Let Us Live By The Same Spirit
By: David McFadden
“Called to be saints.” — Romans 1:7
We often regard the apostolic saints as if they are in a special class of “sainthood,” more so than the other children of God. But dear believer, please know that all whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit are “saints.” Even so, we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves.
Here is a truth to remember: the nearer a man lives to God, the more intensely he mourns over his own sinful heart. In other words, the more his Master honors him in His service, the more his fleshly desires frustrate and tempt him day by day.
The fact is, if we had been with the Apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of God’s chosen family. If we could have talked with him, we might have said, “We find that his experience and ours are much the same. Yes, he is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the same trials to endure. No, in some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves.”
Therefore, do not look upon the “saints of old” as being exempt either from infirmities or sins. And do not regard them with some mystic reverence which will almost make us idolators. Their holiness is attainable even by us. We, too, are “called to be saints” in the same manner as Paul, for it is by that same voice that we are called to a higher vocation.
It is a Christian’s duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship. Let that sink in—if the early saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them—let us emulate their determination and holiness. We have the same spiritual light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equaled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, “looking unto Jesus,” and our saintship will soon be apparent.
—Charles H. Spurgeon, adapted from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, Inc. All rights reserved.
Taking God’s Word Back to Him
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me unto Yourself and setting me apart to “sainthood.” Thank You for separating me unto holiness by your grace and giving me the power to live above sin, even in my fleshly struggles against it. LORD, help me attain the higher vocation You have for me. Help me emulate the determination and holiness of those who have gone before me who were more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than I am. LORD, I yield myself to Your plans and purposes You have for me. I surrender to Your calling to sainthood in the same manner as Paul, for it is by Your voice that I am called, the same voice You called Paul. LORD, I desire to live in the same heavenly character as the saints of old who looked to Jesus. Help me live with Jesus, and live for Jesus, so I can grow like Jesus. LORD, I exalt Your name and pray these blessings in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Excerpted and adapted from David McFadden’s “Deeper Life Series”.
For more articles from this series go to: https://www.deeperlifeseries.com/devotional-archive
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