November 7 – O, For More Sanctifying Grace

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“The soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” Proverbs 13:4

You are concerned for having no more grace. What is the reason? Perhaps you are indolent, careless, and unfaithful; and, though you have no warrant even for an hour to live — yet you unreasonably suppose that you have time enough. Therefore you are not serious, diligent, and fervent in prayer for sufficient strength to be always prepared and have boldness in death. No wonder, if you do not immediately resist sin, that it grows strong and you are always weak and discouraged. And how can you expect to receive more grace, if you do not faithfully improve what little you have?

If you would but diligently and faithfully apply yourself to the word and prayer, God would certainly not be lacking on His part to fulfill His promises and give you enough. It is well to be observed, and we must know it once for all, that there is no such thing as making any progress in grace and carrying our point, unless we are mindful of ourselves, watching and praying against all sins and whatever may be a hindrance on the one hand, and following with all diligence that which is good and what may be a furtherance, on the other. It is not enough to use some, we must use all diligence; and, according as our grace is increased, our diligence must increase also, since it goes against the stream. O for more sanctifying grace!

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)