Nov. 23

Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook

ACQUIRING PERSEVERANCE

   "The Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and
   little" Deut. 7:22

   We are not to expect to win victories for the Lord Jesus by a single
   blow. Evil principles and practices die hard. In some places it takes
   years of labor to drive out even one of the many vices which defile the
   inhabitants. We must carry on the war with all our might, even when
   favored with little manifest success.

   Our business in this world is to conquer it for Jesus. We are not to
   make compromises, but to exterminate evils. We are not to seek
   popularity, but to wage unceasing war with iniquity. Infidelity,
   popery, drink, impurity, oppression, worldliness, error; these are all
   to be "put out."

   The Lord our God can alone accomplish this. He works by His faithful
   servants; and, blessed be His name, He promises that He will so work.
   "Jehovah thy God will put out those nations before thee." This He will
   do by degrees, that we may learn perseverance, may increase in faith,
   may earnestly watch, and may avoid carnal security. Let us thank God
   for a little success, and pray for more. Let us never sheathe the sword
   till the whole land is won for Jesus.

   Courage, my heart! Go on little by little, for many littles will make a
   great whole.