For Our EncouragementBelievers need encouragement from the Lord, and we trust that these items from Thomas Moor’s Counsels and Thoughts for the Spiritual Life of Believers will provide that. Some of them have been abbreviated.
During the first lockdown resulting from the Coronavirus outbreak, an item was posted each day from 23 March to 20 July, apart from the Lord’s Day. The most recent item is at the top. ••••••• ■ July 20: “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him...but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel xxx. 6. Here is the source of true courage, and patience, and victory. David was nothing, but David’s God was everything. Jesus, “My Lord and my God,” Thou changest not, and Thou hast said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb. xiii. 5). “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. xii. 9). Help me, therefore, ever to encourage myself in Thee, and to trust in Thee and not be afraid. ••••••• ■ July 18: “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” – Matthew xi. 26. These words of the Lord Jesus express the acquiescence of faith, and the satisfaction of love. Let us behold in Him the pattern for our faith and love; and whether in the more manifest doings of His hand in the temporal and providential path, or in the more hidden doings of His grace in spiritual and eternal things, relating to ourselves or to others, let our language ever be: “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.” ••••••• ■ July 17: “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” – Matthew xiv. 25. Just at the right time Jesus always shows Himself; never too soon, never too late. Impatience or unbelief may think He has forsaken His tried one, because He cometh not in the third watch; but He always has His own time. Let our hearts say – Lord, Thy time be it, – we will wait the fourth watch! ••••••• ■ July 16: “To comfort all that mourn.” – Isaiah lxi. 2. One of the sweetest and most blessed features in the character and work of the Lord Jesus was the fact that He came “to comfort all that mourn.” His people are to be conformed to His image; and many of the consolations He affords His tried ones are sent through earthly channels. Thus, comforters of one another are we. No more God-like errand can man have, than, as Heaven’s messenger, to wipe away the tears of the mourner, and “speak comfortably” (Isa. xl. 2) to the sorrowing; and those are, through the Lord’s grace, most able to comfort others, who have had unusual need of comfort themselves (2 Cor. i. 4, 5). ••••••• ■ July 15: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation iii. 20. Alas! how sad! the Lord Jesus outside the heart of the believer – outside His own dwelling-place – and the door shut! Nevertheless, the loving One goeth not away. He knocks! He stands and knocks! He stands, for his resting-place is inside. He stands, for He wants to be admitted. He lifts up His voice, for He wants to come in. He will not force an entrance. When at first He took possession for salvation, He entered without knocking, but when he wants to enter for communion and rest, He would have the door willingly opened for His admittance; therefore He stands, and knocks, and speaks, lifting up His voice. But why is He kept waiting outside so long? Why is His voice not heard? Alas! because another is lording it in His place – not Satan, he is cast out for ever, but self, which, making the will its slave, rules triumphantly, filling the heart with pride, because satisfied – or with turmoil, because dissatisfied; so that there is no heed to the knocking, no hearkening to the voice outside. But the Lord stands patiently, and still knocks. He will not take the apparent denial, He stands and knocks. Oh, believer, no longer keep out thy Lord, no longer be in confederation with that usurper, self. Art thou not weary of its rule? weary of its tyranny? Then open the door of thy heart at once, and receive the Heavenly One, not as a transient guest, but as the rightful Lord and owner of thyself and all that thou hast. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me.” That heart is indeed a pleasant, joyous, yet quiet banqueting-house, where the Lord is ruler of the feast. ••••••• ■ July 14: “For the wind was contrary.” – Matthew xiv. 24. “The sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” – John vi. 18. “He arose, and rebuked the wind.” – Luke viii. 24. “Stormy wind fulfilling His word.” When the Lord intends fuller revelation of Himself, He brings man into circumstances which more completely empty him of self. When the Lord means deeper love-tokens, He shows man more deeply his unworthiness. Opposing powers in the path of duty are sure to be the means of increased blessing to that child of God who trusts, and waits, and perseveres. The great wind blew that the disciples might more fully know their great need, and the great love that watched over them. ••••••• ■ July 13: “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” – Psalm xciv. 19. “Thy comforts,” O Jesus my Lord, even Thy constant presence, Thy changeless love and the sure word of Thy grace, even these shall be the stay and delight of my soul, when many and perplexing thoughts arise within to disturb its peace. “Why are ye troubled, and why to thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself” (Luke xxiv. 38, 39). ••••••• ■ July 11: “His own sheep.” – John x. 3. And how dear to Him let His own word declare – “I lay down my life for the sheep.” How safely protected let His own words testify – “They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” How honoured in companionship, for He says – “I am with you alway”! How glorious their position – “The glory Thou gavest Me I have given them”! How exalted their future – “That where I am, there ye may be also”! “But it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” ••••••• ■ July 10: “Gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” – Ephesians i. 22. We are altogether, and always, in the hands of the Lord Jesus. “In the hands of God,” many would say, in an abstract and general view of divine appointments. The believer, however, should know that for him “divine appointments” are covenant arrangements; and that God is to him a loving Father who has put him, and all that concerns him, into the hands of the Lord Jesus; that in Him he might have not only an all-sufficient Saviour, but a sure friend, whose “appointments” are always guided by unerring wisdom and unchanging love. ••••••• ■ July 9: “Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” – Psalm cv. 4. The more we “seek the Lord and His strength,” the more shall we be consciously supported in seasons of weakness and need. The more we “seek His face,” the more shall we walk in the light, wherever we may be called to walk. The sunshine of His countenance makes a wilderness to be a pleasant place. Without that the very garden of Eden itself would be but a barren desert to the child of God. The “strength” of Jehovah is Jesus. The “face” of Jehovah is Jesus. Looking to Him, leaning on Him, walking with Him, will bring light, and joy, and strength to our spirit. ••••••• ■ July 8: “Whom having not seen, ye love.” – 1 Peter i. 8. Both the person and the work of Christ are the true objects of faith; although faith is often fixed mostly upon His work and its result. It is, however, the person of Christ alone that is the true object of love. Faith produces satisfaction with Christ’s work on the soul’s behalf; but love is not satisfied with that, because it is not love’s true object. Love wants a greater nearness to Christ. Love wants more fellowship with Christ. Love wants to see Christ in everything. Loves wants Christ Himself. ••••••• ■ July 7: “The world knoweth us not.” – 1 John iii. 1. “That the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” – John xvii. 23, 24. Oh! what a high, what a privileged, what an honoured position is that of believers. The world knoweth us not, even at it knew not our Lord, but if worldly eyes were open, for ever so short a time, to behold, not indeed the glory that awaits believers hereafter, but the glory that surrounds them now, in their low estate – to see the bright angelic spirits that are ministering continually on their behalf (Heb. i. 14), to see how near and dear they are to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; surely the humblest child of God would become to them an object of solemn awe, and dread, and amazement. They will see and understand it all, when in a future day they know that as the Father has loved His Son, so has He loved, and with the same love, all those who trust in Him. Until then, we are the Lord’s hidden ones, and the world knoweth us not, even as it knew Him not. His hidden ones now, but soon to be His manifested ones; for soon He cometh, and then we take our rightful place – that place eternally designed for us by the Father, and won and prepared for us by the Son. Yet, after all, it is not the ministering servants we think of as we journey on, but of Him – even Jesus. Ah! angels are not members of His body, and of His flesh and of His bones (Eph. v. 30); “He took not on Him the nature of angels.” And so He passed the angels by, having His heart set upon a richer treasure than they; and lo! that treasure, more precious to Him than unsinning angels, was found amongst the fallen sons of men. So “He took on Him the seed of Abraham.” “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren.” His brethren! what a relationship is ours! How wonderful! He would first be made like unto His brethren in lowliness and shame, then He makes His brethren like unto Himself in exaltation and glory. It should be our joy to be always thinking of Him, always looking to Him, always living for Him, always glorying in Him. He will one day glory in each believer openly when He comes to be glorified in His saints. Our Jesus – Yes, more can we claim Him ours than the angels can. Our Jesus – in all things liike unto us. His people say, “The Lord is our portion,” and of Him it is written, “The Lord’s portion is His people.” What a mutual affection there is between them! though sometimes it seems as if the love were all on one side, even on His – our regard for Him deserving not that heavenly name of “love.” By and by, however, we will love Him with a perfected and unhindered affection when we “see Him as He is,” and are made fully like unto Him in our Father’s house above. Then will His own prayer be fully answered – “Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am.” ••••••• ■ July 6: “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny.” – Matthew xx. 9. These labourers had wrought but one hour, but no doubt they did that one hour’s work to the best of their ability. They were only called to one hour’s work, and they faithfully fulfilled the work to which they were called. It was probably no fault of theirs that they were left unhired all day, and thus constrained to stand idle. They were waiting to be hired. They were willing to work, but no man hired them. Probably they were the weakest-looking of all who sought to be hired. One may have borne the traces of a severe illness from which he had just recovered, and looked unfit for much labour. Another might be lame, and thus unable to do a hard day’s work. A third might have some other manifest physical infirmity. All of them, no doubt, were the least likely labourers in the market, and therefore they were left unhired; more robust-looking men being chosen instead. At the eleventh hour they were called, and their strength proved sufficient for the one hour’s labour that awaited them. They did what they could, and evidently they did it well, for their master seemed satisfied, and gave them the same remuneration as he gave to those who had borne the heat and burden of the day. It is well to know that the Lord Jesus never calls to work for which the workman is unsuited. As the strength is suited to the day, so the work is suited to the workman and the workman to the work. In the eyes of men, those labourers in the field of religious activities, who have born the heat and burden of the day, and whose names and fame are in every man’s mouth, are doubtless considered the most praiseworthy and deserving the greatest reward of grace. The Lord, however, sees and judges differently to men; and His judgements are always right. At the great day of manifestation, the labourer called but to one hour’s work, and who fulfilled his one hour to the best of his ability, will receive from His gracious Master approval and reward equal to the all-day labourers; aye, and in comparison far beyond, if the all-day labourers sat in judgement upon their less capable fellow-workers, and thought more of themselves and their all-day work than they ought. The reward of grace for service is not according to the amount of work, or the success attending it, but according to our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus in doing that work, be it little or much, to which He calls us. ••••••• ■ July 4: “Your Father.” – Matthew v. 45. O child of God, what a Father He is to you! It was “your Father” who chose you before the world was to be His child. It was “your Father” who loved you with an everlasting love. It was “your Father” who gave you to the Lord Jesus in His purpose of grace before the beginning of creation. It was “your Father” who gave the Lord Jesus to be your surety, your ransom, your Saviour. It was “your Father” who caused you to know and trust in that same Saviour, or you never would have known and trusted in Him. It is “your Father who will receive you at the hands of Jesus, when you shall appear before Him will all the children “your Father” gave Him. It is “your Father” who is also the Father of your Lord, even Jesus, and thus the same Jesus is one of the family as well as Lord – “firstborn among many brethren,” and Lord of Heaven and earth. “Your Father” made Him to be all to you that He is, and that He ever will be. Oh! what a Father “your Father” is! He knoweth what things you need, and you are sure to receive every good thing at His hand, for the very best He had to give, He has not withheld, even the Son of His love. And oh! what a loving, obedient, trustful, humble-hearted child should you be towards such a Father as “your Father” is! Your life, your heart, your lips should praise and magnify that name which the Everlasting God has condescended in so endearing a manner to call Himself by, when looking upon you, He calls Himself “your Father.” And, oh! how pleasant, how joyful with the Lord Jesus as your companion and as the Firstborn among many brethren, to hear him say – “My Father, and your Father.” Happy day, when this ceases to be a matter of faith, and becomes a full realisation in that bright family home above, which “your Father” has provided for you and all His ransomed children. ••••••• ■ July 3: “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” – 2 Chronicles xxvii. 6. Open dealings with the Lord Jesus, and the doing of all things as unto Him and not unto men, will bring power in the service, and confidence and peace in the heart, and blessing in the end. “Them that honour Me I will honour.” How many prepare their ways under the consideration of what their fellow-men will see or what their fellow-men will say, rather than under the consideration of what the Lord will see or what the Lord will say; and thus they fall into many a snare. How often social position, the honour that comes from man, the fear of losing status, the dread of seeming to be peculiar, and similar influences, lead too many to plan and act as before men rather than as before the Lord, whom alone they should desire to please, whose word alone should be their guide, and whose glory alone should be their aim. Oh! for grace to be like the Apostle Paul, who “counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” his Lord; and to be like Jotham, who “became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” ••••••• ■ July 2: “The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” – 2 Chronicles xxv. 9. “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis xvii. 14. “Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” – Ephesians iii. 20. With such a helper, such a provider, surely the believer is well cared for, and may joyfully say, “I will trust and not be afraid.” If there be no end to the believer’s need, there is certainly no end to the Lord’s giving. However much a believer may have received, or may now need, or may have lost, or be likely to lose in the path of faithful service, it is ever true, “The Lord is able to give much more than this.” Though the difficulties in the path of duty may seem insurmountable, the believer has nothing to fear, for walking with the Lord in the path of duty, the Lord walks with him in all its difficulties, and, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Moreover, what a liberal provider He is! The measure of His doing is not according to our conscious need; but He doeth “exceeding abundantly above all.” Verily, we can say: “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” ••••••• ■ July 1: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” – 1 Peter ii. 25. “Ye were as sheep going astray;” how distinctly this shows that those sinners who trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation, were already His sheep when as yet they had not been brought to know their need of the great salvation accomplished for them by their “good Shepherd.” “Ye are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls;” how distinctly this shows the sure results of grace through the quickening work of the Holy Spirit. As the result of that work the Lord Jesus possesses the chiefest attraction for them. “My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me.” They now seek no other place of refuge, no other guide but Himself. They may possess but little comfort. They may have but a very faint assurance of their interest in His love. Great may be the depths of inbred evil over which they mourn; yet withal they can truly say that their eyes are towards Him, and the desire of their hearts is after Him. The sure evidence this, that His eyes were previously towards them, and His desire first after them, and that His voice has effectually called them to Himself, “Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice.” How emphatic! How certain is the Shepherd’s language! “I must bring” – “they shall hear.” How complete are the arrangements of the everlasting covenant! How irresistible are the workings of sovereign, electing grace! So is it always. He begins the work in the soul of His beloved; and it is He who carries on that work unto the end. Both the beginning and the end shall evermore be to the glory of His matchless, free, and unmerited