It is Holy Week, and I’ve been working on a post that would nicely go with the observance of Easter. But, while doing my devotional this morning, I came across this Spurgeon daily, and I had to stop. This might just be what I needed to prepare my heart for this holy week:

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 

—1 Corinthians 10:12

It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest [glory] not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and his strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent [indicative] of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall say, “Come up higher,” may it be your happiness to hear him say, “Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.” On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, “Uphold me according to thy word.” He is able, and he alone, “To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”^[1]

How vulnerable we are to feel a confidence in God’s grace only to have pride seep in to steal our humble posture before God and others. We are neither to build ourselves up nor tear ourselves down, but we are to walk, what may seem like, a very thin line of humility. A thin line that brings awareness of who we truly are before a Holy God. And, we are neither more than, nor less than. We are his, bearing his image, covered by Christ’s righteousness, secure in his court, and granted eternal life. Pride hinders our faith, while humility with gratitude oils the hinge of our faith, leading us to joy in Christ, and in Christ alone.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

—Philippians 1:6

^[1] Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster.