What then are the best means of preserving in a believer's heart that lively sense of justification which is so precious to the soul that knows it? I offer a few hints to believers. I lay no claim to infallibility in setting down these hints, for I am only a man. But such as they are l offer them.
1. To keep up a lively sense of peace, there must be constant looking to Jesus. As the pilot keeps his eye on the mark by which he steers, so must we keep our eye on Christ.
2. There must be constant communion with Jesus. We must use Him daily as our souls physician and high priest. There must be daily conference, daily confession, and daily absolution.
3. There must be constant watchfulness against the enemies of your soul. He who would have peace must always be prepared for war.
4. There must be constant following after holiness in every relation of life, in our tempers, in our tongues, abroad and at home. A small speck on the lens of a telescope is enough to prevent our seeing distant objects clearly. A little dust will soon make a watch go incorrectly,
5. There must be a constant laboring after humility. Pride goes before a fall. Self-confidence is often the mother of sloth, of hurried Bible reading, and sleepy prayers. Peter first said he would never forsake his Lord, though all others did; then he slept when he should have prayed; then he denied Him three times and found wisdom only after bitter weeping.
6. There must be constant boldness in confessing our Lord before people. Those who honor Christ, Christ will honor with much of His company. When the disciples forsook our Lord, they were wretched and miserable. When they confessed Him before the council, they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
7. Last, there must be constant jealousy over our own souls and frequent self-examination. We must be careful to distinguish between justification and sanctification. We must beware that we do not make a christ of holiness.
Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle
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