grace. ••••••• ■ June 30: “And went and told Jesus.” – Matthew xiv. 12. The best earthly friends cannot rightly understand the heart’s need and the heart’s longing; but the Lord Jesus can. The best of earthly friends cannot be trusted always with everything; but it is so different with the Lord Jesus. The heart longs for true friendship here on earth, but nothing can fully satisfy save the realised friendship of Jesus. In Him the heart ever finds a full satisfaction for all its longings – a rich supply for all its needs. Earthly disappointments but make Him the more precious, causing the heart to rest in Him where no disappointment ever follows. He is the sure Friend. He is more than Brother. He is ever a true sympathiser, ever the strength of the weak, the guide of the perplexed, the joy of the sorrowing, the healer of the wounded heart. In all this He never fails. ••••••• ■ June 29: “Jesus Christ the same.” – Hebrews xiii. 8. Believer in Jesus, always remember that all grace, and light, and joy is for you in a Person, and that Person is Jesus. Jesus your Saviour – your Friend, and Helper, and your constant companion. The Lord Jesus never places anything between your heart’s need and Himself. The path is always open and always free. The more needy, the more welcome to Him. Your weakness and need are your true capability to prove that He is the strong one ready to help. Fear not, for He never fails. Cease not to trust, for He ceases not to be trustworthy. He is always “Jesus Christ the same.” What you have realised Him to be in your very best moments, He is the same in your worst moments. This Jesus is yours for evermore, and His love and life are bound up in you. Therefore rejoice in Him always, no matter what cause else for sorrow you may have in your providential path. ••••••• ■ June 27: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” – Isaiah lvii. 15. “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John xiv. 3. It is Christ we want more of. Nothing but Christ can satisfy a quickened soul. The Christ-nature and the Christ-life within long after Christ Himself; and the more healthy the inner life, the more is Christ thus longed for. There is a twofold experience of soul very necessary, if we would enjoy a greater fulness of Christ within. It is to lie low and to lie still. The former the result of our consciousness of self-vileness, the latter the consciousness of our self-helplessness. Then lying low and still in soul before Him, He comes most surely and graciously to be that soul’s life and joy. All His dealings in the way of discipline are but to teach us that lesson more effectually. What a precious friend is the Lord Jesus! How comforting is the full assurance of the hope of our future in Him and with Him; How wonderful that His eternal happiness should be bound up with the eternal happiness of His people, and that heaven without them would be no place of happiness for Him; and that part of the glory given Him by the Father consists in having them with Him hereafter, so that where He is, there they may be also. It is wonderful, but it is true. “Because I live ye shall live also,” is His language to His people, and why? Because (amongst other reasons) it is He in them and they in Him. His life is their life. His glory is their glory. His eternity is their eternity. They stand together – for ever one in grace, and love, and glory. ••••••• ■ June 26: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans viii. 28. “To them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” “According to His purpose” – for He had purposed before the world was who His called ones should be, and also purposed that all things should work for their good. The doings of His grace in time are ever the result of the purposes of His grace before the foundation of the world (Rom. viii. 30). “Them who are the called according to His purpose” – “called” to know themselves as guilty before God and deserving of eternal condemnation – “called” to know the all-sufficiency of Christ to save – “called” to trust in His atoning death as their only hope of salvation – “called” out of the world; no longer to revel in its gaieties, to enjoy its fellowships, or be swayed by its principles – “called” to be followers of the Lord Jesus through evil report or good report. This is the calling which distinguishes those who love God, and for whose good it is said “all things work together.” Yes – “all things work together.” It is not said that they work singly or alone, but in relationship to one another – they “work together.” One little thing which we cannot at all understand, or see the reason of, the Lord sees is necessary to make several other things properly work for our good. Without that one thing – that one very unpleasant thing – all the rest would not be for our benefit. We are too apt to look at things singly, and therefore the mind often becomes perplexed. A single thread is not of much importance in itself, but if left out in the weaving, the pattern in the loom would be rendered imperfect. These “all things” are so many shuttles running to and fro, weaving the web of goodness and blessing for the children of God. The hand that throws the shuttles is the hand of Jesus. In the web He weaves no thread will be found misplaced, when the weaving is over. Therefore let us leave all things in the hands of Jesus, who has the whole plan of the life of each believer always before Him, and who in His infinite wisdom understands how to put one thing to another, so as to produce the best results and accomplish all His purposes of love. Let us trust in Him at all times, even when our expectations of earthly things are disappointed and our plans frustrated, or when darkness surrounds our path, and trials and affliction are our portion; being assured that when we have attained a keener vision and a fuller understanding than our pilgrim state affords us, we shall see that “all things” did but work together for our good, whilst they also testified to the wisdom, power, and love of Him who “doeth all things well.” ••••••• ■ June 25: “And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship.” – John vi. 17-19. “Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you.” – Isaiah xxx. 18. The Lord Jesus is never in a hurry. However much unbelief may desire to hasten His hand, He still abides His own time. Omnipotence can afford to wait, because it is always sure of success; and when that omnipotence is combined with infinite love and wisdom, the right thing is sure to be done at the right time, and in the right way. Sometimes the Lord waits until it is quite evening time before He breaks forth in refreshing and delivering and directing light and grace. The dusk becomes more gloomy, and yet He waits. He waits to be gracious. He waits His own opportunity; and then, when twilight has ceased and it is quite eventide, when all plans are frustrated, all hopes disappointed, no help seems near, and darkness thickens, then He shines forth suddenly and gloriously, and there is light abundant. The deliverance is complete and the way made plain to the end. So, believer, be encouraged. Whatever may be the path of service clearly appointed you by the Lord, continue therein notwithstanding all present difficulties, and your Lord will appear in His own time for your help. Remember that although it was dark and the sea rose high by reason of a great wind that blew, the disciples still continued rowing. It was all they could do, and it was all that was required of them. In a little while the Lord appeared, and at once their purpose was accomplished, and the ship was at the land whither they went. Thus it is that patient perseverance in the path of duty, amidst many and great difficulties, often results through the Lord’s grace in more complete and unexpected success than could otherwise have been accomplished. Therefore, believer, do what you can – still continue rowing, and when the right time comes the Lord’s hand will be manifest, for He doth “wait that He may be gracious unto you.” ••••••• ■ June 24: “So shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians iv. 17. We wait for that bright and happy day – that eternal morning without a cloud. It will come, and come soon, though to our longing souls it seems to tarry. We are not to expect freedom from sorrow and sighing here. The brightest day may have clouds ere sunset. Wayside greetings are but the prelude to wayside partings. Sorrow, and tears, and sighing are not necessarily the result of unbelief, neither are they necessarily un-Christ like, for Jesus groaned in spirit, and “Jesus wept.” The Apostle Paul also sorrowed as well as rejoiced. We too rejoice in the Lord, but that joy makes us not as Stoics – makes us not tearless when thorns pierce; but influences us to weep as though we wept not, and to sorrow, but not as those without hope. But oh! for the coming day when “we shall see Him as He is,” and when “we shall be like Him,” and “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” “So shall we ever be with the Lord.” Let us then show our gratitude by seeking, while here, to love Him more, and walk in closer fellowship with Him, and to have our hearts more in unison with His. We seem to have nothing of Him compared to what we want. Let us press on. Let us exhort and encourage each other in this; and let us together emulate the noble example of the Apostle when he says: – “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Sometimes we seem to have a thirsting after Him, which, when satisfied, is but increased. Then, again, there are seasons when the spiritual energies are so quiescent, that the soul knows not its own thirst, or knowing it, cannot drink so deeply as was its wont. Sometimes there are seasons when the soul, bowed down under a deep sense of great weakness and great need, is being prepared for a more earnest pressing on than ever, and for a fuller realisation of the fact that the strength of the Lord Jesus is made perfect in weakness. Still, then, though amidst weariness and perplexities, foes without and foes within, still let us press on; for greater is He that is for us, than all they that can be against us. Leaning on Him, looking to Him, and walking with Him in conscious need, and conscious fellowship, our path will be as the morning light which shineth more and more to the perfect day. That perfect day, that long-looked-for day, when we shall “ever be with the Lord!” ••••••• ■ June 23: “And they that weep, as though they wept not.” – 1 Corinthians vii. 30. “That ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” – 1 Thessalonians iv. 13. Closer still to Jesus, not only includes wider separation from everything that would draw us away from Him, but often an acquaintance with those things that make this world still more a wilderness than before. When Jesus, however, really becomes all to the believer, life is such a very different thing. Then all earthly things, and earthly joys, even the most innocent and desirable, are held with a loose grasp, so that when it pleases Him to remove them, the already loosened grasp makes it easier to let them go, and if the tear does fall, it is soon wiped away by His loving and gentle hand; if the heart does feel a wound, it is soon alleviated by Him who delights to comfort those that mourn, and to lift up those that be bowed down. Earth’s fairest flowers should ever have Christ for their root. Severed from Him they soon lose their fragrance, and the tighter they are grasped the sooner they wither and perish, leaving nothing but thorns behind. Truly the flowers of earthly friendship and earthly love bloom most brightly and shed forth a sweeter, richer fragrance when planted in the garden of the Lord, with the “rose of Sharon” in the midst. Such friendships – associations so endeared – know no lasting severance; for when removed from the garden of the Lord here, it is that they may be transplanted to the heavenly Paradise, there to shed forth a richer, sweeter fragrance for evermore. In the consciousness of this, when our tears flow through being called to part for a season from loved ones, we can indeed be of the number of those who weep “as though they wept not,” and who “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” ••••••• ■ June 22: “This man doeth many miracles.” – John xi. 47. True witness, though it came out of the mouth of His enemies – and “this man” is man still, though ascended into the heavens, and seated on the throne of power and glory – and still He doeth “many miracles,” both in providence and grace. Still He manifests His miraculous grace in quickening dead souls. Still He manifests His miraculous providences in opening out a way of deliverance to the perplexed, of succour to the needy, of peace to the troubled; and this too, when all human endeavours have failed, and men have ceased even to hope. Yes, for His perplexed ones He maketh “a way in the wilderness;” and for His weary ones, “rivers in the desert,” leaving them still in the wilderness and in the desert, that by contrast they may more fully see “this man” still “doeth many miracles.” Sometimes in chastisement He makes a fruitful place a wilderness, but again in His tender mercies and loving-kindnesses He rewardeth patient endurance by causing the desert to rejoice and blossom as the rose; yea, to blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. Wherefore, let those that are of a fearful heart be strong and fear not, for “this man” is Jesus, the same evermore – God and man – and He yet “doeth many miracles.” Happy is the soul that trusteth only in Him. ••••••• ■ June 20: “Content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” – Hebrews xiii. 5. The Lord Jesus never leaves His people. Whether they realise His presence or not, it does not alter the fact, for He is ever with them as their loving and sympathising friend and helper – true God, yet always true man. “I will never leave thee,” – there is the assurance of His gracious presence. “Nor forsake thee,” – there is the assurance of His watchful care and changeless love. It is possible for a person to have much of the company of one by whom he is forsaken in heart affection. The Lord Jesus deals not thus with His people. His language means – “My presence shall ever go with thee, My heart shall ever be towards thee, and My hand shall ever hold thee." There is nothing in the darkest and most trying path in which a believer can possibly be placed, that need prevent him constantly realising the presence and love of His Lord, and quietly resting in Him. Fully, however, to realise the Lord's presence, and love, and quietly rest in Him, there must not only be looking up, and trusting, and waiting, but the heart must also be content with the providential path below. If a believer would walk in loving fellowship with the Lord Jesus, when in the path of trial, there must be a quiet, contented, patient abiding in that path where the Lord has placed him; for there, and there only, will the Lord Jesus meet with him. Discontentment with the path shows that the heart is not walking in it as the appointed place of meeting with Jesus, however the feet may be compelled to tread it. The heart therefore misses Him by leaving the place of meeting. The heart of the believer must quietly come down to the circumstances of the path, so as to be in agreement with them, before he can fully realise the presence of the Lord Jesus, and rest wholly in Him. Disagreement with the path is disagreement with Him who ordained it. There should be not only abiding with the Lord as the source of rest and comfort, but abiding in the path as the way of His appointment in love. The want of this patient abiding is the reason why so many believers have such a joyless, anxious, troubled, barren experience. “Content with the things that are present, for He hath said, No, I will not leave thee, neither forsake thee; no, not at all.” ••••••• ■ June 19: “Thy will be done.” – Matthew xxvi. 42. Believers often plead, “Lord, take away all that would prevent me saying without reserve, Thy will be done.” This pleading must however be accompanied by wise dealing with self. Our physical and mental powers are servants, ready when in health to do our bidding at all times, whether for good or evil, according as they are made the servants of the old nature or the new. Whatever hinders a perfect acquiescence in the will of the Lord is of the old nature; but this old nature makes the mind its servant in this hindering work. We cannot alter this old nature, though its powers may be weakened greatly by disuse, and by grace. A very efficacious way to prevent its doing mischief is to take out of its hands the instruments it uses for evil. Now, whenever the mind is much occupied with the troubles, and difficulties, and burdens of the way, the old nature is using it, and is gaining strength thereby for further activity and mischief; soon depression follows, and then discontent and unbelief. Therefore make a firm stand against the use of the mind by the old nature, and bring it into the service of the new nature. That would at once refer everything to Jesus; that would lead the mind to think much of Him; and only of the trial as making Jesus more needful, and the heart more hopeful and trustful in Him. However heavily the matter may press; still ever be thinking of Jesus in His love, and faithfulness, and presence, and power, and grace. The mind being thus exercised on Him, the heart is preserved from being overwhelmed, and can humbly say, “Thy will be done.” ••••••• ■ June 18: “I am with you alway.” – Matthew xxviii. 