Morning, September 11, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“Be separate.” — 2 Corinthians 6:17

The Christian, while in the world, is not to be of the world. He should be distinguished from it as the great object of his life. To him, “to live,” should be “Christ.” Whether he eats, or drinks, or whatever he does, he should do all to God’s glory. You may lay up treasure; but lay it up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, where thieves will not break in nor steal. You may strive to be rich; but let it be our ambition to be “rich in faith,” and good works. You may have pleasure; but when you are happy, sing psalms and make melody in your hearts to the Lord. In your spirit, as well as in your aim, you should differ from the world. Waiting humbly before God, always conscious of his presence, delighting in communion with him, and seeking to know his will, you will prove that you are of a heavenly race. And you should be separate from the world in your actions. If a thing is right, though you lose by it, it must be done; if it is wrong, though you would gain by it, you must scorn the sin for your Master’s sake. You must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Walk worthy of your high calling and dignity. Remember, Oh Christian, that you are a son of the King of kings. Therefore, keep yourself unspotted from the world. Don’t soil the fingers which are soon to sweep celestial strings; don’t let these eyes become the windows of lust which are soon to see the King in his beauty; don’t let those feet be defiled in miry places, which are soon to walk the golden streets; don’t let those hearts be filled with pride and bitterness which are before long to be filled with heaven, and to overflow with ecstatic joy.

Then rise my soul! and soar away,

Above the thoughtless crowd;

Above the pleasures of the gay,

And splendours of the proud;

Up where eternal beauties bloom,

And pleasures all divine;

here wealth, that never can consume,

And endless glories shine.