Monday, January 30, 2017

A resolution

Today I ran across this reminder in the introduction to J. C. Ryle's book entitled Holiness:

Worldly people sometimes complain with reason that “religious” persons, so-called, are not so amiable, and unselfish, and good-natured, as others who make no profession of religion. Yet sanctification, in its place and proportion, is quite as important as justification. Sound Protestant and evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless: it does positive harm. It is despised by keen-sighted and shrewd men of the world, as an unreal and hollow thing, and brings religion into contempt.
Perhaps in the current political climate I need to spend less time on social media and more time working on the wretched hypocrisy of my own soul.  I see the enemy, and sometimes it is me.

So, here, Gentle Reader, is my resolution to make the remainder of 2017 a year to continue to work to improve my own soul, my own tone of discourse, my own consistency.  May God continue to strengthen my sanctification, and may I cooperate with Him.   May I be, as a former pastor once encouraged, as tough on myself as I can be, and as generous with others as possible.  And may I do it for the glory of my Savior. Want to join me?
  

2 comments:

Carolyn said...

I am in!

MagistraCarminum said...

Thanks, Carolyn! :-)