20. Some are continually seeking to realise the life of Christ within them, making that the chief object of their thoughts; but that is not the way to live happily. Others are continually trying to realise the presence of Christ as near to them wherever they may be; but this too is a mistake, and is not the right way to order our thoughts concerning Him. Our thoughts should be engaged about Him as the man who ascended to heaven, and who is now there at the right hand of God. True God and yet always true man, and always the friend and the guide of His people. It is not Jesus within us, or Jesus about us, but Jesus in heaven who is the object of faith (Acts iii. 21; Col. iii. 1; Heb. i. 3, viii. i, x. 12, xii. 2). He is ever there as the object for worship and fellowship; ever there as the source of consolation and joy. We should not make the joy of Christ’s presence the chief object of desire, for this would turn our thoughts more to the desired experience than to Jesus Himself. We should rest content with the declaration of His word – “I am with you always.” By relying upon this continually the experience of peace and joy will follow in due course. The realisation of Christ’s presence, however desirable, will never be attained if the realisation itself be the prominent object of thought. The fact of Christ’s presence, believed in because of His own word, and made the leading thought in the mind daily, will always result in the joyful realisation of His presence. ••••••• ■ June 17: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called.” – Romans viii. 30. Effectual calling is of God Himself, in the omnipotence of His power, and in the accomplishment of His purposes of grace and love. It is different from the mere outward call through the ministry of the word, concerning which it is said, that “many are called, but few are chosen;” for it awakens the hearer to a true sense of his condition, and effectually influences him to render a suitable response, and is therefore called “effectual;” whereas the mere outward call, however it may influence the hearers for a time, leaves them still unawakened. This effectual call is an inward and creative act by the Holy Spirit, whereby an ear is given which hears, a mind which understands, and a heart which is made willing in this the day of God’s power. It is a call to spiritual light: but this light is given with the call, as surely as physical light followed the word when God said, “Let there be light.” It is a call to spiritual life; but this life is given with the call, as surely as physical life was given to the dead body of Lazarus when the Lord Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.” It is a call to partake of good provided, but it creates a desire for it, so that now the soul is not satisfied unless it partakes of the good to which it is called. It is a call to a peace made ready, but this peace becomes the desire of the soul. It is a call to Christ and His salvation, but now Christ and His salvation become the soul’s deepest need. The consciously needy sinner is indeed the effectually called sinner, and he is called to see his need fully met in Christ. How much cause for thankfulness and praise have all who are thus effectually called of God to see their need as guilty ones, and to look for salvation in Christ alone, for this effectual calling is an assurance that all else of covenant good is theirs, both of the past, present, and future: for “Whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” ••••••• ■ June 16: “God, even our Father, which hath...given us...good hope through grace.” – 2 Thessalonians ii. 16. What a blessing it is to have always the consciousness of “a good hope through grace” – a good hope of eternal life, that is – a hope well grounded and fully assured, and which nothing can shake. For sinners to have such a hope as this, it must indeed be “through grace” – grace that lays the foundation of it, grace that gives the assurance of it, and grace that makes the assurance abiding and unchangeable. The God of grace has provided for all this in His covenant arrangements made known in His Holy Word, where we learn that this “good hope” has for its foundation the everlasting love of God the Father; the perfected salvation for sinners wrought out through the shed blood and perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus as the sinner’s substitute; and the unerring testimony of the Holy Spirit. It is, however, one thing to have this hope assured generally to the children of God in covenant arrangements; and another thing to have it assured personally to the individual consciousness of the awakened sinner. Yet, without this there can be no abiding consolation. This personal assurance comes through believing – believing, in the Lord Jesus as the way of salvation through His atoning death, and trusting to the promise of God that all who thus believe shall never perish, but have everlasting life. A true sense of need, however, always precedes this believing on Jesus; and a sense of need accompanied with real earnestness of mind and heart, such as only true need truly realised will cause. An earnestness which nothing earthly can extinguish, because, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, it is the earnestness of a soul that wants to escape from the wrath to come, and which can find no rest until fully assured of having escaped for ever. It is an earnestness which puts all temporal things in a very secondary and subordinate place, and which, however hindered by indwelling sin, or outward seducing, or opposing influences, returns yet again and again as the unalterable manifestation of the newly quickened life of grace in the soul, until finding rest in the finished work of Christ, the soul rejoices in the assurance of being, indeed, the possessor of a “good hope through grace.” ••••••• ■ June 15: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.” – John xvi. 33. Yesterday on the mount, today in the deep valley, is ofttimes the pilgrim’s experience. Nevertheless we are daily nearing home, and still Jesus continues everything to His people; willingly so Himself, and appointed to be so by our Father. Therefore let us use Him as such in our need always. When the tongue of man in falsehood, and enmity rises against us, then – Jesus is our defence. When evil pursues us from without or within, then – Jesus is our refuge. When duty calls and the heart trembles, then – Jesus is our help. When the spirit is weary, and worn, and sad, then – Jesus is our rest. The Christian pilgrim, like an ordinary traveller, needs a resting-place, where, for a season, he can stay in quiet before he starts again on his way. Sometimes the mind becomes so fagged and weary that it is not so much help to walk that is sought for, but rather a place of rest for a little season, because so weary. Such a resting-place is Jesus – a quiet resting-place to His weary ones. The varied vicissitudes and experiences of the Christian life only bring out more fully the variety of blessing there is in Him, and cause us to prize Him more. Water is most prized by the thirsty. Help by the weak. Medicine by the sick. Food by the hungry, and rest by the weary. So Jesus is most prized by those who most feel their need of Him. His heart-healing love is best known by those who have had most heart- wounds. The deeper realisation of His presence is oftener found in deep-water experiences (Isa. xliii. 1, 2). ••••••• ■ June 13: “He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town.” – Mark viii. 23. The Lord Jesus doeth His divine wonders after the manner of a man, and a brother. See Him, the mighty God, as the gentle, true-hearted man, walking hand-in-hand along the streets of Bethsaida, with this poor blind fellow-man. Giving sight to him was not so wonderful a thing as the condescending familiarity of that public walk. Verily He is not ashamed to call us brethren, or to show Himself a brother. He is still the same – all that He works for us as God, He doeth as a man, that we may, in holy confidence and affection, walk in fellowship with Him. What matters it if we cannot see our way, so that Jesus holds our hand. We shall see in His own good time, and He will give sight in His own wise and loving way. Sometimes it is better not to see, not to know, and then His loving-kindness keeps us in the dark. “Bethsaida” means “the house of snares.” The Lord Jesus suffered the man to remain blind while in Bethsaida, but He left him not alone there. He himself became his guide, and when outside the town, the same hand that guided him opened his eyes. Sometimes a child of God is walking in a “Bethsaida” path, and through love and grace is permitted not to see until the end of the way is reached. The blindness that hides the way, hides the snares; but there is safety, for it is Jesus takes him by the hand. When our “Bethsaida” way is passed, and our opened eyes contemplate the dangers and snares of the road He hath led us, we are glad and thankful we remained in ignorance of all that we had escaped, until all was passed for ever. Oh! ’tis blessed not to know, if He wills it. “He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town.” ••••••• ■ June 12: “Built up in him.” – Colossians ii. 7. Herein is the stability and firmness of the believer: “Built up in Him” – not in self – not in experiences – but in Him – Christ Jesus. He, the foundation of every gift and every grace – Knowledge built up in, and always resting on Him – Faith built up in, and always resting on Him – Love built up in, and always resting on Him – Joy built up in, and always resting on Him – Patience built up in, and always resting on Him; – and thus grace after grace – each grace being a distinct portion of the one great building, with Christ always as the foundation. The higher a building is raised, the more weight rests on the foundation; so the higher the walls of grace are built, the more the soul is leaning upon Jesus than it did before – more consciously realising His power and love, because more “built up in Him.” Oh! my soul, be thou a steady, a patient, and persevering builder; and be thou careful, not only as regards salvation, but as regards every following gift and grace, that Jesus, and not self, be the foundation all through. ••••••• ■ June 11: “For even Christ pleased not himself.” – Romans xv. 3. Blessed Jesus, how complete Thy self-denial! How perfect Thy servitude! To live, and labour, and suffer for our salvation was not a path pleasing to self, yet a path Thou didst willingly choose, and with a patient endurance, a loving heart, and a lowly spirit, didst meekly tread! “He pleased not Himself,” – therefore, though often weary and worn and fasting. He still taught and laboured for the comfort and good of others. “He pleased not Himself,” – therefore did He “endure the contradiction of sinners against Himself,” as it is written, “the reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell on Me.” “He pleased not Himself,” – therefore was His soul “exceeding sorrowful even unto death,” that He might be able to say, “Father, I have finished the work Thou gavest Me to do.” “He pleased not Himself,” – hence Gethsemane and Calvary – hence the agony and bloody sweat – the cross – the curse – the death. Blessed Jesus, Thou didst not please Thyself, therefore Thou didst count no price too precious, no weariness too exhausting, no effort too great, no servitude too humiliating, no heart-wounding too keen, no shame too deep, no self-denial too complete, to show Thy great affection for us. Lord Jesus, how little are we like Thee! Lord Jesus, teach us this lesson, so little understood, and so slowly learned, that in pleasing not ourselves, we often become the greatest blessing to others; and that in knowing the fellowship of Thy sufferings, we shall more fully realise the power of Thy resurrection, and more fully share the glory of Thy kingdom and Thy crown. ••••••• ■ June 10: “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” – John i. 16. If then we have not, the cause of our not having is in ourselves, not in the Lord. He is still the same, and in Him is all fulness for all our need – fulness of strength, for our weakness – fulness of wisdom, for our ignorance – fulness of joy, for our sorrow – fulness of knowledge, for our perplexity; yea, a fulness of grace, for every duty, every trial, and every affliction. The reason of so much spiritual weakness and soul-deadness is, because there is such a lack of a receiving disposition. “Of His fulness have all we received.” We may be very busy here and there, engaged in multiplied religious activities, giving time, physical strength, and mental energy; but is it always well with the soul of the busy worker? Liberal givers should be large receivers. Those who actively work in the Lord’s service should know how patiently and quietly to wait upon the Lord Himself, else the doing will but bring barrenness of soul. Alas! how many, through being the self-constituted keepers of others’ vineyards, have neglected their own. He who gives and labours beyond his receiving of the Lord, and his calling of the Lord, gives and labours without warrant, and without real soul-blessing, and his works are of the flesh, and not of the Spirit, even though the gospel be taught, and good works be accomplished, and there be much joy experienced in the labour. Sweetest fruits are usually found on the best cultivated trees. The most refreshing streams come from the deepest springs, and thus are ever living, and ever renewed. It is more easy, and more in accordance with the pride of our fallen nature, to be active workers, and influential givers, rather than humble receivers, and quiet, patient, waiting ones; moreover, the natural buoyancy and stimulus manifested in, and encouraged by increased activities, are too often mistaken for spiritual vigour. God works through the fulness of Christ; if, therefore, we are not receivers from that fulness – receiving multiplied grace – grace constantly renewed – “grace for grace” – we are not working according to God’s order. Oh for the humble, childlike, receiving heart, which, out of “His fulness” – the fulness of our Lord Jesus – is continually receiving “grace for grace.” ••••••• ■ June 9: “God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Hebrews vi. 17, 18). One of the most comforting assurances of this word is, that all the good promised is not to those who have any good in themselves, but to those who, filled with fear because of the bad which is theirs, have fled for refuge, out of themselves and away from themselves, to the hope of the Gospel – that is, to a crucified Saviour – in order that they may obtain the salvation assured to all who trust in Him. In the words which characterise this people it is implied that there was peculiar to them, – a fear about future and deserved judgment – a conscious helplessness and hopelessness as far as regards self or any other human help – a satisfaction with the provision made ready for them – and a laying hold of this provision in the manner of a fugitive fleeing to a refuge. This fleeing for refuge is a frequently recurring experience with many a true believer who has long known the only sure hope of salvation. At the beginning of his Christian life, when, under deep conviction of guilt and pursued by an accusing conscience, a condemning law, and a sense of coming judgment, he first looked to Christ, it was as one fleeing to a place of refuge; and often very often in after days, when, from the power of unbelief and the enmity of his evil nature, his experience becomes one of darkness and doubt, he finds no light, no rest, until he again flees to the old and only refuge, Jesus Himself – Jesus as lifted up crucified for sinners. So that many a believer all through life is best known to himself, as one who has fled, and continually flees for refuge to Christ. Here then is the comfort of this word – those who have thus fled for refuge are called “the heirs of promise,” and their eternal safety is assured by the immutability of God’s counsel, and the sacredness of God’s oath. ••••••• ■ June 8: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” – Hebrews x. 12. “This Man.” How the heart bounds with joy at the remembrance that the exalted and Holy One, who is now seated in the place of power, “the right hand of God,” ruling throughout all creation, is a real man, possessing a humanity like our own – body, soul, and mind. How much more real, more human, more tangible, heavenly things are, when we are conscious that at the head of all is “this Man,” Jesus; and that the Being whom angels worship and adore, and before whom they bow in loving submission, is the very one who dwelt a lowly one amongst men. “This Man,” so loving, so gentle, so gracious, so kind, so humble-hearted, so tender in His sympathy, and faithful in His love, is ours – still our Shepherd, Friend, and Guide, our ever-gracious Sympathiser and ever-ready Helper. When He undertook the burden of His people’s guilt, their sins became His own – not His own practically, but His own judicially – they, therefore, stood in the way between Himself and the “right hand of God.” He cleared them out of the way by becoming the “one sacrifice for sins,” and then “sat down on the right hand of God” – sure token that we who trust in Him; we whose sins He thus made His own, shall with Him also sit down “on the right hand of God.” One with the Father as God, yet is He ever “this Man.” Little do we know how wonderfully His humanity was fashioned and mellowed by His many sufferings, and weaknesses, and sorrows, and pains, and persecutions; in order that He might the better sympathise with His people, and be the more consciously and really like unto His tried and suffering ones. Of this, however, we are sure, that He who lived as man on earth is still “this Man...on the right hand of God;” and of this, also, we are sure, that the “right hand of God” is our eternal home, for where He is, there shall we be also. ••••••• ■ June 6: “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” – 2 Corinthians vi. 10. “Sorrowful,” because there is so much power for evil in the world. “Sorrowful,” because error increases, and spiritual truth is less and less relished. “Sorrowful,” because of so little fellowship amongst true believers. “Sorrowful,” because Christ is so little known, so little loved, so little honoured. And sorrowful, oh! how sorrowful, because of a heart prone to wander, – because of an evil nature within, that so constantly wars against the new and the better. “Yet alway rejoicing,” for Jesus giveth grace, and giveth victory, and in Him the believer is evermore complete and changelessly perfect before God. “Alway rejoicing,” because the Lord Jesus liveth and reign etb, and His purposes are sure of accomplishment. “Alway rejoicing,” because greater is He that is with His people, than all they that can be against them. “Alway rejoicing,” because the Lord’s love for His people is ever the same, and His presence ever abides with them. “Alway rejoicing,” because the Lord is coming “to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all them that believe.” “Alway rejoicing,” for the Lord is near, and full redemption draweth nigh. “Alway rejoicing,” because of a glorious future in a bright and happy home with Jesus. Let this “alway rejoicing” be ours; for ’tis the earnest of the joys of heaven, the foretaste of that home experience in which the “sorrowful” no more doth mingle, for there it is everlasting joy, and sorrow and sighing have for ever fled away. ••••••• ■ June 5: “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” – Matthew x. 30. How well He knows us! How much He cares for us! Deep love creates deep interest in the very least things that pertain to the object loved. Oh, what love is His! How deep His interest in us when the very hairs of our head are all numbered. As the all-seeing God, He knoweth everything everywhere; but He knoweth us and everything pertaining to us in a special, and particular, and