Cheerful obedience is always the fruit of filial fear.
Posted : 24 Apr, 2013 02:19 AM
Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all them that do not fear, and of them that keep Your precepts.
Those that love the Lord's service naturally associate with
kindred spirits- with those that fear Him, and keep His
precepts. These two features identify the same character: as cheerful obedience is always the fruit of filial fear. These then
are the Lord's people; and union with Him is in fact union with
them. Sometimes the society of the refined and intelligent of
this world may be more congenial to our natural taste. But
ought there not to be a restraint here? Ought not the Christian
to say-"Surely the fear of God is not in this place?" and
"should I love them that hate the Lord?" Let those of us, who
live in close, and to a certain degree necessary, contact with
the world, subject their hearts to an evening scrutiny on this
subject. 'Has the society of this day refreshed my soul, or
raised my heart to spiritual things? Has it promoted a watchful
temper? Or has it not rather "quenched the spirit" of prayer,
and restrained my communion with God? To meet the
Christian in ordinary courtesy, not in unity of heart, is a sign of
an unspiritual walk with God. Fellowship with God is "walking
in the light." "Fellowship one with another" is the natural flow.
"The communion of saints" is the fruit and effect of
communion with God.
The calls of duty, or the leadings of Providence, may indeed
unavoidably connect us with those, who "have no fear of God
before their eyes." Nor should we repel them, by religiously
affecting a sullen or uncourteous habit. But such men,
whatever be their attractions, will not be the companions of
our choice. Fellowship with them is to "remove the ancient
landmark;" to forget the broad line of separation between us
and them; and to venture into the most hazardous
atmosphere. If indeed our hearts were ascending, like a flame
of fire, with a natural motion heavenwards, and carrying with
them all in their way, the choice of the companions of our
pilgrimage would be a matter of little importance. But so
deadening to our spirit is the conversation of the men of this
world (however commanding their talents, or interesting their
topics), that even if we have been just before enlivened by the
high privilege of communion with God, the free and selfindulgent interchange of their society will benumb our spiritual powers, and quickly freeze them again. To underrate
therefore the privileged association with them that fear God, is
to incur-not only a most awful responsibility in the sight of
God; but also a most serious hazard to our own souls.
If then we are not ashamed to confess ourselves Christians,
let us not shrink from walking in fellowship with Christians.
Even if they should exhibit some repulsive features of
character, they bear the image of Him, whom we profess to
love inexpressibly and incomparably above all. They will be
our companions in our eternal home; they ought therefore to
be our brothers now. How sweet, and holy, and heavenly, is
this near relation with them in our common Lord! Shall we not
readily consent to his judgment, who pronounced "the
righteous to be more excellent than his neighbor?" "Iron
sharpens iron." If then "the iron be blunt," this will be one of
the best means of "whetting the edge." The most established
servants of God gladly acknowledge the sensible refreshment
of this union of heart. It is marked in the word of God, as the
channel of the communication of heavenly wisdom-as a
feature in the character of the citizens of Zion-and as that
disposition, which is distinguished with manifest tokens of the
Savior's presence; and which the great day will crown with the
special seal of His remembrance. "They that feared the Lord
spoke often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and
heard" it; "and a book of remembrance was written before Him
for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His
name. And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts, in that
