is from the Lord: 'Doth the Christian's strength lie in God, not in himself? This may for ever keep the Christian humble, when most engaged in duty, most assisted in his Christian course. Remember, Christian, when thou hast thy best suit on, who made it, who paid for it. Thy grace, thy comfort is neither the work of thy own hands, nor the price of thy own desert; be not, for shame, proud of another's cost. That assistance will not long stay which becomes a nurse to thy pride; thou art not lord of that assistance thou hast. Thy Father is wise, who when he alloweth thee most for thy spiritual maintenance, even then keeps the law in his own hands, and can soon curb thee, if thou growest wanton with his grace. Walk humbly therefore before thy God, and husband well that strength thou hast, remembering that it is borrowed strength.'
Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord!
Next week's reading
Conclude Part First by reading Branch Fourth.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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