Morning
Time: 3:29 AM PST
"I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear
by Malcham." --Zephaniah 1:5
Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties:
they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham.
But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy His soul hateth. The
idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he
who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord,
while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof. To hold with the hare
and run with the hounds, is a dastard's policy. In the common matters of daily
life, a double- minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the
last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible, but it
is well deserved; for how should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the
right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the
evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?
My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of
double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus--dost thou truly love
Him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father Honest,
or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of little value if I be
indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the land of truth, and
another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall and a total ruin.
Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole universe, and hence there is
no room for another god; if, then, He reigns in my heart, there will be no space
for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone
for Him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed
be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon
my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear Thy name.