MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
Deuteronomy 32:7-12
1 Peter 1:3-7

Wake with God…

THE SPIRIT KEEPING

The church of the redeemed has been bought at great price and it is the Father’s will that it should be preserved whole until the day when we shall be presented to the Lord “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:27). How can this be, seeing that ahead of us lies an uncertain pathway with many pitfalls and hidden dangers? Our confidence is not in man or in ourselves but in the Lord. We believe that He who has begun a good work in us will perform or finish it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

Our texts today speak of what the Holy Spirit did in the past for Israel, and what He will do for us in the future. “He found him in a desert land… he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye” (Deut 32:10). What a marvelous preservation that God the Holy Spirit worked for Israel in forty years of wilderness wandering. A no less wonderful preservation is ours as we put our trust in Him, for we are “… kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet 1:5).

This last verse is of particular encouragement to us as we see ominous signs of our Lord’s return approaching. In 1 Peter 1:7, we read of the coming trial of our faith “… being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire…” But we are assured that in spite of every trial, we shall be kept “… without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet 3:14), until our Lord returns. This is by the power of the blessed Spirit who will see us safely through. 

The tempests of life, the lure of the world, the lust of the flesh, the rising wind of false doctrine, the peril of lukewarmness – all these threaten our progress. But we are not alone! Our Comforter in us and walking by our side will protect us and guide us into all truth. He will bring to remembrance all the words of the Lord. And we “… through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal 5:5). It is a glorious hope and a blessed hope! The Spirit will keep us till the end!

THOUGHT: He loves, He saves, He keeps!
PRAYER: Lord, keep me in Thy perfect path of righteousness.