Morning and Evening
by Charles Spurgeon
DECEMBER
December 1 — Morning
"You have made summer and winter." Psalm 74:17
My soul begin this wintry month with your God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind you, that He keeps His covenant with day and night, and tend to assure you that He will also keep that glorious covenant which He has made with you in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to His Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world—will not prove unfaithful in His dealings with His own well-beloved Son.
Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon you just now, it will be very painful to you—but there is this comfort, namely—that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation. He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy. He casts forth His ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, He is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost—and therefore you cannot murmur.
Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other troubles—are of the Lord's sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases. Winter in the soul breaks up the clods, and sweetens the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction! How we prize the fire just now! how pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw near to Him, and in Him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises, and go forth to labors which befit the season, for it is bad to be as the sluggard who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall beg in summer and have nothing!
December 1 — Evening
"O that we would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to men." Psalm 107:8
If we complained less, and praised more—we would be happier, and God would be more glorified.
Let us daily praise God for common mercies—common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them—we are ready to perish! Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun; for the health and strength to walk abroad; for the bread we eat; for the clothing we wear. Let us praise Him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined in prison among the guilty. Let us thank Him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts. Let us praise Him, in fact, for everything which we receive from His bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed.
But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God's redeeming acts towards His chosen people, are forever the favorite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ—our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves—but children of the living God, and can rightly expect the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, can you be silent? Awake, awake, you inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as you cry with David, "Bless the Lord, O my soul—and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Let the new month begin with new songs!
December 2 — Morning
"You are absolutely beautiful, my beloved! There is no flaw in you!" Song of Solomon 4:7
The Lord's admiration of His Church is very astonishing, and His description of her beauty is very glowing. She is not merely beautiful—but "absolutely beautiful." He views her in Himself, washed in His sin-atoning blood, and clothed in His meritorious righteousness, and He considers her to be full of loveliness and beauty. No wonder that such is the case—since it is but His own perfect excellency that He admires; for the holiness, glory, and perfection of His Church—are His own glorious garments on the back of His own well-beloved spouse!
She is not simply pure, or well-proportioned; she is positively lovely and absolutely beautiful! She has actual merit! Her deformities of sin are removed; but more, she has, through her Lord, obtained a meritorious righteousness by which an actual beauty is conferred upon her. Believers have a positive righteousness given to them when they become "accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6).
Nor is the Church barely lovely, she is superlatively so. Her Lord styles her the "most beautiful of women." She has a real worth and excellence which cannot be rivaled by all the nobility and royalty of the world. If Jesus could exchange His elect bride for all the queens and empresses of earth, or even for the angels in heaven—He would not, for He puts her first and foremost, "most beautiful of women." She far outshines the stars!
Nor is this an opinion which He is ashamed of, for He invites all men to hear it. He sets a "behold" before it, a special note of exclamation, inviting and arresting attention. "Behold! How beautiful you are, my beloved, how beautiful!" (Song of Sol. 4:1). His opinion He publishes abroad even now, and one day from the throne of His glory He will avow the truth of it before the assembled universe. "Come, you who are blessed by My Father" (Matt. 25:34), will be His solemn affirmation of the loveliness of His elect!
December 2 — Evening
"Behold, all is vanity!" Ecclesiastes 1:14
Nothing can fully satisfy a person—but the Lord's love and the Lord's own self. Saints have tried other pursuits—but they have been driven out of such fatal refuges.
Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all, and to do for us—what we must not dare to do for ourselves. Here is his testimony in his own words, "So I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind! Nothing was gained under the sun!" "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
What! the whole of it meaningless? O favored monarch, is there nothing in all your wealth? Nothing in that wide dominion reaching from the river even to the sea? Nothing in your glorious palaces? In all your music and dancing, and wine and luxury—is there nothing? "Nothing!" he says, "but a chasing after the wind!" This was his final verdict—when he had trodden the whole round of pleasure.
To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in His love, and be fully assured of union with Him—this is all in all. Dear reader, you need not try other forms of pleasure in order to see whether they are better than the Christian's. If you roam the world around—you will see no sights like a sight of the Savior's face! If you could have all the comforts of life—and if you lost your Savior, you would be most wretched. But if you possess Christ—though you should you rot in a dungeon—you would find it a paradise! Though you should you live in obscurity, or die with famine—yet you would be satisfied with the favor and goodness of the Lord!
December 3 — Morning
"You are absolutely beautiful, My beloved! There is no spot in you!" Song of Solomon 4:7
Having pronounced His Church positively full of beauty—our Lord confirms His praise by a precious negative, "There is no spot in you!" As if the thought occurred to the Bridegroom that the carping world would insinuate that He had only mentioned her lovely parts—and had purposely omitted those features which were deformed or defiled—He sums up all by declaring her universally and entirely lovely, and utterly devoid of stain.
