How is all this to be done?
(William Mason, "The
One Thing Needful to Make
Poor Sinners Rich—and Miserable Sinners Happy")
Before the believer arrives to the full enjoyment
of Christ in eternal glory, he has . . .
many enemies to encounter;
many trials and troubles to conflict with;
a body of sin and death to be delivered from;
many lusts to be mortified;
many corruptions to be subdued;
a legion of sins to strive against;
graces to be exercised;
duties to be performed;
in one word—he has to glorify Christ
in the world, by his life and walk.
How is all this to be done?
Only by Christ strengthening him. Therefore
he is constantly to put on Christ—to attain a
greater knowledge of Christ—more rich and
sweet experience of His grace and love—to be
more strongly rooted in His love. He must have
his
heart, his hopes, his affections more with
Christ,
and his soul more swallowed up in the
ocean of
God's everlasting love in Christ—that
he may be
more conformed to Christ's image;
and that
thus, as a good soldier of Christ, he
may manfully
fight under His banner against
the world, the
flesh, and the devil, unto his
life's end.
"I can do all things through Christ, who
strengthens me." Philippians 4:13