gracious, and Fatherly manner. Two emphatic words here denote the particularity of the love, and the universality of its interest, “your,” as distinct from those who are not His own; “all,” as showing that not even a little one is unnoticed. We, however, cease to wonder at our Father’s special and watchful care for us in little things, when we remember that He gave for us His Son, His only-begotten Son; and if such minute things as the hairs of our head are a special object of thought to Him, how much more the varied things of daily life which have such an influence over our lives for good or evil. Let us then trust in Him at all times, and let our expectation be continually from Him. ••••••• ■ June 4: “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” – Mark xiv. 6. She had made no complaint – she had expressed no sorrow – but doubtless her countenance was cast down with “grief” at the indignation and false accusation of the disciples. The Lord saw it, and at once took her part, and pronounced her blessed, in expressing His approbation of that act which others had condemned. Oh! how necessary it is to cease from man, and seek only to commend ourselves to the Lord in all we do. How readily man shows indignation, if matters are not done according to his standard. How readily man imputes wrong motives, when conscience is really void of offence toward God and man. Well! it is a comfort that the Lord – the gracious, compassionate Lord Jesus is our Judge. When therefore the heart beats quicker, and grief swells the bosom, because of the unjust judgment of our fellows, let this be our comfort, that the Lord knows all, and that He who so quickly and so firmly took Mary’s part, is still the watchful friend and defender of His loved ones, and that He will, in His own time and way, according to His own word, bring forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noonday. Jesus said, “Let her alone, why trouble ye her?” ••••••• ■ June 3: “He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” – Hebrews xi. 27. The salvation which the Lord Jesus has purchased is indeed a great and infinite blessing, but salvation does not satisfy those longings which the Holy Spirit has enkindled in the heart of the believer. Salvation is not Jesus Himself; it is Himself alone that satisfies. Salvation is the first taste of His love. Salvation is the first draught out of that fountain from which we want to drink more and more. We need not wait until we reach heaven to have much of heavenly joy and heavenly rest. That which will make heaven a heaven to the believer, is the fact that he will then see the Lord Jesus and be wholly like unto Him. This will produce perfect rest and joy; but this joy and rest may be attained here in a measure far beyond what most believers think possible. True, we cannot see Him face to face as we shall then, but we may so walk as seeing Him who is invisible, so walk in continued consciousness of His personal presence and watchful love, that His presence will be more realised by us than that of those around us whom our eyes behold, and He Himself be more our joy than any earthly being whatever. We may so rest in Him by faith here, that in Him every care shall find its cure, every sorrow its solace, every difficulty its solution, and every sin its defeat; and although on earth, with this body of sin and death to hinder, we can never hope to be fully like unto Him, yet, thus walking in communion, we cannot fail to grow more and more like unto Him every day. Oh! that we who know the Lord did live more in accordance with, and walk more conscious of, our position in Christ – rejoicing in Him always. What we want is a heart fixed on Christ – intently fixed on Christ – and filled with Christ. Then will the mind ever have thoughts of Him. Then will the walk ever testify of Him. Oh! for a heart steadfastly fixed on Him, whose heart is so fixed in unchanging love on us. ••••••• ■ June 2: “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.” — Luke viii. 52. It certainly did seem to be a hopeless case, but yet it was not really so. It only seemed to be. Onlookers saw no ray of light amidst the surrounding gloom; but that was because they knew not Him who was so near. They knew not His love, His grace, His power, and so the words of cheer even from His lips seemed like mockery to them. Alas! so is it now too frequently even with those who know somewhat of the power and love of Jesus. If trials continue and increase, and help and deliverance are not soon afforded, tears flow, gloom and despondency prevail. This, however, should not be. Jesus still lives; Jesus still loves; Jesus is still mighty to deliver, and He is ever nigh. Let then the believer say: “Why art thou cast down, my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me?” What though “deep calleth unto deep” at His command? I will still hope and quietly wait for His appearing on my behalf, for I shall yet praise Him for His delivering grace, for “He is the health of my countenance,” – “my Lord and my God.” ••••••• ■ June 1: “I will rejoice in the Lord.” – Habakkuk iii. 18. Joy, even joy in the Lord of a deeply emotional character, long continued, would be more than our physical nature could at present bear. There is, however, a quiet trustful joy that makes the soul calm and peaceful and happy in Jesus at all times. This joy is not strongly emotional in its manifestations, but is deeply real and stable, and much more to be desired than the strongly emotional. The latter is like the intense joy experienced when much-loved friends meet for the first time after a long separation. The other is the calm, happy feeling they experience in each other’s company, and in the consciousness of each other’s love. A feeling that is very deep down in the heart, and which finds its truest expression in a look of satisfied affection and pleasure, and which finds its strongest manifestation in quiet, self-forgetting services. Oh! to be frequently during the day sending such a look upward to Him who is ever looking down upon us with a look of unutterable affection. Oh! for grace to show our love more continuously by quiet, self-forgetting service, seeking in all things to please Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. A truly deep affection is more of the quiet than of the emotionally demonstrative character, because it is so much a part of our very being. The very demonstrative is often but the outburst of a transient and easily awakened feeling. The other is so much a part of our being, that if it were possible that the object of our affection could be annihilated, it would not be so much that our feelings would be wounded, as that a part, and the chief part, of our very being would seem to be gone for ever. Blessed be the name of our gracious Lord Jesus for evermore, we shall never lose Him – neither will He ever lose us; for the language of His heart is – “Because I live, ye shall live also.” “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” Therefore will we in restful assurance “rejoice in the Lord alway,” and quietly wait the time when He will come again to receive us to Himself, that where He is, there we may be also. ••••••• ■ May 30: “I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians iii. 12. There are many believers who are saved “so as by fire.” There are others who, through much and continued hungering and thirsting after Christ here, have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of glory, and a greater measure of glory hereafter, as the Lord’s more specially prepared vessels made more capable of receiving a greater fulness of glory than others, though all will have a fulness according to the measure of their capacity. Christ more closely followed here; Christ more longed for here; Christ more looked to here; Christ made the object and end of life here; Christ made continually the soul’s joy and strength here; this enlarges the soul’s capacity while on earth, and makes it more capable of receiving a larger measure of glory, through an enlarged capacity for enjoying more of Christ hereafter. Alas! how much believers are losing by not making much of Christ. How unlike the untiring earnestness of the Apostle Paul. Oh, to be able with him to say, “I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” ••••••• ■ May 29: “We love Him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John iv. 19. Believer in Jesus, to forget you, Jesus must first forget Himself. To cease to love you, He must cease to live, for that love and that life are one. You see some of the tokens of His love in His drawing you to Himself, and thus showing you, that in Himself alone can your truest joy be found, and that in Himself alone can you realise a sufficiency for every need, both for time and eternity. You are as much a necessity to His joy, as He is to yours. He finds a heart-rest in His thoughts of love for you, and He in love has shown you that you can only find heart-rest in thoughts of that love of His, and what it has wrought for you. In your heart-desires after the Lord Jesus, though such desires may not have reached their full realisation, yet in these desires, and your heart-sorrows because of desires unrealised, you see sure evidences of your love for Him. You would not long after that for which you had no liking. The very longing shows the love. You would not look for rest and peace and joy to one in whom you did not believe, and in whom you had no confidence. The fact of looking only to Jesus for rest and peace and joy, evidences a faith not born of earth, a faith of Heaven’s own gift, and the true outflow of that new nature which nothing but Christ can satisfy. Sometimes a child of God cannot go beyond the language of Isaiah xxvi. 8 – “The desire of our soul is toward Thy name.” It is joy indeed when the soul can say as in Cant. vii. 10, “I am my Beloved’s, and His desire is toward me.” This you can truly say; for your desire toward Him is really the result of His desire being first toward you. How emphatic are the more literal words, “We – we love Him, because He first, He loved us.” ••••••• ■ May 28: “She hath wrought a good work on me....She hath done what she could.” – Mark xiv. 6, 8. Often in the activities of benevolence, there is danger lest the doers be led to act from a sense of self-satisfaction in the doing and in its manifest results, rather than with a direct view to the glory of the Lord Jesus Himself. Again, with those who are busy workers amongst the poor, always active in going hither and thither, there is sometimes danger of too readily judging and condemning others who are not also actively engaged in the same work, though to their mind they appear to have as much opportunity and ability for it as themselves. The apostles’ judgment of this woman shows that they fell into both these snares. But how different was the Lord’s judgment, – “She hath wrought a good work on Me.” Yes, He Himself was her all. Love to Him was the all-absorbing and impulsive power which moved her. Had the apostles wisely judged, they would not have charged her with extravagance and inhumanity; for that heart which is ever moved by love to Jesus can never go wrong in any relationship in life. “She hath done what she could,” He further said. Others might not think so. It was not a great work in the eyes of her fellows. It was to them nothing like raising the dead, or healing the sick, or feeding the hungry multitude. These were to them great works indeed. But the Lord was her judge. “She hath done what she could;” and above all she did it for Him – therefore her memorial should descend to all generations. May it ever be our aim to do what we can, and to do it for Jesus; knowing that whatever may be the judgment of our fellows, our memorial is with the Lord. ••••••• ■ May 27: “Let patience have her perfect work.” – James i. 4. More literally, “Let endurance (or ‘patient endurance’) have a perfect work.” The word translated “endurance” means primarily “a remaining behind” after others have gone, after friends and helpers have departed. It implies a remaining behind because conscious of being in the path of duty. It also implies a willingness to await the attack of the enemy and the consciousness of a sustaining power, though unseen and unknown by others. It implies also a determination to persevere to the end. Thus the full meaning of the word indicates that a perfect work of patience is a complete victory over the opposition of self, and over all other opposing influences in the path of daily service. The Lord Jesus, in opening out the way for patience to have her perfect work, often places the believer where there is increased and increasing need for patience, because every prospect is so unpromising, and every association is so uncongenial. Then, indeed, does the believer find that the perfect work of patience and its resulting victory is only accomplished through a perfect rest in Jesus, and in quiet waiting upon Him, and for Him, in each circumstance of the daily path. ••••••• ■ May 26: “Putting on...for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” – 1 Thessalonians v. 8. “The hope of salvation.” This points to a future day, and implies that there are evils from which no present deliverance is to be expected. But the Apostle exhorts believers to put on “for an helmet the hope of salvation,” and this implies that although there is no present deliverance from such evils, the hope of full salvation – of full deliverance at a future day – should be a source of comfort to the believer, and should enable him to lift up his head fearlessly and cheerily and hopefully, while still pressing on in the trying path, fighting the good fight of faith, looking unto Jesus, though amidst evils of every kind – moral, spiritual, social, domestic, political, or physical – evils without and evils within. The Lord Jesus takes care that the evils do not overwhelm and eternally destroy His believing ones, for He has engaged to do this, both in His free promises to them and in His covenant engagements to the Father; but oh! how often the heart sighs and longs to be away from the presence of these evils; for though they cannot destroy, they have, alas! great power to hinder and depress. When the believer is too much occupied in the contemplation of the evils around – the sins, the miseries, the selfishness, the heartlessness, and the absence of the good and the holy, and the true and the Christlike; or when too much occupied in looking into his own heart, and beholding the more than counterpart of every evil there, so that of all demons, to him, no demon seems so frightful as sinful self – old, evil self – fallen, corrupt self – the self of sin and death. Oh, then, how the head hangs mournfully! How the steps tread heavily, and the eyes see dimly because of tears, and the heart becomes depressed and burdened. Then comes the exhortation – “putting on as an helmet the hope of salvation” – teaching us that it will not last long – a little while and the conqueror’s song will be ours – a little while and full salvation will be realised, and with such joyous shoutings as only those can utter who have had such an experience of evils as ours. Let us therefore “put on the helmet.” Let us lift up our heads, for the deliverance is at hand, and the Deliverer is nigh. Blessed and welcome will be the deliverance, but infinitely more blessed and welcome will be the Deliverer Himself. ••••••• ■ May 25: “I am the bread of life.” – John vi. 35. Food always seasonable, always nourishing, always needed, always free, always at hand, and always plentiful. The great want is – not the bread, but the spiritual appetite. He gives bread to “whosoever will.” He gives more bread to “whosoever will.” He gives most bread to “whosoever will.” “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John x. 10). If then we are spiritually weak; if our spiritual life lacks vigour and stability; it is not from want of an abundant provision of spiritual food, for Jesus ever abides, and He is ever the same. Oh, for a more vigorous spiritual appetite! Oh, for grace to make each day a royal feast day, that we may grow exceedingly; so that by a more vigorous spiritual life, our “profiting may appear unto all.” ••••••• ■ May 23: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” – John vi. 39. Full and complete salvation you, as a believer, can never lose, however feeble and dim may be your spiritual experience, for your salvation is secured by covenant engagements sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You may however, from various causes, lose the assurance of your salvation, and therewith your peace and joy. It is therefore well that you be settled in the consciousness of your full salvation, by the remembrance of what has been done on your behalf. It is not what you have done yourself in sorrowing for sin, in seeking salvation, in believing in Jesus, in praying for grace, that is the foundation of your assurance of salvation; but in what has already been done for you in the past, and is already engaged to be done for you in the future by your covenant God and Father, and by His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. It is your Heavenly Father who, by giving you the Holy Spirit, has made you an awakened soul. It is your Heavenly Father who has shown you your sinfulness, and who has led you to see that you are by nature without anything good or acceptable before God. It is your Heavenly Father who has shown you that there is nothing in yourself or in your works, however religious they may now be, to bring you salvation or help you in any way thereto. It is your Heavenly Father who has led you to see in Christ crucified your only way of deliverance from deserved wrath (John vi. 37, 44, 45, 65). It is your Heavenly Father who has condescended to bind Himself to you by promise and oath for the confirmation of your faith (Heb. vi. 17, 18). By these things you are assured that you are evermore the object of His covenant grace and love (John x. 29); and that you are a child of His, and that full satisfaction for all your sins has been provided by Him on your behalf, and that His beloved Son has engaged for your well-being and safety, as one given to Him by His Father before the world was. ••••••• ■ May 22: “Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.” – Galatians ii. 20. “Christ liveth in me.” Blessed experience, indeed. Christ liveth at the right hand of God; but, the Apostle also saith, “Christ liveth in me.” In one sense this is true concerning every believer, for the Holy Spirit engrafts the soul into Christ by His quickening power, and makes that soul vitally one with Christ, which was ever one with Him in God’s purpose, and love, and covenant engagements. In this sense of vital union, Christ liveth in every true