Psalms 5:8

“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 his name. The cross of
Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we
add no offence of our own. It is “to the Jews a stumblingblock”: let us
mind that we put no stumblingblocks where there are enough already. “To
the Greeks it is foolishness”: let us not add our folly to give point
to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride the gospel. How jealous
should we be of ourselves! How rigid with our consciences! In the
presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and
impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how
circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through
Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more
spies than we know of. The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad.
If we fall into the enemies’ hands we may sooner expect generosity from
a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with our
infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with
scandals against his people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies
trip us up!

On this day…

• Psalm 108 – 2024
• Psalm 109 – 2024
• Psalm 17 – 2023
• Psalm 16 – 2023
• 5 Essential Doctrines to Believe In – 2011
• Guidelines for Leading Leadership in Major Decisions – 2011
• The Marks of a Spiritual Leader – 2011
• For Our People and for the Cities of God – 2011
• Christian Elders in the New Testament – 2011
• Westminster Larger Catechism – 2009