August 2

Read: John 15:4-6

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered (John 15:6).

Even The Sanctified Can Backslide

At times difficulty arises in our walk with God — not over some one wrong act. Rather here is a gradually increasing, almost unnoticed, lack of attention to the spiritual life. Through failure to abide in Christ, we have withered.

It is possible to backslide completely after having been sanctified wholly. Paul warns us to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30). Carelessness can cause the love of God to grow weak in our souls. When love is weakened, disregard is near. When we disregard God, we may next grieve Him away by blighting indifference or by willful rebellion. The Holy Spirit does not remain where He is not made welcome and where His will is rejected.

If perchance after we were sanctified we have become careless of our vows to God, if we have not been as aggressive in the spiritual life as we should have been, what shall we do? Shall we in hours of awakening throw away all of our experience from the past and assume that we are utterly backslidden and are to begin entirely anew?

No. Let us not suppose that God throws us over as if we were parties involved in an immature lovers’ quarrel. God is not so ready to abandon us. But we must cease to be careless or we shall eventually lose our souls. Let us ask God to forgive our neglect. Let us tarry until we are conscious again of God’s approval and the blessing of His presence. Let us draw close and walk hand in hand again.

Try again! Why don’t you?

Try again! Oh, won’t you? Jesus at your side doth stand And offers you His aid.

— Harry Briggs