believer. But the word “liveth” implies here something more than that, even a living with power and dominion – a living in peace and rest – self dethroned and cast down, and another taking the place of power, even Christ. That is indeed a peaceful, restful, joyful heart, where Christ liveth in power, and which is made the dwelling-place, as well as the kingly throne, of the Lord Jesus. But this is all through faith, for Christ is in the heart, experimentally, just what faith understands and receives Him to be. Little faith has little experience of Christ, and consequently little power. Much faith has much experience of Christ, and consequently much power. Oh! why should we make our hearts a place of unrest for Jesus, by allowing self to mar the quietude of His home? The Lord Jesus has a place of rest in His Father’s love, and another place of rest in His redeemed Church, as one with Himself, and still another place of rest in a believing, trusting heart, where self no longer rules. Let us, then, no longer allow self to step in, and with unruly hand, and noisy clamour, disturb the quietness of our Master’s earthly abode, for where in the whole world can He find rest if not in a believer’s heart? A life of faith in “the Son of God” is Christ’s highest glory on earth, and the believer’s highest comfort and joy. ••••••• ■ May 21: “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.” – 2 Thessalonians iii. 16. “By all means,” – that is not only by likely, but by most unlikely means, and such as to sense and unbelief would only cause trouble, anxiety, and distress; and would appear rather to hinder every good, and encourage every evil. Nevertheless by such means, yea, by all means, the Lord of peace can and does give peace to the trusting heart. “Always by all means,” or, more literally, “always in every way” (or “turning”); so that in whatsoever path the child of God is called to walk, and however new and strange may be the incidents, the duties, and the trials of that path, the Lord gives peace always to those who look to Him. The path for a season may be sunny, and smooth, and pleasant – the traveller anticipates no change; but suddenly he reaches an unexpected “turning,” where he finds the path gloomy, and rough, and dangerous. He has daily and hourly to face difficulties, oppositions, and persecutions, to which he had hitherto been a stranger. Inexperienced and weak, he would soon be overwhelmed, but looking to the Lord Jesus, the Lord of peace, he finds that He gives peace, and gives it always, and “in every turning,” however gloomy and unexpected; so that the heart and mind are kept and guarded by “the peace of God which passeth all understanding.” ••••••• ■ May 20: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” – Revelation i. 18. Then be not cast down, child of God! if Jesus lives, all must be well. What though friends prove faithless? – the Lord Jesus liveth, and His friendship never ceaseth. What though all around misunderstand and misrepresent thee? – Jesus lives and Jesus knows. What though circumstances prove adverse, and no earthly helpers are near? – the Lord liveth, and He is always with thee, a sure help in time of trouble. What though the evil within be too mighty for thee? – the Lord liveth, and it is not too mighty for Him. What though thou standest alone, uncared for amidst thy fellows? – thou canst not be alone nor uncared for, since thy Jesus lives, and lives for evermore! He “once was dead” – mark that: these words mean much, – they tell thee that He as a man trod the path of earthly life, experiencing its trials, its weaknesses, its necessities, its sorrows, its sympathies, its affections, its loneliness, its sufferings, and then – He died. Oh, how well He understands what human life is, and how well able to sympathise with and succour thee, for remember He now lives – and lives for evermore, – the sympathising, ever-loving Man, the gracious, ever-loving God, in one person. Be then of good cheer, – nought can do thee harm since Jesus liveth, for He is thine, and thou art His. ••••••• ■ May 19: “Return unto thy rest, O my soul.” – Psalm cxvi. 7. So great is the power of the body over the mind that great bodily weakness often unfits the mind for the calm realisation of spiritual things. Sometimes again the mind is quickly disturbed by unpleasant or unexpected occurrences, or by its compelled attendance to the little and constantly recurring, but needful matters of daily life, often when very unfitted for them, so that the believer is unable peacefully to realise those blessings and privileges which are his in Christ Jesus, and even for a time forgets all his privileges and blessings in Christ. This should not, however, be allowed to discourage the soul and hinder it from beginning again its dealings in need with an ever-present, ever-helpful Christ. Ceaseless forgettings must of necessity be followed by ceaseless beginnings again. Indeed, the believer needs often, in one sense, to be beginning again, and yet not beginning as with a new friend, but with one known and proved. The Lord Jesus never reproaches us, He never becomes weary of us. He never turns His face from us. We cannot ourselves decide what is best for our ultimate good, and it is therefore a comfort to know we are in the hands of One who is as able as He is willing to decide for us. It is certain that all His dealings with His people are but to make Himself more a necessity and a reality to them. This result is produced when physical weakness and perplexing circumstances make us more fully conscious of our complete incapacity for anything good. Christ likes to be to His people a Christ to lean upon. Not merely a Christ to be worshipped, a Christ to be followed, a Christ to be preached, but especially a Christ to be leaned upon. A Christ for weary and needy souls. This is His glory, and this is our blessing. Whatever therefore brings us nearer to Him as a helpful Christ, is a messenger of love. ••••••• ■ May 18: “Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians v. 8. Jesus is indeed a real friend; and His presence when realised makes heaven and earth seem so near together that we feel we should see Him instantly, if the soul were outside the body only for a moment; for we feel the body to be a dark veil upon the spirit’s keener vision. No one understands us so thoroughly as Jesus does. No one can have such love for us as He has, and no one takes such an interest in us, for He is interested in even the most trifling things of our daily life: where we are, what we are doing, what we are saying, what we feel either of physical pain or heart emotion, what causes us sorrow or joy, and what we are thinking about; all – all are intensely interesting to Him. In every step of the journey He is with us. He is with us by night and by day, in our downsitting and our uprising, in our going out and coming in. And He is leading us daily nearer home. All! that word “home” how it makes us feel that we are indeed pilgrims and strangers here. “Home,” – it is not here, for we cannot see Him. We cannot feel at home until we see Him, and are made fully like unto Him. Association, not place, makes our true home. Were the universe without our ever-loving Lord Jesus, it matters not though the universe were a paradise, our restless footsteps wandering hither and thither, index of a restless heart, would find no rest – no home for us. Where He is, is our home. “In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” ••••••• ■ May 16: “That they may be made perfect in one.” – John xvii. 23. This is the only true perfection of believers in all heavenly and earthly relationships. “Perfect in one” – even Jesus. From His birth in Bethlehem to His ascension unto, and session at, the right hand of God, He was a representative Man, though always the true God. In His righteous life the Father saw His people living in Him, and by His obedience made righteous; and thus “made perfect in one.” In His death the Father saw His people dying in Him, and in His death answering the penalty of a condemning law; and thus “made perfect in one.” In His resurrection and ascension and sitting on the right hand of God, His people’s oneness with Him remained unchanged, as it is written, – “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” – thus accepted before the Father as one mystical body complete in Christ the Head, and so “made perfect in one.” At the great day of the consummation of all things, the glory the Father gave Him He will share with His people, so shall they be perfectly glorious and perfectly glorified, and thus manifestly “made perfect in one.” Their being “perfect in one” in the eternity to come, is but the outflow and full manifestation of their being “perfect in one” in the eternity that is past, in the Father’s love and covenant arrangements, when He chose them in Christ Jesus before the world was. ••••••• ■ May 15: “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians i. 31. There we rest. There begins and ends our glorying – “in the Lord.” True, in a lower sense, the Apostle gloried in his infirmities (weaknesses), but only that in a higher sense he might more fully glory in the Lord, who made His servant’s conscious weakness the marked opportunity of increased and abundant grace; for the more conscious the Apostle was of weakness, the more prepared was he to receive power from the Lord Jesus, and the more able to glory in the Lord, through more fully realising that all power was from Him alone. Those most glory in the Lord Jesus who most make Him their all, for such find Him to be what they make Him, namely, their all. Glorying in the Lord comes not from a mere intellectual knowledge of Him, but from a heart experience of constant need continually and abundantly met by the fulness which is in Christ Jesus. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and that heart which is filled with Christ will give forth, as from a living fountain, praise and glory to His most holy name. Whatever hinders this glorying in the Lord is of the flesh; and no greater hindrance is there than being occupied with self in any of its various forms, such as self-vileness or self-righteousness, self-feeling or self-hardness, self-pleasing or self-hating. To a heart full of Christ, self is never a subject of consideration. Such an one is occupied with Christ, and looks at all things from the side of Christ, and evermore glories in Him, whatever be the path of providence into which He may lead His beloved one. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” ••••••• ■ May 14: “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians x. 31. How slow we are in following Christ! What glory the Father had in Him! No glory in all else compared with what He had in Christ. The more we are like Christ in doing and disposition, the more shall we give glory to God. But oh! how impossible it sometimes seems to overcome that natural unlikeness to Christ which we still possess. How difficult to avoid doing all things to please self, to exalt self – self with its leanings, and longings, and gratifications, and plans, and dislikes. Nevertheless, all things to which we are called, are possible to us when strengthened from above. The Lord never calls to a duty without providing all that we need to enable us to do it. In Him is our help found. How encouraging is the word, “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” “Thy day” and “thy strength” go together; because the Lord Jesus who appoints the day well knows the requirements of the day, and He is Himself the strength for the day to all who look to Him. “Strength of Israel” was His name of old. It is still and ever the same, so that every believer can truly say – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” “Do all things” – then, through Christ, whatsoever we do, we can “do all to the glory of God.” ••••••• ■ May 13: “According to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” – Ephesians i. 5, 6. It is a great comfort to know that our standing in Christ, and acceptance in Him, are not according to the measure of our faith or of our spiritual experience, but “according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” “Hath made us” – it is the Father’s own doing, and it is already done, and so done, that no want of experience, or weakness of faith, or failure in testimony, or slowness of progress, or want of realisation, or consciousness of evil within, can possibly alter it in the least. This is an unchangeable acceptance. We stand in Christ and as He stands. This, then, is a sure foundation for our hope, and a sure foundation for our joy, notwithstanding the fact that everything of our own is marred and worthless. We rejoice in the Lord Jesus always, as our ground of acceptance, though often sorrowful because of increasing consciousness of our ill-desert. We rejoice also in the love and grace of our Father who has, because of that love and grace, “made us accepted in the Beloved.” ••••••• ■ May 12: “My meditation of him shall be sweet.” – Psalm civ. 34. A believer never need be without pleasant thoughts, and sweet, if the Lord Jesus be the subject of his meditation. How sweet to meditate on His love – so wonderful, so fervent, so pure, so changeless. How sweet to meditate on His faithfulness amidst all the changeful circumstances of life, and the too frequent changefulness of earthly friends. How sweet to meditate on His life on earth, so gentle, so kind, so holy, so self-denying, so perfect as a servant in carrying out his Father’s eternal purposes of love in bringing many sons unto glory. How sweet to meditate on His constant presence with His people as “the first-born amongst many brethren,” who laid down His life for them, and who watches over their every step, with a care and an interest far beyond that of a mother for her only child. How sweet to meditate on His second coming, when we shall see Him, and be made like unto Him, and realise the blessedness of being “together with the Lord.” How sweet to meditate on His eternal presence in the midst of the eternally loved family, in the glorious family home above – its leader, its teacher, its joy for ever. Verily my meditation of Him is sweet. ••••••• ■ May 11: “Nevertheless I am continually with thee.” – Psalm lxxiii. 23. This is the utterance of a faith which triumphs over contradictory circumstances and contradictory experiences. Believer in Jesus, bear in mind that this “nevertheless” stands firm for you also, whatever may be the “although” of adverse circumstances and experiences you put before it. Because of the covenant faithfulness of Him in whose hand of grace and love you are, you can truly say: Although I am weak and helpless, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Although I am vile and undeserving, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Although I am so foolish and prone to wander, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Although trials and afflictions beset me, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Although all forsake me, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Although I cannot realise Thy presence, “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Thus, whatever may be your “although,” let the “nevertheless” of your faith always triumph, for the grasp of Christ’s hand never slackens, the power of Christ’s arm never fails, the love of Christ’s heart never changes. ••••••• ■ May 9: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans xv. 13. “In believing;” – it is all “in believing.” “The just shall live by faith.” “The life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God.” To seek joy and peace, apart from faith in the Lord Jesus, whether by prayer or service, will end in failure, for the Lord has so closely connected them with faith, that the increase of true joy and true peace can only be realised by an increase of faith. Joy in the Lord Jesus, and peace which the Lord Jesus gives, are the result of that faith which looks always to Him, and trusts in Him, and thinks only of Him, and not of the joy or peace. Believing in the Lord Jesus as the Saviour, brings the joy and peace of salvation. Believing in the same Lord as an ever-present friend and sure helper, brings the joy and peace of fellowship. This results in a sure hope of full deliverance from every evil, and a quiet waiting for the Lord’s time and way. The Holy Spirit is ever working within, when the thoughts are quietly and trustfully fixed on Jesus. A believing and trusting heart is to the Holy Spirit a palace of delight, where He rejoices to heap up His hid treasures, and unfold his deeper secrets; and these treasures, these secrets are all in Christ Jesus. Yes, it is all “in believing,” believing and trusting as a little child. “In believing” – your sorrow shall be turned into joy. “In believing” – your disquieted spirit shall be hushed, and rest and peace be your portion, and your hope of a brighter future will grow more firm and abiding. Yes – it is all “in believing.” ••••••• ■ May 8: “Rooted in him.” – Colossians ii. 7. The spiritual growth and fruitfulness of the believer on earth results from spiritual rooting by faith in Christ, now living at the right hand of God in heaven. The more vigorous and uninterrupted the rooting, the more fair and abundant will be the fruit. To be more rooted by faith in Christ as the life and strength of His people, will result in receiving more life and strength from Christ, and in more decided living for Christ. To be more rooted by faith in the love of Christ, will result in more of the fruit of love to Him and His. To be more rooted by faith in the faithfulness and all-sufficiency of Christ, will result in more of the fruit of heart-rest and consolation in the midst of all the trials, afflictions, and sorrows of life. Every day should the believer be consciously rooting into Christ, that he may receive refreshing and strengthening grace for every day’s need, and that be may grow exceedingly and bear increasing fruit to the honour and glory of Christ Jesus his Lord. ••••••• ■ May 7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians v. 7. And yet how many believers are walking for the most part by sight and not by faith, very much to the discomfort of their souls, and to the hindrance of their growth in spiritual life and spiritual understanding. Some walk by the sight of the evil within – they are frequently examining it – they see much of it, and it has this peculiarity, that the more it is looked at, the more there is to look at, and the result is, they often walk in doubt and fear; but if, instead of walking by sight, they walked by faith in Christ, contemplating their position as complete in Him before the Father, they would walk more joyfully, and would more readily overcome the evil within. Others walk by the sight of their frames and feelings, and as these are always changing, so is their comfort; but if they walked by faith in Christ, by faith in His unchanging love for them, and His perfect work on their behalf, they would, by casting off all gloom, better recommend to others the gospel they profess. Others walk by the sight of trying providences, and increasing difficulties, and the result is they are often almost overwhelmed; but if they walked by faith in Christ, by faith in His watchful and constant care for them, and in the assurance that nothing can befall them but what His love and grace ordains, and did by faith walk with Him in the path He appoints, their hearts would be filled with confidence and peace. Others again walk by the sight of their own weakness, and so tremble at every step; but if they walked by faith in Christ, by faith in His constant presence and power, ever looking away to Him, they would better understand the experience of the Apostle (because themselves realising it) when he says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” What the Lord wants in His service is men and women who will not only “walk by faith and not by sight,” but regardless of sight when sight seems to contradict the word of Him, whose word never fails. ••••••• ■ May 6: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after.” – Psalm xxvii. 