A spot may soon be removed, and is the very least thing that can disfigure beauty—but even from this little blemish, the believer is delivered in his Lord's sight. If He had said there is no hideous scar, no horrible deformity, no repulsive ulcer—we might even then have marveled. But when He testifies that she is free from the slightest spot—all these other forms of defilement are included, and the height of wonder is increased.
If He had but promised to remove all spots in heaven, we would have had eternal reason for joy. But when He speaks of it as already done—who can restrain the most intense emotions of satisfaction and delight! O my soul, here is marrow and fatness for you; eat your full, and be satisfied with royal dainties!
Christ Jesus has no quarrel with His spouse. She often wanders from Him, and grieves Him—but He does not allow her faults to affect His love. He sometimes chides—but it is always in the tenderest manner, with the kindest intentions—it is "My love" even then. There is no remembrance of our follies. He does not cherish ill thoughts of us—but He pardons and loves as well after the offence—as before it! It is well for us that it is so, for if Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we are—how could He commune with us? Our precious Husband knows our silly hearts too well—to take any offence at our follies and faults.
December 3 — Evening
"The Lord, mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8
Well may our God be glorious in the eyes of His people, seeing that He has wrought such wonders for them, in them, and by them.
For them—the Lord Jesus upon Calvary routed every foe, breaking all the weapons of the enemy in pieces by His finished work of satisfactory obedience. By His triumphant resurrection and ascension, He completely overturned the hopes of hell, leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies openly, triumphing over them by His cross. Every arrow of guilt which Satan might have shot at us, is broken, for who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Vain are the sharp swords of infernal malice, and the perpetual battles of the serpent's seed, for in the midst of the church, the lame take the prey, and the feeblest warriors are crowned!
The saved may well adore their Lord for His conquests in them, since the arrows of their natural hatred towards Him are snapped, and the weapons of their rebellion are broken. What victories has grace won in our evil hearts! How glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sin dethroned! As for our remaining corruptions, they shall sustain an equally sure defeat, and every temptation, and doubt, and fear—shall be utterly destroyed. In the Salem of our peaceful hearts, the name of Jesus is great beyond compare—He has won our love!
Even thus securely, may we look for victories by us. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We shall cast down the powers of darkness which are in the world, by our faith, and zeal, and holiness! We shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall overturn false systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and none shall stand before us.
This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war song, and prepare for tomorrow's fight. Greater is He who is in us—than he that is in the world!
December 4 — Morning
"I have many people in this city!" Acts 18:10
This should be a great encouragement to evangelize—since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken—an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it—for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by Christ's blood—as the saints before the eternal throne! They are Christ's property—yet perhaps they are at present, lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness. But if Jesus Christ has purchased them—He will have them.
God is not unfaithful to forget the price which His Son has paid. He will not allow His substitutionary sacrifice to be in any case—an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet—but regenerated they must be! This is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. "My prayer is not for them alone," says the great Intercessor, "I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message." Poor, ignorant souls—they do not pray for themselves—but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on His breastplate, and before long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace.
"The time for figs is not yet." The predestined moment has not struck! But when it comes—they shall obey—for God will have His own redeemed people! They must obey—for the Spirit is not to be withstood when He comes forth with fullness of His saving power. They must become the willing servants of the living God. "My people shall be willing in the day of My power." "He shall justify many." "He shall see of the travail of His soul—and be satisfied."
December 4 — Evening
"Even we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:23
This groaning is universal among the saints—and to a greater or lesser extent, we all feel it. It is not the groan of murmuring or complaint—it is rather the note of desire than of distress. Having received the firstfruits of the Spirit, we desire the whole of our portion. We are sighing that our entire manhood, in its trinity of spirit, soul, and body, may be set free from the last vestige of the fall. We long to put off corruption, weakness, and dishonor—and to wrap ourselves in incorruption, in immortality, in glory, in the spiritual body which the Lord Jesus will bestow upon His people. We long for the manifestation of our adoption as the children of God.
"We groan," but it is "inwardly." It is not the hypocrite's groan, by which he would make men believe that he is a saint because he is wretched. Our sighs are sacred things—too hallowed for us to tell abroad. We keep our groanings to our Lord alone.
Then the apostle says we are "waiting," by which we learn that we are not to be petulant, like Jonah or Elijah, when they said, "Let me die"; nor are we to whimper and sigh for the end of life because we are tired of work, nor wish to escape from our present sufferings. We are to groan for glorification—but we are to wait patiently for it, knowing that what the Lord appoints is best. Waiting implies being ready. We are to stand at the door expecting the Beloved to open it and take us away to Himself.
