May 15

Heaven is not won with good words or a bold profession, but with "having done all." Sacrifice without obedience is sacrilege. His religion is in vain whose profession brings no letters of testimony from a holy life. The doing Christian is the one who shall stand when the boasting Christian shall fall. Such braggarts rob God of that which He values most. A great captain once smote one of his own soldiers for railing at the enemy, saying that his orders were not to rant and rave, but to fight and kill him. To cry out against the devil, to rail against him in prayer or conversation, is not enough. You must take action against him and mortify him if you want to please God.

Is claiming sonship to the King of heaven so small a matter that you think you can obtain it without giving a real proof of your zeal for God and hatred of sin? "Not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man," says the apostle, "shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25). Notice he does not say by his deed, but in his deed. He shall meet blessedness as he walks obediently. The hypocrite disappoints others who, seeing the leaves on his tree, expect fruit but find none. And at last he disappoints himself. He expects to reach heaven, but will miss it entirely.

Observe also that God's mercy to His children is so great that He gladly accepts their weak efforts to please Him as long as those efforts are joined with sincerity and perseverance. When the heart is right, God accepts the works as if they were done in full obedience. This is why the saints are said to have "done all." Oh, who would not serve such a God! You hear servants sometimes complain that their masters are so unreasonable they can never please them, even when they do their best. Such a charge can never be brought against God. Only do your best, and God will pardon your worst. David knew the indulgence of the Lord when he said, "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments" (Psalm 119:6).

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