4. Many believers purpose well, but their purposes are seldom fully carried out, being so soon hindered by opposing influences: they purpose over and over again, but are always beaten back for want of determination. Others may be heard frequently expressing earnest desires after the better way; but desires are not all that is needed. Many sigh, and long, and wish, and go no further; as if sighing, and longing, and wishing would bring victory over spiritual foes, and nerve the spirit for greater endurance, and make the soul more spiritually-minded. Such sometimes even wonder why they are not different, seeing they have such earnest desires for better things; whereas their great want is firmness of will to act and persevere. The Psalmist shows a better way when he says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord” – here was the good desire; but he did not stop there, for he goes on to say, “that will I seek after.” Thus, praying, desiring, and determined doing went together. Wherever this is the case, blessing is sure to follow in due time. ••••••• ■ May 5: “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” – Isaiah xxx. 15. Striving and crying before the Lord for temporal good in the providential path, or for pleasant experiences in the heart, is often, in believers, the result of self-love rather than of faith. Self wants something for self-ease or self-satisfaction, and this prompts to the crying and striving. But it will never succeed. There must be a quiet faith both as regards temporal things and pleasant experiences – a faith which seeks the Lord and His will, and trusts Him at all times. The soul’s strength is in quietness, not striving – in the assurance of the Lord’s loving-kindness, and not in having the mind most filled with desires for temporal good, or desires after pleasing experiences. Christ first, Christ always, and Christ only, should be the soul’s desire, and this will also be the soul’s consolation and strength, safety and joy. In the quietness of a restful faith, and in a full confidence in the love and wisdom of a faithful God and Father, and of a gracious and loving Saviour, the soul is established as in a strong tower, and behind a sure wall of defence. ••••••• ■ May 4: “Jesus...lifted up his eyes to heaven.” – John xvii. 1. The Lord Jesus “lifted up His eyes to heaven,” because His Father was there, and His home was there. We do the same, but we have Him there now as well as our Father, even Him who is “the first-born among many brethren,” and One who is not ashamed to call us brethren. Yes, we have Him there as well as our Father, loving, watching over, and caring for us, and waiting for our coming home. Happy home! Happy travellers going to such a home. Happy, though often weary and much tried, yet happy still, because He who was made in all things like unto His brethren, even He is guiding us to that heavenly home and to that gracious Father who loves us as He loves His first-born. We, with the Lord Jesus, are His many sons, and Jesus, the first-born, among them, for we are all His children. “Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” So we too lift up our eyes to heaven seeking “those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. iii. 1). ••••••• ■ May 2: “In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” – 1 Peter i. 8. If the children of God have peculiar sorrows, they have peculiar consolations. If they have special trials, they have also special blessings. The Lord does not give His brighter blessings to all His children, but only to some of His more favoured ones; and as a diamond shines brighter in a black setting, so He often sends His diamond blessings in the black setting of affliction, trials, bereavements, losses, or persecutions; but oh! the brightness of the diamond blessing! for it is Jesus Himself – Jesus more vividly and continuously realised in His presence and love; a joy in Him unspeakable and full of glory. It is indeed blessed to be made a partaker of salvation-joy; the joy of assured deliverance from the wrath to come. It is still more blessed to be made a partaker of glory-joy while still a pilgrim here on earth: – “In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” ••••••• ■ May 1: “Ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” – 1 Corinthians iii. 23. What a privilege, what an honour it is to belong to Jesus, and to be one with Him in the Father’s love, in the Father’s joy, in the Father’s home. Chosen together, loved together, justified together, sanctified together, glorified together. Oh! what a bond is that of the heavenly family! It is indissoluble. It is eternal. He is ours, and we are His. We belong to Jesus. We can, therefore, well wait with confident and restful hearts until He comes to take us home. We are as safe here as at home, though not as happy. As safe, for He is with us always; not as happy, for we see Him not; as safe, for He guards us as “the apple of His eye;” not as happy, because we are still pilgrims and strangers in a strange country; as safe, for we are one with Him, and because He lives we shall live also; but not as happy, for we are not yet “made like unto Him." We wait then for going-home time to see Him, to be with Him, to be like Him for ever and ever. ••••••• ■ April 30: “Rejoice in the Lord alway.” – Philippians iv. 4. This exhortation of the apostle does not imply that every moment we are to be experiencing conscious joy in the Lord Jesus, without interruption day after day, for this would certainly prevent the fulfilment of many important duties to which the believer is called, and which require judicious thought, and such thought as, for the time being, will prevent him having continuous thoughts of Christ. The object of the apostle is to teach us that we should not have gloomy thoughts about the Lord Jesus, nor hard thoughts, as if He were a stern master, instead of a loving and ever-gracious friend; or as if He had forgotten us, or were indifferent to our trials and need. He would have us to be often thinking about Him; and whenever we do, always to think of Him as One who is loving, gracious, faithful, gentle, and wise; and always to rejoice that we possess such a friend; or, in fewer words, he would teach us that our fellowship with Christ in daily life is to be always one of confidence, and thankfulness, and peace, and gladness of heart. ••••••• ■ April 29: “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” – John xiv. 2. What an up-and-down life is the life of the present, especially for a believer! Such experiences, as so often are his portion here, ought to make the prospect of the rest of his eternal home a very desirable one. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” No earth-born cares are there, no pain nor weariness, no perplexities nor hindrances. Yet the many things, little and great, which at times come one upon another like the waves of the sea, so often distract the mind of the believer that, for the time being, he loses all thought of his high and heavenly calling and of the bright home prepared for him above by a Saviour’s love and care. What poor, weak, failing creatures we are! How often, when we aim to be at our best, a deeply humbling lesson is taught us in our being permitted to be at our worst. Yet the Lord’s loving-kindness changes not. The Christ-denying Peter is as much an object of changeless love and watchful care, as when upon the mount with his Lord. We often learn more of the exceeding greatness of our Lord’s love by learning more of the exceeding greatness of our unworthiness and sinfulness. His love seems to shine the brighter from the blackness of the contrast. The full and complete knowledge of that love we can never attain unto, for it is infinite. We shall however more fully understand it, and see more of its height and depth and length and breadth, when we reach our “Father’s house” above, where, in the “many mansions,” Jesus Himself will be our visible companion and teacher, and our joy, world without end. ••••••• ■ April 28: “Christ our life.” – Colossians iii. 4. Not merely the author of eternal life, through His death and resurrection to all who believe – that is true – but He Himself is our Life. “Our Life” for the spiritual experience of every day; “our Life” for overcoming; “our Life” for labour; “our Life” for enjoyment; “our Life” for learning; “our Life” for suffering. Christ is all this, and more; but where there is little of Christ in the heart, there is but little life for these things; but little spiritual success against evil – but little spiritual labour – but little spiritual patience in suffering – but little spiritual enjoyment. Self becomes active, and the believer gradually ceases to live in the power of Christ, and, alas! often tries to mend the matter by increased energies in the flesh – wrestling, struggling, groaning, expostulating with God, murmuring – with the usual result, confusion, darkness, deadness, defeat. But, oh! what a change when self is given up, and the believer ceases from the flesh, and the Lord again reigns. The weak one becomes strong indeed; strong and full of vigour both in heart and life; but this renewal, this revival, begins in the heart; there must Christ first be Lord of all, and then, as Lord of life, He is Himself “our Life,” henceforth for all. ••••••• ■ April 27: “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.” – Psalm cxviii. 5. The Lord Jesus sometimes leads the believer into a strait place, where there are nothing but thorns on either side, and no way of turning, no prospect of deliverance, and where there are no earthly helpers, no loving friends to comfort. It is a very strait and narrow way, with darkness on before. The believer looks around, but all is cheerless – light only is above; and now he begins to look up as he never did previously; he learns to live looking up. Before he entered the strait place he lived too much looking around – too little looking up; now look up he must, for light is only found in so doing. If tempted to look around, he staggers against the thorns, and is wounded; but looking up, his steps are steady, and though the thorns are always near, they do not pierce – and here, it is well not to be anxious – it is well not to be in haste – haste often causes a false step and a fall – haste brings hurt – brings a wound – it is best to walk patiently, and learn the lesson His love would teach, the lesson of always looking up. When this is fully learned, the cry is answered, the way suddenly opens, and the feet tread in a broad place. Then through the teaching of the past the believer better knows the safety and the joy of living always looking up, and not looking around, whether the feet tread in the strait way or the broad place. It is a comfort to know that the Lord Jesus is the light in the strait way, and the guide into the broad place, and that His leading is ever the leading of unchanging love. ••••••• ■ April 25: “Putting on the breastplate of faith and love.” – 1 Thessalonians v. 8. Faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to the Lord Jesus, form the double breastplate of those who are more than conquerors. Faith singles out the promises and faithfulness of Christ, and rests there. Love singles out the person of Christ, and rests only in Himself. Faith gives courage in service and thinks of its responsibilities. Love gives pleasure in service and thinks of its privileges. Faith believes all is for the best, knowing the Lord ruleth. Love accepts all as the best, knowing the Lord loveth. Faith trusts in darkness, knowing that all is light to Jesus. Love is content in darkness, knowing that Jesus is always near. Faith waits the Lord’s time and giveth patience. Love would have no other time, and is happy while waiting. Faith gives way to no fear, saying, “I can do all things through Christ.” Love gives way to no weariness, saying, “I can suffer all things for Christ.” Faith leans on the arm of Jesus, and is strong in the Lord. Love leans on the bosom of Jesus, and rejoices in the Lord. Faith would be valiant for Jesus and fight. Love would please Jesus and obey. Faith exultant cries “Victory!” for it overcometh the world. Love gently whispers “Satisfied,” for it can say, “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.” “Putting on the breastplate of faith and love,” the believer can either quietly wait, or bravely fight, or patiently suffer, or steadily and peacefully walk in darkness or in light, even as the Lord shall call. ••••••• ■ April 24: “He maketh [‘equalleth’] my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.” – 2 Samuel xxii. 34. If a believer, forgetting his high and heavenly calling, seeks by his own plans to climb into the “high places” of earthly honour and authority amongst his fellowmen, he will learn, sooner or later, that such are indeed slippery places, and possess no firm standing for his feet either in safety or in honour, as a child of God. If, however, the Lord Himself setteth the believer upon “high places” which were unsought by him, the same Lord will make his feet “like hinds’ feet,” so that in such high places he shall not stumble nor be ashamed, but shall be as safe and as much at rest as in the more lowly and less dangerous walks of life; for as the hind is enabled to pursue her way in safety and with ease over the high and rocky declivities, by instinctively equalling her feet to the unevenness of the ground, so the Lord equalleth the feet of His saints to the path along which He leads them. Thus they find the high places, which they may probably have dreaded, are safe places, and that the dangers are not so terrible, nor the difficulties so insurmountable as they imagined they would be, when thinking of the way, before they walked therein. Then fear not, believer, for if the Lord setteth thee upon thy high places He will surely make thy feet like hinds’ feet. ••••••• ■ April 23: “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans vii. 24, 25. True believers are a peculiar people in many ways. One of their most marked peculiarities is the constant presence of two opposing influences within them. One of these influences moves them to desire earthly good as the chief end of life. The other moves them to seek those things which are above, and to find the chief end of life in a growing intimacy with Christ, and in the consecration to Him of all they are or have. In every step in the inner life of grace the believer is sure to find a hindering influence in the consciousness and longings of his carnal and earthly nature. But if he be looking unto the Lord Jesus for strength, crying unto Him for help against the foe, while no encouragement is willingly allowed to it, he will find that grace is given according to his need, and that the opposing influence of the earthly nature is not only overcome, but that it is overruled to work for his good, in bringing him nearer to Christ, and teaching him, more than ever, the all-sufficiency of His grace, and His readiness to help. ••••••• ■ April 22: “But grow in grace.” — 2 Peter iii. 18. Believers can judge as to their growth by comparing their present experience with that of years ago, and considering whether the Lord Jesus is more a reality to them as their refuge, their friend, their helper, and their Lord; and whether there is a growing distaste for those things that hinder fellowship with Him, and a more ardent desire after whatever has been found helpful to growth in the knowledge of Him, and likeness to Him; also, whether they are more self-distrustful, and more Christ-trustful, and more content with Him and His providential disposal of thiugs concerning them. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, results from living upon suitable food, and avoiding whatever is injurious to health. To live to the pleasing of the flesh is always injurious to spiritual health; whereas, to live daily a life of faith upon Christ, seeking continually to be strong in the grace that is in Him, and to act in all things according to His word, is the sure way to promote spiritual health and growth. Growth downward into a deeper experience of spiritual things, in close heart-walk with the Lord Jesus, will result in a fuller manifestation of healthy fruit. A superficial rooting can never produce a very prosperous tree, though it may make a very showy appearance for a time. In the Lord’s garden no two plants are alike: so many things exist to make each a special object with Him, that it is never well to judge ourselves in comparison with others. ••••••• ■ April 21: “But we have the mind of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians ii. 16. To have the mind of Christ is to look at all things from the side of Christ, and judge of them as He judges of them. This should be the position and experience of all believers; but, alas! how many look at things from a merely human point of view, and judge of them after the manner of a worldly mind, to the encouragement of worldly principles and worldly plans, which ever result in fears and sorrows, inconsistencies and failures. To have “the mind of Christ,” brings quietness and assurance in every circumstance of life. To one who judges with the mind of Christ, what a different aspect have trials and afflictions, than when judged by a worldly mind. To have the mind of Christ, gives such a different view of the world, and the things of the world, its strifes, its glories, its favours, or its persecutions. How powerful for preservation from unbelieving fears and murmurings it is to have the mind of Christ! How powerful too for separation from evil within, and without! What an incentive also to patient endurance, to God-honouring service, to lowly self-denial! How great too the victory over self, and how great the blessing on the daily path to have the mind of the meek and lowly Jesus! Mine, then, be the aim henceforth, to look at all things with “the mind of Christ,” and to walk through life as one who ever walks with Jesus, and thinks with Jesus. ••••••• ■ April 20: “Peter then denied again.” – John xviii. 