August 6 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6).

Devotional

We fearlessly challenge every believer. What has been the effect in your soul of a low state of grace? What has been the result of carnal indulgence of allowed sin? What has been the outcome of needless communion with the world, of conformity to its policy and its pleasures? What has been the upshot of an unruly temper, of a volatile disposition, yes, of any species of carnality or worldliness whatever? Has it not been "death"? When a process of spiritual relapse is allowed to proceed stealthily and unchecked—when the world, and sin, and self have gained an ascendancy—what is the consequence? "Death!"

The habit of prayer may not be totally neglected, but there is no communion with God—and so there is death upon prayer. The Bible is not entirely unread, but no light beams upon the sacred page—and so there is death upon the Bible. The means of grace are not utterly forsaken, but no grace is distilled from these channels—and so there is death upon the means of grace. Thus a spiritual deathliness has crept over the soul, the effect and fruit of indulged and growing carnality.

But the blessed effect of setting the mind on the Spirit is "life." It is life springing from life. Or rather, it is the inner life in its outer actings. What spiritual power, almost omnipotent, does he possess, whose mind and heart and faculties are deeply immersed in the Spirit of Christ, and closely allied to the Divine and heavenly!

As sin is weakness, so holiness is strength. As carnality impairs, so spirituality invigorates. The one deadens, so the other enlivens and vivifies. Close dealing with God increases the life of spirituality. Much communion with Jesus draws forth "life"—abundant life (John 10:10)!

It is impossible to live a life of faith in the Son of God—constantly taking every sin to his blood, every care to his heart, every sorrow to his sympathy, every corruption to his grace, every burden to his arm—without being conscious of new life, of augmented power, of increased heavenliness.

Ask the man of prayer, "What is the effect in your soul of close filial communion with God?" Ask the reflective mind, "What is the effect upon your spirit of holy meditation?" Ask the conscience much beneath the cross, "What is the result of the constant sprinkling of the atoning blood?" And, as with one voice, and with one utterance, each believer will answer, "Life!" Oh, there is an energizing influence in spirituality, a quickening of the spiritual life in heavenly-mindedness, which only he can understand whose fellowship is much with heavenly things, much with God.

There is life in prayer, life in God's Word, life in his ordinances, life in the enjoyment of vital religion—life which transmits the thrill of its deep pulsations through the whole soul.

Nor is there just life in these. But when the storm of adversity blows, when sore affliction comes, when the roar of the waterfalls is heard, and the tossing breakers and foaming waves roll over the soul (Ps. 42:7), when the shadow of death is settling upon all creaturely good—then, even then, the spiritual mind panting after life exclaims, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life" (Ps. 138:7); "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life" (Ps. 119:50); "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Ps. 23:4). And what is all this except the pledge and the prelude of the glorious consummation and crown of all—the life that is to come, even life everlasting?

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art;
and make me love thee as I ought to love.

(George Croly, 1854)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2011.