An Old School Blogger

Studying the lives of faithful Christians of the past is a very fruitful practice. I greatly enjoy reading Christian biographies that encourage me to dive deeper into my relationship with the Lord. One such biography is Brownlow North: His Life and Work by K. Moody Stuart. Brownlow North was an evangelist who became known as the "John the Baptist of the great awakening of 1859." His life and ministry were built on solid biblical theology, and he loved nothing more than to lead his listeners and readers to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If blogs had existed in the 1800s, Brownlow North's blog would have been an excellent one to read! North's words of wisdom, however, were communicated through letters, tracts, and leaflets. One of the many writings contained in the above mentioned biography is "Six Short Rules for Young Christians." Enjoy the following "blog post" from the 19th Century!

Six Short Rules for Young Christians

by Brownlow North

1. Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray, remember that God is present, and that He hears your prayers. (Heb. 11:6).

2. Never neglect daily private Bible-reading; and when you read, remember that God is speaking to you, and that you are to believe and act upon what He says. I believe all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two rules. (John 5:39).

3. Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and then ask yourself, what am I doing for Him? (Matt. 5:13-16).

4. If ever you are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, go to your room, and kneel down and ask God's blessing upon it. (Col. 3:17). If you cannot do this, it is wrong. (Rom. 14:23).

5. Never take your Christianity from Christians, or argue that because such and such people do so and so, that therefore you may. (2 Cor. 10:12). You are to ask yourself, How would Christ act in my place? and strive to follow Him. (John 10:27).

6. Never believe what you feel, if it contradicts God's Word. Ask yourself, Can what I feel be true, if God's Word is true? and if both cannot be true, believe God, and make your own heart the liar. (Rom. 3:4; 1 John 5:10, 11).