Scripture
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
— Jude 24 (ESV)
Devotional
In some sense the path to heaven is very safe, but in other respects there is no road so dangerous. It is beset with difficulties. One false step (and how easy it is to take that if grace be absent), and down we go. What a slippery path is that which some of us have to tread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, “My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped.” If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but in ourselves, how weak we are! In the best roads we soon falter, in the smoothest paths we quickly stumble. These feeble knees of ours can scarcely support our tottering weight. A straw may throw us, and a pebble can wound us; we are mere children tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith, our heavenly Father holds us by the arms or we should soon be down. Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we bless the patient power which watches over us day by day! Think, how prone we are to sin, how apt to choose danger, how strong our tendency to cast ourselves down, and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, “Glory be to him, who is able to keep us from falling.” We have many foes who try to push us down. The road is rough and we are weak, but in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and labour to trip us up, or hurl us down the nearest precipice. Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us. Such an arm is engaged for our defence. He is faithful that hath promised, and he is able to keep us from falling, so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence, “Against me earth and hell combine, But on my side is power divine; Jesus is all, and he is mine!”
Reflection
The path to heaven is safe in one sense and dangerously slippery in another. One false step without grace, and down we go. Yet He is able to keep you from falling. Your utter weakness is not a veto on perfect safety in Christ. Earth and hell may combine; on your side is power divine. Rest there. The gospel keeps stumbling saints by a Keeper stronger than the road.
Goad
Are you measuring your safety this morning by how steady your feet feel, or by Him who is able to keep you from falling?
Tie-In
Morning trusts the Keeper against stumbling. Evening meets the Savior who answers not a word—yet means to give. Kept on the path; then persevering when He seems silent.
Closing
Spurgeon’s classic text with a brief reflection to help today’s reader.
If these words have stirred something, sit with it.
NewGrapes Ministries. Making disciples, not pew-fillers. Soli Deo Gloria.