the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. Ephesians 4:17.
There is nothing more self-contradictory, nothing: more shameful, than when a person glories in Christ crucified, in His merits and grace, and at the same time loves the world, that world which has crucified and which daily crucifies the Lord. There is nothing so shameful as a Christian who conforms himself to the world and acts contrary to the mind of the crucified One; who yearns for honor and is offended and feels hurt to such an extent by every slight and disrespect for his person that he feels wretched and plans revenge or self-exaltation; who seeks earthly riches which Jesus disdained; who loves the carnal lusts, ease and an idle life, while Jesus suffered so much in this world in order to save us; who still nourishes hatred, enmity, ill-will, malice, in his heart, and shows this in his conduct toward his enemies, while Jesus prayed for His enemies and murderers, kissed the one who betrayed Him and commands us to do the same; who will not be behind the world in anything but emulate it in all things so as not to make a sensation, so as not to be despised, but honored; who will not confess Jesus and His holy doctrine in word and conduct but feels ashamed to appear in all things a true and faithful disciple of Jesus. Does not such a Christian act like a heathen? Does he not act as he did when he knew not Christ? I pray and adjure you, beloved, that you desist from glorying in Christ if you will not cease to conform to the world, if you will not put off all Gentile manners. Do you fear the passing ridicule of the world more than the unalterable word of Jesus, "I never knew you"?
Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon
Let midnight be ashamed of noon:
’Tis midnight with my soul, till He,
Bright Morning Star, bids darkness flee.
Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere His name.
