the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5.
The Corinthians stood in the faith, were apostolic Christians, brought to faith and instructed therein by the Apostle himself; nevertheless, he counsels them to make this examination and to continue therein with all earnestness. We are more secure than were the Corinthians. Should we not rather ask ourselves each day: Is Christ in my heart? or is He only on my tongue? only in my head? in Bible passages and memorized words? If Christ, as the good tree, be planted in your heart, you will know Him by the fruits. Where Christ is, there are also His mind and life. Where there is faith in Christ, there are also the fruits of faith and charity. Where Christ dwells in the heart, there the devil and the world are ousted; for Christ and Belial, God and the world, cannot agree in the same habitation. If you have not the mind of Christ, a Christ-like conversation and the fruits of faith, then have you neither Christ nor faith in Christ. If you have Him not, the world and Satan will not let your heart remain empty; the world and Satan are in you. But you should give them notice to leave their habitation in you this very day. Not only that, but you should without hesitation or consideration cast them and their whole brood out of doors.
Up, my soul, gird thee with power,
Watch! to prayer betake thee;
Lest the sudden evil hour
Unawares o’ertake thee.
Satan’s prey
Soon are they.
Who, with best endeavor,
Watch not, pray not, ever.
