August 18

Read: Romans 6:17-22

Now being made flee from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (Romans 6:22).

Fruit Unto Holiness

As a sanctified Christian what do I most want God to do for my own spirit? Now? At this point in my spiritual pilgrimage? What today is my own greatest spiritual need? What fruit of the Spirit seems least developed in my life?

It is the purpose of God that this specific victory shall be the next of the many unfolding possibilities of grace which He would yet make known to me. Sometimes such victories can he immediate and dramatic. In answer to earnest prayer and faith, God can alter an attitude or break the chains of habit. But if this victory does not come suddenly it may nevertheless be a real victory in the sanctified life. Partial success in spiritual effort is not failure. If I am stronger today than I was a year ago — that is progress. If I am stronger next year than I am now — that is victory.

Is not God, by these experiences, trying to show us that the work of the Holy Spirit is twofold in our lives? He does for us some things in a moment of time: He eradicates the carnal mind and fills the soul with himself. But He has another ministry to perform for us across the years: He teaches us how to make our conduct ever more consistent with the perfect love which He has placed within the soul. God can in time, and through grace and discipline, correct many human frailties and add many spiritual graces which He does not impart at a public altar.

Praise For Today

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).