A Little Help From a Dear Friend

 By Rev. Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:

Thomas Boston On Ways to Prevent the Devil's Attacks

As ARP’s one of our forefathers in the faith was a man by the name of Thomas Boston. I love to read his works and recently I read a sermon of his from 2 Kings 2:14 where he is making some complaints about the lack of piety and the growth of sinfulness in his day in Scotland (ca. 1713). Desiring to see his people not fall into the same trap Boston gives six helpful examples of ways the individual Christian can work to help in his own heart to prevent a slackness in his hope in the Lord. For our prayer and worship help today I will list them with some commentary.

1) Stir Yourselves Up to Repent and Reform. (Rev. 3:2)

This is key. Much like in Daniel 9 where the prophet is moved to recognize Judah’s deserved punishment in Babylon the Christian must begin with his own sin and need for personal growth in holiness before he can call upon his brethren to likewise move forward in sanctification. That is the heart of Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 7 in regards to the log in the eye. It is the height of hypocrisy to demand others to bend away from their lusts if you are not willing to do it yourself. Understanding your own lack of righteousness before God is part and parcel of the humility we are all called to as believers in Christ. Is your brother a Sabbath-breaker? How do you fail to keep the Sabbath? Does your sister violate the ninth commandment in her conversation? What are you doing in spreading gossip about her work? That again must be the foundation of any prayer before the LORD God, especially when it concerns national impiety. Reformation begins in the church before we can expect it elsewhere.

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