7. And yet Peter was truly sincere when he said to Jesus, “If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise” – but alas! Peter knew not himself when he thus spake. If, instead of this self-confident language, he had sought help from his Lord and Master to enable him to stand firm in the hour of temptation, he would not have left such a sad instance of the depth of unfaithfulness and falsehood to which a disciple of Christ may fall, when left to endure temptation in his own strength. What a warning is this for all believers, and how mistaken is he, who, conscious of integrity, declares that it is impossible that he could ever be guilty of the viler, the fouler sins, the worst of the ungodly practice. Let such an one take heed, for he speaks as did Peter, and with a heart like Peter’s; and it may be, if this self-confidence continue, that the Lord will permit him, in chastisement and for discipline, to fall in the very way he thought the most impossible, even as He did with Peter. How little the believer knows the depth of evil within him. The Lord Jesus knows it all, and yet it alters not His love, for that love has provided a sure remedy, and that remedy is Himself. He walks most safely who walks conscious that there is no evil into which he would not fall, but for the preserving grace of Christ. He only is truly strong who is strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” “In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” “Without me ye can do nothing,” – and so, Lord! my prayer to Thee is, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” ••••••• ■ April 18: “He goeth before them.” – John x. 4. Child of God, that path is not untrodden into which your sometimes reluctant feet are guided. The good Shepherd goeth before thee. Jesus, the Father’s Shepherd over the Father’s sheep, knoweth every step. He seeth every danger – the end as well as the beginning is marked out by Him – therefore in that path, however trying and unexpected, all is, all will be well. “He goeth before them,” – then looking to Him they cannot go wrong. The path of duty is where He leads in His providence, and directs by His word, for in His providence He gives the opportunities for action, and in His word He gives the principles by which to act. The path of duty is ever the path of safety, for there – and there only – “He goeth before them.” Why should the disciple fear and be dismayed, why be doubtful, and wavering, and discouraged? The path He points out, judged by sense and not by faith, may seem more difficult and more uncertain in its issues, and be more opposed to his own wishes, and the expressed desire of friends; but if it be the path of duty, it matters not how sure and desirable other ways may appear to be; in this and this only can it be said, “He goeth before,” and therefore in no other way but this can blessing be experienced, and blessing be the issue. The path may be dark and trying at the beginning, but it will be light and joyful at the end; whereas, however light and joyful other ways may appear to be at the outset, there will be darkness and sorrow at the end, with the knowledge of time lost, and the right way to be sought at last amidst increasing difficulties. But even then the right way is well sought, though late and amidst increasing difficulties; for being at last the right one, He now goeth before, and all is well. It is better, however, never to go out of His way, so shall our joy abound, and our path ever be as the ways of pleasantness, and the paths of peace – for “He goeth before.” ••••••• ■ April 17: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee...I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee.” – Isaiah xli. 10. True, the path is strange and trying, and thou art weak and weary and canst not see one step before thee, but Jesus is with thee. Look to Him; fear not – the path is not strange to Him – He knows it well, and He is with thee in it. Dost thou say it is a lonely one? but remember He is with thee, therefore thou canst never be alone, for He will never leave thee. He knows that thou art weary, but He is with thee; lean on Him – His arm is thy support; lean on it – lean hard – thou canst never weary Him, He is thy everlasting strength. Thou meetest with none that truly understand thee, none fully to sympathise with thee; but He is with thee. He understands thee, He knows thee, – He knew thee of old; before He created the world and all that is therein, thy name was written in His book of life: He knows thee and He knows the way thou takest; He fashioned thee, He called thee His own, and planned this way that thou shouldst walk with Him therein, and learn how deep is His sympathy and love. Dost thou look around, and do thoughts cause thy tears to flow? But look to Him; He is with thee, thy joy, thy light, thy peace; be thou of good cheer, “let not your heart be troubled.” Remember, too, thou art going home; every step shortens the homeward journey; a little, a very little while, and ’tis home – home with Jesus – home for ever. Thou art now a traveller, a pilgrim, but thou art going home, – that where He is, there thou mayest be, and behold and share His glory for ever and ever. Then fear thou not, for Jesus says, “I am with thee, I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee.” ••••••• ■ April 16: “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top reached to heaven, and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it, and behold the Lord stood above it....And he called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.” — Genesis xxviii. 12, 13, 19. Sin made this world a Luz, or “place of separation” from God, but grace can make a Bethel or “house of God” anywhere. What Jacob once saw in vision, is always the reality in the believer’s pilgrimage. There is in every incident of the journey, and in every step of the way home, “a ladder” between the believer and heaven; and whether it be the ladder of providence or grace, it is always the ladder of love, and the same Lord stands above it, as in Jacob’s vision – even the Lord Jesus Himself – now the real man, then only appearing as a man, even the same as appeared to Abraham on the plains of Mamre, and the same, ages afterwards, whom Stephen saw “standing on the right hand of God.” The earthly end of this ladder is wherever the believer may be; at the heavenly end is Jesus, ever sending down covenant blessings. Oh, to walk in the power of this Heavenly association, and everywhere and in everything to realise the “ladder” of love and grace, with the Lord Jesus, “standing above it!” Blessed be His name for the angels He sends as ministering servants, but infinitely blessed be His name in that he Himself always stands above, watching and working with changeless love. ••••••• ■ April 15: “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians i. 9. The hand that led the weary soul to Jesus never loosens its hold. That soul is ever in the hand of the Father, as well as in the hand of the Son. The Father is faithful to His children, for He is God, and He will fulfil His word. He will perform His promises. He is faithful also to His Son, in giving Him the reward of His toil, and in permitting Him fully to see of the travail of His soul – for this He promised, and will perform. In His providence He is faithful in giving, and no less so in withholding. In sending sorrow, as well as in causing joy. In pulling down, as in building up. In every way He is faithful. He manifests His faithfulness in placing the fulness of every blessing in His beloved Son, for the supply of His needy ones. All that His faithfulness gives (and His faithfulness gives all) the trusting heart receives as need arises; but all is in His Son, The faith of the believer ever proves the faithfulness of his God and Father in the fulness and fellowship of His Son. The word “fellowship” means “partnership” – God has called believers into partnership with Christ, in all He is and has, as “the first-born among many brethren” – heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; and He who calls to this, is faithful to carry out His purposes of love. “God is faithful.” ••••••• ■ April 14: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians xii. 9. How often the believer makes his weakness the excuse for non-success in resisting temptations and overcoming evil, for breaking down under trial and difficulty, or drawing back from active duty, or shrinking from the solitary path of suffering: whereas it is only through conscious weakness he can succeed in anything, because human weakness is the channel through which divine power delights to manifest itself. If believers were consciously weaker, they would be really stronger; even as the Apostle Paul saith: – “when I am weak, then am I strong.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If he had not realised his own weakness, he would never have realised Christ as his strength, therefore he boasted in his infirmities, that Christ’s power might more fully rest upon him, and thus Christ’s name and grace be exalted. The power of Christ rests upon weak ones, and rests most upon those who are most weak, and who, wisely knowing their weakness, look to Him. “I can do nothing,” says the believer, thinking of himself. “I can do all things,” says the believer, looking unto Jesus. Thus the path of conscious weakness is to the soul that trusts in Jesus the path of omnipotence. ••••••• ■ April 13: “Why weepest thou?” – John xx. 13, 15. Before we weep let us be quite sure there is true cause for sorrow. That which may at first sight seem to be the overturning of all our hopes, may really prove to be the foundation of our brightest joys; for God’s ways are not as our ways. God plants, and because thorns first show themselves, the heart often thinks that there will be nothing else but thorns; – yet, at the right time, the blossoms always appear, and the fruit follows. “Why weepest thou?” There appeared much cause for weeping. There was the cross – the death – the empty grave; and that empty grave seemed to be the consummation of her sorrow. Yet this was the way God’s plant of renown was growing – true, the thorns came first, they often do, but the blossoms quickly followed, and the fruit – oh, how abundant that has been! and although nearly two thousand years have passed away since Mary wept at the empty tomb of her loving Lord, the fruit is still abundant. Let us then, before we weep, be quite sure that there is just cause for tears, or we may find ourselves rebuking the very hand that lovingly and patiently is working out our highest good and our brightest joy. ••••••• ■ April 11: “Many, O Lord my God, are...thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” – Psalm xl. 5. The thoughts of the Lord are ever in a very special manner towards His tried ones – thoughts of love – thoughts of wisdom – thoughts of gentleness – thoughts of tenderness – thoughts of blessing. The believer’s thoughts may often wander from Him, but the Lord’s thoughts never wander from the believer. They are fixed thoughts, for He thinks always and with a loving remembrance of every need. His thoughts towards them are many, reaching to the very least thing which has any relation to their well-being. God forgets the sins of His people, but He never forgets them, nor their sorrows. Why then should the child of God be anxious, or perplexed, or burdened, or disquieted, or cast down, when the Lord – so gracious, so tender-hearted, and so mighty – has so many and such loving thoughts towards Him? ••••••• ■ April 10: “I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine.” – John xvii. 9, 10. It is very comforting to think how peculiarly and wonderfully precious believers are to the Father and to the Son. We belong to the Father, and we belong to Jesus. The Father gave us to Jesus in covenant love, ere He drew us to Jesus by constraining grace. He gave us to Jesus that we might be redeemed from eternal misery. He gave us to Jesus that we might be separated from the world. He gave us to Jesus that we might be preserved from the power of the evil one, and from the dominion of sin. He gave us to Jesus that we might be brought safely home at last, and presented unto Himself pure and beauteous in His own image – even like unto Him who is the First-born among many brethren. Jesus loved the Father’s gift and received it joyfully at His hands, and undertook all responsibility for its full salvation, and for its well-being here, and glory hereafter; but, oh! at what a mighty cost, His lowly birth, His laborious life, His shameful death do testify. How wonderful that the deep eternal love of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, should be fixed on such as we are! No gift the Father could have bestowed was so much prized, so longed for by the Son, as the gift to Him of those for whom He died. Oh, then, with such a Jesus, and such a Father, all must be well, and all the experiences of time are but the secret whisperings of a love without beginning and without end. ••••••• ■ April 9: “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” – Psalm xviii. 35. God’s hand is a gentle one, though it be a mighty one, for, to us, it is the once pierced hand of Jesus. The gentleness of Jesus is as much a feature of His character as His love, and it is because He loves so much, He is so gentle in His dealings with His people. No mother can lead her darling child so gently, or watch its path so carefully, or stoop to do such lowly acts for its well-being, as our Jesus leads, and watches over, and works for His people. Adversity often finds rough voices and unfriendly conduct where least expected, but it always meets with gentleness in Jesus. They whose eyes are often blinded by affliction’s tears best know how gently the gentle hand of the Lord Jesus can wipe sorrow’s tears away. More glorious is omnipotence in wiping those tears away, than in the creation of a universe. It is the glory of omnipotence to be gentle. It is the sweetness of majesty to condescend. It is the beauty of love to walk in lowliness and uplift the fallen. Hearts wounded by disappointed hopes, by misplaced confidence, by harsh treatment, ever meet with sweet solace and soothing consolation in the gentleness of Jesus. When the believer’s feet have slipped and he has fallen into sin, fellow-Christians may speak harshly, and upbraid and condemn, but the returning wanderer always meets with gentleness in Jesus. “Thy gentleness hath made me great,” for it hath raised me up from sin and shame, from sorrow and despair. Love never hesitates, and can never stoop too low to multiply the comforts and the joys of the beloved one. How low our Jesus stooped, let Bethlehem tell, and Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Calvary. He still stoops low, for He comes down to our lowly walk and our little needs to be our daily companion, and to multiply our daily blessings; and when our lowly walk on earth is over, and from the light of glory we contemplate the path of our earthly pilgrimage, amongst the many manifestations of love then made clear, will be seen the gentleness of Jesus in His dealings with us every step of the way. ••••••• ■ April 8: “That night they caught nothing.” – John xxi. 3. “That night they caught nothing.” And it was well. The Lord Jesus knew it – knew their failure – ordered that it should be so – but why? even that He might have a fuller opportunity to show His love and watchful care. Failure is sometimes blessing; and when the believer is led into the holy and gracious habit of looking at all things from the side of the Lord Jesus, he will praise Him for failure, as well as for success; for both are the result of a love and wisdom that ceaselessly watches for the good of the well-beloved ones. They toiled much, and caught nothing. It was not the right time, the Lord’s time; but when that time came, and they obeyed the word, then they toiled little, and caught much. So is it ever. When the Lord’s time has fully arrived, His people behold their hopes more than realised; their path cleared and difficulties removed with an ease and completeness that shows the work is the Lord’s; and constrains them to acknowledge with gratitude His faithfulness and loving-kindness, and that He was better to them than all they could have thought or hoped. ••••••• ■ April 7: “He that believeth shall not make haste.” – Isaiah xxviii. 16. There is such a thing as being over-earnest, and so missing what we aim at. There is such a thing as a fearful, anxious, restless energy that wants it scarcely knows what, that longs for what it has not, simply because it has it not, that sometimes sees a goal before it that may be reached and yet reaches it not, because in so great a haste. It is well to remember that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,” and that in the spiritual race he often is the conqueror who best knows how to “wait.” He often is successful who understands how to “be still.” The firmer the faith the quieter will be the spirit, and the surer, if slower, the step. “He that believeth shall not make haste.” ••••••• ■ April 6: “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord.” – Jonah ii. 7. What experience of our physical frailness we are continually having! What intimations that we must soon put off our mortal body! Under the full consciousness of this the mind can only be stayed and the heart comforted by remembering the full deliverance from condemnation and the complete acceptance in Christ, provided by the covenant of grace and love. We need to live much by faith, seeing that the visible gives us no assurance of permanent consolation. Experiences too, what poor helpers they are! How often fear arises when courage should abound. How often when we desire the good, evil makes itself manifest. How often to our sorrow, there is more of the unspiritual, the temporal, the worldly influencing us, rather than the spiritual and the heavenly. How often the believer is tossed upon a sea of varied experiences, from not one of which can he derive any comfort or any assurance that the end will be well. What a relief it is under such circumstances to remember the everlasting love of our Heavenly Father, and of our gracious Lord and Saviour; and to remember their own complete and changeless arrangements for our present and eternal safety. Arrangements made in full view of all the evil and incompetency we mourn over. Nay, undertaken for us because of that evil and incompetency, and kept in hands that are able to work out to a successful issue all the purposes and plans of infinite love. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord.” So if we would have full peace and strong consolation we must, like Jonah, remember the Lord, and what a God of love and grace He is, in making such a rich provision in Christ His Son for our eternal well-being. ••••••• ■ April 4: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” – Romans xiii. 12. Yes, it is night, for we see not Him whom our souls love. It is night, for there is much darkness of evil within, over which we mourn. It is night, for difficulties and dangers of every kind surround us. It is night, for we see at the best but as in a glass darkly. It is night, for it doth not yet appear what we shall be. Let us however be of good cheer. “The day is at hand” – that endless day, when no night of adverse circumstances, no night of dark experiences, no night of evil or of ignorance, shall throw its deep shadow across our path. “The day is at hand” – the day of full light and liberty, the day of endless joy and glory, the day of manifested likeness unto Him, and oneness with Him, in the glorious home of light and joy above. Yes, we will comfort ourselves, and comfort one another with the thought that “the night is far spent, the day is at hand” – it may be very close at hand. A day without a cloud – a day that shall never know an eventide. ••••••• ■ April 3: “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer.” – Philippians i. 19. Things the most untoward, and the most contrary, are made in the overruling hands of the Lord Jesus to serve the best interests of His tried ones. How often when difficulties and trials have multiplied, and darkness has increased, and friends have become fewer, and earthly ground for hope has been removed, how often has the Lord made these circumstances work out the highest good for His tried one! Such times are times for patient waiting, and for believing prayer – not for complaining and sadness. Such too are times for Christian sympathy, and for united supplication. The greatest earthly helper a believer can have at any time, and especially in such times as these, is an earnest, loving-hearted, praying friend. If however he have none such, let him still take courage, for Jesus is with him and He is ever faithful, and He ever liveth to make intercession for him. At the right time He will either send full deliverance, or grace so abounding that his heart confidence and joy shall be far beyond that which even full deliverance would have brought him (2 Tim. iv. 16-18). ••••••• ■ April 2: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John xvi. 33. Stern conflict makes the experienced warrior. It is the battle alone that produces the conqueror. The believer’s path is one of warfare, because he is walking through an opposing world, but it is also one of victory, if therein he walks with Jesus. So much depends upon the soul’s position in faith. If from the midst of worldly associations it views Jesus afar off, it will be often overcome, but if it views the world and its associations from a walk of close fellowship with Him, it will always conquer, for it is ever in the place of victory. To such, the world’s tribulations but make Jesus, who is Heaven’s hiding-place for earth-worn souls, more welcome and more precious; for here on earth the Lord Jesus is best known by the help He affords, and the joy He gives to His needy and tempted ones. The conscious need of the believer is one of his highest claims upon his Lord’s omnipotence. It is that experience of soul which most prevails with Jesus, and moves Him to send forth His choicest covenant blessings. Oh, my soul, be not thou cast down though tribulations multiply; for thy Jesus is ever near. Look thou to Him, walk thou closer with Him, listening to His words of love and grace, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” and thou too shalt be conqueror, yea, more than conqueror through Him who loveth thee. ••••••• ■ April 1: “The way of the righteous is made plain.” – Proverbs xv. 19. The Lord Himself who appoints the way also makes it plain. Waiting therefore on the Lord Jesus, walking step by step with Him, trusting in Him, the believer has no cause for anxiety or perplexity. More literally, “The path of the righteous is raised up” (as a causeway). A causeway is a level road raised up high and dry through wet and marshy land, or over uneven rocky ground, so that the traveller goes on in a plain dry path, though there be bogs, and pits, or dangerous impediments on the right hand and on the left. So is it with “the righteous” (or “the upright”); his way is “raised up as a causeway;” it is a plain path, a smooth path, a clean path, a safe path, a ready-made path, in which he is lifted up above all that would hinder his journey or cause him harm. Sometimes the believer reaches a specially difficult part of his pilgrim path, and is like a traveller standing at the brink of a dark and dangerous morass which bars his farther progress. He knows not where to find safe footing. He is unable to take one step further by reason of the dreaded dangers and of the gloomy mist which almost shrouds him in darkness, when suddenly the mist cloud arises – the light shines – a plain, even, and safe path is discovered, and he journeys on more rapidly and happily than before. The same light that revealed the path reveals also the dangers on the right hand and left, and makes him the more grateful that he has at last found a safe path for his feet. Thus is it that “the way of the righteous is made plain.” Thus is it that the Lord Jesus “preserveth the way of his saints.” ••••••• ■ March 31: “He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” – Hebrews xi. 27. We need not wait until we reach heaven to have much of heavenly joy and heavenly rest. That which will make heaven a heaven to the believer, is the fact that he will then see the Lord Jesus and be wholly like unto Him. This will produce perfect rest and joy; but this joy and rest may be attained here in a measure far beyond what most believers think possible. True, we cannot see Him face to face as we shall then, but we may so walk as seeing Him who is invisible, so walk in continued consciousness of His personal presence and watchful love, that His presence will be more realised by us than that of those around us whom our eyes behold, and He Himself be more our joy than any earthly being whatever. We may so rest in Him by faith here, that in Him every care shall find its cure, every sorrow its solace, every difficulty its solution, and every sin its defeat; and although on earth, with this body of sin and death to hinder, we can never hope to be fully like unto Him, yet, thus walking in communion, we cannot fail to grow more and more like unto Him every day. Oh! that we who know the Lord did live more in accordance with, and walk more conscious of, our position in Christ – rejoicing in Him always. What we want is a heart fixed on Christ – intently fixed on Christ – and filled with Christ. Then will the mind ever have thoughts of Him. Then will the walk ever testify of Him. Oh! for a heart steadfastly fixed on Him, whose heart is so fixed in unchanging love on us. ••••••• ■ March 30: “That he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.” – Deuteronomy viii. 16. When the Lord prepares His children for future earthly blessings, it is sometimes by lessons hard to learn, and by discipline hard to bear. He would show them their folly that they may become wise, their sinfulness that they may become humble, and their emptiness that they may become more ready receivers. He would also show them the insufficiency of all that is of man, that they may more fully realise in the end that all good is of God. The Lord loves perfectly, therefore He loves wisely, and in view of the future. To those who judge Him by sense, and not by faith, His dealings are often a perplexing maze, and the doings of His hand seem the hidings of His love rather than the manifestations thereof; but the trusting heart knows that however varied His providences may be, His love is still the same. The Lord loves in view of the future. He sees the end of every path, and all His dealings with His children are for eventual good, “that he might do thee good at thy latter end.” If the lessons are hard to learn, yet it is the once pierced hand of Jesus that appoints them, and His loving heart sympathises with the learner, both in the needed learning and in the needed discipline. Oh, for a patient heart! oh, for a meek and quiet spirit! not only to learn of Him, but to learn to be like Him. Humbling times and trying times, rightly used, end in times of richer blessing to the children of God. The book of God’s providence needs patient and quiet waiting spirits – such, and such only, learn the secrets of the Lord and always rejoice in Him. Before the Lord exalts much, He humbles much. Those who humbly walk with Him in lowly places shall joyfully walk with Him in high places, for “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” ••••••• ■ March 28: “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter v. 7. Child of God, care is a thing too heavy for you to carry, but remember, Jesus desires you to cast it on Himself, therefore bring the care and the cause of it to Him. No matter what the cause of your care and anxiety may be, leave it with Jesus, who is always thinking about you. Put the cause into His hands without reserve, and all trouble about it will cease. Be content to live only in the day that is present, and for which alone grace is promised. Whatever be your circumstances of trial, always remember that you belong to the Lord Jesus, and that He is pledged to care for you to the end of your pilgrimage; therefore tell Him everything that weighs upon your mind. By thus doing you make such things in a very special manner His concern and care; and be assured that He will never refuse the responsibility, nor let go the matter you have thus brought to Him, whatever may be your fears to the contrary. It more concerns Him than it concerns you, much as you may think it concerns you only. The more literal rendering of the passage is – “Casting off upon Him all your anxious care; for it is a matter of concern to Him about you.” Then, child of God, leave it all with Jesus. ••••••• ■ March 27: “I will trust and not be afraid.” – Isaiah xii. 2. Circumstances are the Lord’s opportunities and the Lord’s servants, for preparing the hearts of His people for a fuller revelation of Himself, and for fashioning them as special instruments for special service here or hereafter. That future service will reveal how necessary was the previous training, and how needful was the rough east wind in its day, as well as the gentle south wind; and that even when He led His chosen ones through deep waters and through the fires, it was for a fashioning which nothing else could accomplish. Moreover He always does it Himself; His own loving hand is always engaged in the work, therefore all must be well; and though ofttimes the believer may be perplexed, yet the language of his heart should ever be, “I will trust and not be afraid,” for the Lord is always deserving of the heart’s unreserved trust, even when to sense it may appear as if all things were against the believer’s progress and well-being. In the darkest path, faith knows there is an eye watching that never slumbers; a hand working that never wearies; a heart loving that never changes; and that both eye, and hand, and heart are, through sovereign grace, engaged in completing the work that grace began. ••••••• ■ March 26: “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip.” – Psalm xviii. 36. Sometimes the Lord Jesus, in leading His people, suits their feet to the rough and dangerous path. Then He makes their feet like hinds’ feet, so that they walk evenly in uneven places, or He maketh their shoes iron and brass, so that they walk uninjured over a rough and thorny road. At other times He alters the path to suit their feet. Then the language of the believer is – “Thou hast set my feet in a large room” (Ps. xxxi. 8); “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip.” How often a timid, trembling child of God has dreaded the path in prospect, and has suffered much in the anticipation of sore trial apparently unavoidable; but the dreaded time arrives, and lo! it is a way of peace – the clouds disperse, the threatened tempest arises not, the difficulties are as nothing, and the deliverance is so fully wrought that the trembling one gratefully can say, “He brought me forth into a large place” (Ps. cxviii. 5). So true it is that those who trust in the Lord Jesus shall not want any good thing. “He that believeth in Him shall not be confounded.” ••••••• ■ March 25: “When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall he a light unto me.” – Micah vii. 8. The light of earthly friendship is sweet; the light of communion between loving hearts is precious; the light of family and social joys is cheering. But friendship’s light may grow dim; the communion of loving hearts must one day, to the survivor, be but a thing of memory until the dawning of the eternal day; the light from family and social joys must also cease to be. But Jesus never dies, Jesus never changes, Jesus is never far away. That light never grows dim in its shining. The waves of tribulation may quench every other light, but they can never quench that. The sure changes produced by the passage of time can never alter that. The light of all that is earthly is a fading light; one light only maintains its shining as ages pass, and that light is Jesus Himself. The light of this world is but the light of a dying spark; the light of life, the light of eternal day, is only found in Jesus. Amidst the vicissitudes of life, believers too often turn for light to earthly sources, but he looks not high enough for light to guide his steps, and light to gladden his heart, who looks lower than Jesus. All things earthly are but for a season, but the light of heaven never ceases shining, for that light is “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.” ••••••• ■ March 24: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains he carried into the midst of the sea.” – Psalm xlvi. 1, 2. In the path of special trial and perplexity it is well sometimes to look at the worst, and calmly to expect the most unfavourable issue, as men express it, not with mere philosophic or moral effort, or with physical energy and a determined will, as men of the world can do, but with a Christian calmness, resignation, and assurance, which only those know who take all things from the hand of Christ, and who, because of the burden these things produce, take them back again to Him, to seek in Him their strength and comfort amidst all. If the Lord leads the believer into rough and troubled waters, He is ever with him; and He leads him there that he may learn special lessons of grace, and enjoy special fellowship with Himself; lessons which could not so well have been learned, and fellowship that could not have been so fully realised elsewhere. The child of God never walks alone in any path where the Lord may place him; though he may often walk lonely therein, through his mind being so occupied with its difficulties and trials, that he loses all thought of the Friend who walks with him, and who desires to make it the place of heavenly joys in loving manifestations of Himself to the soul. Heart-experience is the result of believing thought, therefore that which most occupies our minds will have most influence on our hearts, either for hope or fear, joy or sorrow, peace or trouble, good or evil. Seeing then that, as a believer in Jesus, all hope and joy, all grace, all good of every kind, even all the fulness of God is centred in Christ for you; and that all is placed there by God your Father for your use; it follows that the sure way of full deliverance from and prevention of heart-trouble and distressing fears, is to look to Him as “a very present help in trouble” and to think of Him, and to think much of Him, and of His love for you, and of His ever-faithful and ever-watchful care over you, and make Him always your “refuge and strength.” Remember it is He Himself who says – “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me.” ••••••• ■ March 23: “I will go down with thee into Egypt.” – Genesis xlvi. 4. Into Egypt – the place of spiritual darkness; yet the place to which His providence had appointed they should go and tarry for a season. But He would go with them, and be found of them that looked for Him. A true sanctuary would He there be to His trusting ones; so that they might have Bethel experiences even in the land of Egypt. Believer in Jesus, you may in providence be guided by the Lord into a place of spiritual barrenness and darkness – a very Egypt in its surroundings; and may have to make it your place of abode for a season. Nevertheless, He will Himself be with you, and it will be your own fault if you do not enjoy spiritual prosperity even there. How often the children of God cast upon their Egyptian surroundings the blame of their spiritual sloth and deadness, instead of upon themselves; forgetting that when the Lord removes a believer from earthly sources of spiritual instruction and fellowship, He is ever in an especial manner with that believer in the place of barrenness; ready to more than make up by His grace and love in direct fellowship and guidance, through the believer’s more close and personal dealing with Himself, what he has lost by change of place. Sometimes the Lord’s special object in removing a believer from pleasant spiritual surroundings and pleasant spiritual fellowships, either by affliction or change of abode, may be that He intends more than ever to be the all of that believer, through enforced closer personal dealings with Himself. Again, the Lord may lead a believer into Egyptian surroundings for some special service there, and to bear faithful testimony for His name in the midst of the surrounding darkness. Whatever may be the secondary causes of our removal, it is well in all to see the hand of the Lord; and to know of a truth that His object is ever the truest good of His beloved ones, and that He will never fail them in any place whither they may go, for He hath said: “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest” (Gen. xxviii. 15). |
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