ย Burgessโ book is not a checklist. The Christian cannot simply check off a list a number of items to be better in prayer, bible study, worship, or any other spiritual discipline simply because they follow his advice. Burgess will show that in all those spiritual duties which the Christian is commanded by God to accomplish, that it is all a matter of the heart as well as the head. It is not about a checklist. The Christian canโt check off, โget your heart right before God.โ They canโt check off, โmake your mind more consecrated to God in the morning.โ They canโt check off, โimprove your use of the holy sacrament of the Lordโs Supper.โ They canโt check off, โreceive the faithful ministerโs words when he preaches as Godโs own words.โ These ideas are bigger, far bigger, than a check box. They are heart issues, salvation issues, regeneration issues, truly, Christian issues. But, Burgess will aid the reader in taking these โholy directionsโ and show how to think rightly about them in applying them in their everyday life.ย
These issues are not something one can take or leave. They deal with Scripture, prayer, enemy love, hearing the word, and much more. God is not looking for Christians to make a check mark on a checklist. He is looking for them to be arrested by the Spirit of God for the glory of Christ and be able to say โMy heart shall stir me up, my spirit shall make me willing,โ (Exodus 35:21), yes, willing to be conformed to Christ for the glory of God.ย
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