Jonathan Edwards in his Advice to New Converts

I hope over the next few posts to lay before you these insights one by one with biblical references to encourage and challenge your own heart, as they have mine. Edwards offers these insights on the spiritual life. Specifically, he gives this advice to new converts, but I think they are applicable to all and worthy of reflection in all of our hearts:

The first piece of advice is:

Be diligent in the things of religion.


1 Timothy 4:13-16 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Though we recognize that this Scripture is given to young Timothy, we must also remember that we are called to persevere in Spiritual things. Take pains to persevere in religion. In Jonathan Edwards's vernacular, Religion, means: True Biblical Christianity evidenced by authentic affections. It is not the broad, general "religion" that we think of today when we hear "religion."

How are you doing in your own personal walk of being diligent in the things of religion? Are you diligent to persevere in your faith? Are you walking in holiness? In Love? In faith in the right object? In purity?

Are you faithful to be saturated with God's Word? Has God's Word made its way in and through you today? Have you meditated upon it?

Notice that Edwards also notes that we must be diligent in the things of religion. How often do we consume ourselves with issues and worldly matters that have no eternal or spiritual worth. How we must be consumed with spiritual things.

Consider Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

May I encourage you to be faithful in the things of God. Persevere. Though this is excellent advice for "new converts," this is something that ALL believers need to urgently hear and attend to today.