In everything one must be looking upward, and not downward, at the kingdom of heaven and not down at the details of earthly life... That is, the details of earthly life must be second, and this looking upward must be with zeal, determination and constancy...
Constancy involves also a regular reading of spiritual texts, for example at mealtime, because we must be constantly injected with other-worldliness. This means constantly nourishing ourselves with these texts, whether in services or in reading, in order to fight against the other side, against the worldliness that constantly gnaws at us.
If for just one day we stop these other-worldly "injections," it is obvious that worldliness starts taking over.
These injections - daily injections of heavenly food - are the outward side, and the inward side is what is called spiritual life.
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Regular, frequent spiritual injections of Heavenly Food are needed now more than ever - but they are in short supply. The usual sources have failed to maintain stocks, and most retail branches are closed.
Therefore, we ourselves must seek and discover spiritual injections; and learn to self-medicate.
Particular texts, prayers, rituals have all been found valuable by different people; and can be located by anyone prepared to make the effort.
Once discovered, spiritual injections need to be tested for safety and efficacy (some have dangerous side effects, and some of these are addictive); and a suitable dose and frequency established.
For instance; some individuals require large doses of Heavenly Food that may be debilitating and prevent other activities; most people are best taking smaller doses, but these may need to be frequently administered; a few will respond only to a continuous infusion.
But take care! Wordliness can acquire resistance to any known type of daily spiritual injection!
The best way to prevent worldiness becoming immune to spiritual injections is to use several different types of spiritual injections, simultaneously. It may also be helpful to rotate between different types of Heavenly Food.
And always take an active role in your own treatment - monitoring, experimenting, and adjusting as required.
3 comments:
Very good! For the first time in ages, I find I'm not at all wary of something a doctor has prescribed!
May I share lyrics from a favorite hymn?
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
— William D. Longstaff
Mike, thanks for posting those verses. The majority of the hymn's lines speak of what the Christian is to do, but in the second line, the "feed on His Word" implies the importance of receiving that which is extended to us by the Lord, specifically here the "external Word" of Holy Scripture.
There's a very simple song recorded by Blind Willie Thompson:
https://genius.com/Blind-willie-johnson-nobodys-fault-but-mine-lyrics
If I don't read the inscripturated Word, then, yes, my soul will be lost -- i.e. all too likely confused by all manner of fake news, fake "wisdom" instead. What a need there is for what Seraphim Rose called the daily injection of divine truth. I do think certain commentaries can be helpful, e.g. Steinmann's on the book of Daniel.
Dale Nelson
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