the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Bowen's Daily Meditations
"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." - Revelation 3:11.
Hold fast the gift which divine grace hath already bestowed on thee; the loss of it were the loss of thy crown.
This exhortation is made necessary by such facts as these: - There is a tendency in the mind to under-estimate the gifts already in possession, and to forget how absolute is the connection between present grace and eventual glory; and there is also a tendency to depreciate the power and subtlety of the adversaries.
Conceive of a crown that guarantees to him who possesses it life beyond the reach of interruption, health that can never be invaded, purity unsulliable, wealth universal, dignity arch-angelic, power unlimited, a vast dominion, the inalienable affections and cordial services of millions of holy beings, joy unspeakable and endless, and an unrestricted liberty to communicate the most precious gifts. Conceive of such a crown, conceive of it in thy hand, thyself walking amidst the robbers of this world, and thou wilt understand the necessity of Argus-eyed watchfulness and unremitting endeavor in order to reach the gate of the celestial palace without loss of that which has been committed to thee. Perhaps the true glory of that crown is yet somewhat latent; its splendor in this atmosphere of sin is not so great as that of many a tinsel crown that men wear; and to the un-anointed eye of sense there is nothing about it to tell of the amazing mysteries that are locked up in it. But has not thine eye been anointed? Dost thou not discern the sacred signature of God upon it? And has not a divine refiner and purifier of silver given thee demonstration that all the regalia of earth’s kings and emperors could not purchase the tiniest jewel that sparkles in that crown which the Lord hath given thee to wear in the day of his Son’s espousals and for ever more?
Hold fast that which thou hast of love, faith, patience, prayerfulness, humility, knowledge, courage, perseverance. It may seem a light thing to give way to an erring momentary impulse; but understand that in that moment a bold, unscrupulous hand was stretched out to snatch away thy crown.
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