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“The standard by which conduct is ever to be measured is the standard of simple loyalty to the will of God. If even a virtue interpose, it thereby becomes a vice.” G. Campbell Morgan
In an age when men are being taught to trust in themselves, the Word of God trumpets a clear warning against such self-confidence.
The spiritual battle never changes, so we should not be put off by the fact that our title suggests three dangers that face present-day believers but that our text comes from the Book of Deuteronomy. In the sixth chapter of this book, we read some of the instructions of the old servant of God, Moses, as, facing his own death, he prepares a new generation for the dangers that await them. His words serve as a warning from God to every generation, and duly prepare us for three specific dangers.
Failure to properly instruct our children (see Deut. 6:6-9). “Thou shalt teach them [the commandments of God] diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkedst by the way, and when thou liest down, and
Respecting our Christian life and service, it has sometimes been said, “Pray as if it all depends on God; work as if it all depends on you.” Aphorisms are useful but run the danger, through brevity or wit, of unintentionally distorting the truth of the Word. May I suggest that the principle expressed above is a “near miss” when it comes to summarizing Scriptural truth regarding our life and service as believers. Though not so neatly expressed as the statement above, the Scripture lays out several truths. First, the reality is that there is no “as if” in our lives; in the ultimate sense, everything is dependent upon God. Second, once we have acknowledged the first point, we believers do play a crucial part in the “success” of our lives and service that involves the exercise of our own will, the expending of our own effort, and the employment of our own time and resources (including prayer). But, third, we should give our all in our service to the Lord because He requires it, because
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