Morning, September 18, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25

The two most important things in our godly religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. Those who will correctly understand these are not far from mastering experiential theology, for they are vital points to a Christian. You will never find true faith unaccompanied by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which is not rooted on a living faith in the righteousness of Christ. Woe to those who seek after the one without the other! There are some who cultivate faith and forget holiness; these may be very elevated in doctrine, but they shall be very deeply condemned, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others who have striven after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were “whitewashed tombs.” We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a man in the day of a hurricane? Can he hide himself in the foundation? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort in the day of doubt. But don’t seek a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two supports of an arch, they will make our devotion enduring. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life inside, and it will reveal itself outside to your glory.