“Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies.” — Psalms 5:8

Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. “Aha! So would we have it! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to a man.” Thus will much damage be done to…

the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to Hisname. The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us takeheed that we add no offence of our own. It is “to the Jews astumblingblock”: let us mind that we put no stumblingblocks where thereare enough already. “To the Greeks it is foolishness”: let us not add ourfolly to give point to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride thegospel. How jealous should we be of ourselves! How rigid with ourconsciences! In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our bestdeeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions,how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected personsthrough Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there aremore spies than we reck of. The espionage is everywhere, at home andabroad. If we fall into the enemies’ hands we may sooner expect generosityfrom a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with ourinfirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandalsagainst His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen