THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO A GODLY LIFE

By A. W. Tozer

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.               ~ ~  Philippians 3:14

  The causes of retarded spiritual progress are many. It
would not be accurate to ascribe the trouble to one
single fault.

   One there is, however, which is so universal that it
may easily be the main cause: failure to give time to the
cultivation of the knowledge of God!

  The temptation to make our relation to God judicial
instead of personal is very strong. Believing for
salvation has these days been reduced to a once-done
act that requires no further attention.

  The young believer becomes aware of an act performed
rather than of a living Saviour to be followed and adored.

  The Apostle Paul was anything but an advocate of the
once-done,  automatic  school  of Christianity.  He devoted
his whole life to the art of knowing Christ!

  We may as well accept it: there is no shortcut to
sanctity. Even the crises that come in the spiritual life are
usually the result of long periods of thought and prayerful
meditation. As the wonder grows more and more dazzling
there is likely to occur a crisis of revolutionizing proportions.
But that crisis is related to what has gone before in the
preparation of waiting upon God.

   It may come as a sudden sweet explosion, an
up rushing of a tide that has been increasing its pressure
within until we can no longer contain it!
________________________________________________

Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.