SELF-DENIAL AND PERSEVERANCE.
By E. E. STURGES
God calls upon his people to exercise self-denial. Nothing short of a full and complete sacrifice will he accept. He demands all that we have and are, yea, life itself. Does it seem unreasonable? If so, consider that he requires but his own. Besides this, we owe a great debt which could only be paid by the precious blood of Christ. God cannot bid us deny ourselves more for him than he has done for us. Is reproach for Christ so intolerable that we cannot endure it? Christ had more honor at stake than poor, sinful man dare pretend to have. He “thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation.” Is it pain or suffering that we are afraid of? Oh! look up to the cross, or back to the garden of Gethsemane, and behold the blessed Jesus, agonizing under the weight of the sins of the whole world. See him nailed to the cross. Oh! let us willingly take up our own little cross, thanking God that he has made one so light and easy, when Christ bore one for us so heavy. God is willing to recompense us for all that we do for the truth. “I reckon,” says Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” “Whoever,” says Christ, “will come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me.” Another, with Simon of Cyrene, may be compelled to carry Christ’s cross a little way; but we find the self-denying soul will stoop willingly to receive the burthen for Christ’s sake. This may seem a hard work, this taking up the cross daily, this praying always, this watching night and day, and never laying aside our armor, nor indulging ourselves, nor ceasing in our patient waiting on God. Unless we take God at his word, and believe he means just what he says, and that what he promises he certainly will perform, we shall be overcome. The little remnant needs to put on firm resolution. Let us bear in mind that God and angels are spectators, observing our self-denial and perseverance, and quit ourselves like children of the Most High in the work of overcoming. Jesus, our blessed mediator, has not forsaken his little flock. He sees every proof of our love for him, and our zeal in battling with the powers of darkness. As the time grows short, the wrath of the enemy increases, and he will try to overcome the remnant of Israel, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. But, thank God, deliverance is sure. We have the promise of final victory. This waiting company shall see Jesus when he comes, and will stand with him on Mount Zion.