This "groaning" is a test. You may judge of a man by what he groans after. Some men groan after wealth—they worship Mammon. Some groan continually under the troubles of life—they are merely impatient. But the man who sighs after God, who is uneasy until he is made like Christ—that is the blessed man. May God help us to groan for the coming of the Lord, and the resurrection which He will bring to us
December 5 — Morning
"Ask, and it shall be given you." Matthew 7:7
We know of a place in England still existing, where a dole of bread is served to every passerby who chooses to ask for it. Whoever the traveler may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loves sinners that He has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he has but to knock and have his needs supplied.
Nay, He has done better; He has attached to this Hospital of the Cross—a bath. Whenever a soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The fountain is always full, always effectual. No sinner ever went into it and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sins which were scarlet and crimson—have all disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than snow!
As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross—a wardrobe, and a sinner making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to foot! And if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary wear—but armor which shall cover him from the sole of his foot—to the crown of his head. If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord.
If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy's door, O my soul, knock hard this morning, and ask great things from your generous Lord. Do not leave the throne of grace until all your needs have been spread before the Lord, and until by faith you have a comfortable prospect that they shall be all supplied. No bashfulness need retard when Jesus invites. No unbelief should hinder when Jesus promises. No cold-heartedness should restrain when such blessings are to be obtained!
December 5 — Evening
"And the Lord showed me four carpenters." Zechariah 1:20
In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, "What are these?" The answer was, "These are the horns which have scattered Israel." He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters.
Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but suddenly, there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, "What shall these do?" These are the men whom God has found to break those horns in pieces! God will always find men for His work, and He will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do—but first the "horns," and then the "carpenters."
Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters—but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the "horns" grow troublesome, the "carpenters" will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations! Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London's poverty. The Lord knows where to find His servants. He has in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at His word they shall go up to the battle; "for the battle is the Lord's," and He shall get to Himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and He, in the right time, will raise up for us a defense, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to His Church!
December 6 — Morning
"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:48
The head and members are of one nature, and not like that monstrous image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. The head was of fine gold—but the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, part of iron and part of clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for thus the record stands, "Because I live, you shall live also." As is our loving Head, such is the body, and every member in particular. A chosen Head and chosen members; an accepted Head, and accepted members; a living Head, and living members. If the head is pure gold, all the parts of the body are of pure gold also. Thus is there a double union of nature as a basis for the closest communion.
Pause here, devout reader, and see if you can without ecstatic amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus exalting your wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. You are so low, that in remembrance of your mortality, you may say to corruption, "You are my father," and to the worm, "You are my sister!" And yet in Christ you are so honored that you can say to the Almighty, "Abba, Father!" and to the Incarnate God, "You are my brother and my husband!" Surely if relationships to ancient and noble families make men think highly of themselves, we have something to glory over the heads of them all. Let the poorest and most despised believer lay hold upon this privilege; let not a senseless indolence make him negligent to trace his pedigree, and let him allow no foolish attachment to present vanities—to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honor of union with Christ!
December 6 — Evening
"With a gold belt wrapped around His chest." Revelation 1:13
"One like unto the Son of Man" appeared to John in Patmos, and the beloved disciple marked that He wore a golden belt. A belt, for Jesus never was ungirt while upon earth—but stood always ready for service, and now before the eternal throne He stays not is holy ministry—but as a priest is girt about with "the fine belt of the ephod." Well it is for us, that He has not ceased to fulfill His offices of love for us, since this is one of our choicest safeguards, that He ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus is never an idler; His garments are never loose as though His offices were ended; He diligently carries on the cause of His people.
A golden belt, to manifest the superiority of His service, the royalty of His person, the dignity of His state, the glory of His reward. No longer does He cry out of the dust—but He pleads with authority, a King as well as a Priest. Safe enough is our cause in the hands of our enthroned Melchizedek.
Our Lord presents all His people with an example. We must never unbind our belts. This is not the time for lying down at ease, it is the season of service and warfare. We need to bind the belt of truth more and more tightly around our loins. It is a golden belt, and so will be our richest ornament, and we greatly need it, for a heart that is not well braced up with the truth as it is in Jesus, and with the fidelity which is wrought of the Spirit, will be easily entangled with the things of this life, and tripped up by the snares of temptation. It is in vain that we possess the Scriptures unless we bind them around us like a belt, surrounding our entire nature, keeping each part of our character in order, and giving compactness to our whole man. If in heaven Jesus does not loosen His belt, much less may we upon earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with the belt of truth!
December 7 — Morning
"God has chosen the base things of the world." 1 Corinthians 1:28
Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare—and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door—and you will see sinners then. Go to yonder jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night—and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a lawless juvenile depravity—and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh—and there is a sinner there. Go where you will—you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough. You may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet.
It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the vilest specimen of humanity, if he is but born of woman, I will have hope for him yet, because Jesus Christ has come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst—to be made the best. Grace turns pebbles of the brook—into jewels for His royal crown. He transforms worthless dross—into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind—to be the reward of the Savior's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile—to sit at the table of mercy! Therefore let none despair.
Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, unselfish, and abiding love; by the heart and by the affections of the Savior's compassion—we implore you not to turn away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting!
December 7 — Evening
"I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22
Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve—but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, saved. Have our Christian labors been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day—to have taught and moralized men—if they appear before God unsaved? Our skirts will be blood-red, if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men need to be saved.
Paul knew the ruin of man's natural state, and did not try to educate him—but to save him! He saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them—but of saving from the wrath to come! To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labors incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel. He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent; and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies. The gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some—he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labors and self-denials.
Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners—cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we don't seek His honor in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men!
December 8 — Morning
"But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes. They will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy." Revelation 3:4
We may understand this to refer to justification. "They shall walk with Me in white"; that is, they shall enjoy a constant sense of their own justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have all been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow.
Again, it refers to joy and gladness—for white robes were holiday dress among the Jews. They who have not defiled their garments shall have their faces always bright; they shall understand what Solomon meant when he said "Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. Let your garments be always white, for God has accepted your works." He who is accepted of God shall wear white garments of joy and gladness, while he walks in sweet communion with the Lord Jesus.
Whence so many doubts, so much misery, and mourning? It is because so many believers defile their garments with sin and error, and hence they lose the joy of their salvation, and the comfortable fellowship of the Lord Jesus—they do not here below walk in white.
The promise also refers to walking in white in heaven, before the throne of God. Those who have not defiled their garments here on earth—shall most certainly walk in white up yonder, where the white-robed hosts sing perpetual hallelujahs to the Most High. They shall possess inconceivable joys, happiness beyond all dreams, bliss beyond imagination, and blessedness which even the stretch of desire has not reached.
The "undefiled" shall have all this—not of merit, nor of works—but of grace. They shall walk with Christ in white, for He has made them "worthy." In His sweet company they shall drink of the living fountains of waters!
December 8 — Evening
"By Your goodness, You provided for the poor, O God." Psalm 68:10
All God's gifts are prepared gifts—laid up in store for foreseen needs. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fullness which He has treasured up in Christ Jesus, He provides of His goodness for the poor. You may trust Him for all the necessities that can occur, for He has infallibly foreknown every one of them. He can say of us in all conditions, "I knew that you would be this and that."
A man goes a journey across the desert, and when he has made a day's advance, and pitched his tent, he discovers that he needs many comforts and necessaries which he has not brought in his baggage. "Ah!" says he, "I did not foresee this—if I had this journey to begin again—I would bring these things with me, so necessary to my comfort." But God has marked with omniscient eye, all the requirements of His poor wandering children; and when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. "My grace is sufficient for you." "As your days—so shall your strength be."
Reader, is your heart heavy this evening? God knew it would be; the comfort which your heart needs—is treasured in the sweet assurance of the text. You are poor and needy—but He has thought upon you, and has the exact blessing which you require in store for you. Plead the promise, believe it and obtain its fulfillment. Do you feel that you never were so consciously vile as you are now? Behold, the crimson fountain is open still, with all its former efficacy, to wash your sin away. Never shall you come into such a position that Christ cannot aid you. No pinch shall ever arrive in your spiritual affairs—in which Jesus Christ shall not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus!
December 9 — Morning
"Therefore will the Lord wait—that He may be gracious unto you." Isaiah 30:18
God often delays in answering prayer. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day—he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word, for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice, that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away—but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him.
If you have been knocking at the gate of mercy, and have received no answer, shall I tell you why the mighty Maker has not opened the door and let you in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting.
Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold.
More frequently the delay is for our profit. You are perhaps kept waiting in order that your desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps you waiting—you will see your necessity more clearly, and will seek more earnestly; and that you will prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying.
There may also be something wrong in you which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps your views of the Gospel plan are confused, or you may be placing some little reliance on yourself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus.
Or, perhaps God makes you tarry awhile—that He may the more fully display the riches of His grace to you at last. Your prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered, they are certainly not forgotten—but in a little while shall be fulfilled to your delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make you silent—but continue instant in earnest supplication!
December 9 — Evening
"My people shall dwell in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32:18
Peace and rest do not belong to the unregenerate, they are the peculiar possession of the Lord's people, and of them only. The God of Peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed upon Him. When man was unfallen, his God gave him the flowery bowers of Eden as his quiet resting places; alas! how soon sin blighted the fair abode of innocence. In the day of universal wrath, when the flood swept away a guilty race, the chosen family were quietly secured in the resting-place of the ark, which floated them from the old condemned world into the new earth of the rainbow and the covenant, herein typifying Jesus, the ark of our salvation. Israel rested safely beneath their blood-besprinkled habitations in Egypt, when the destroying angel smote the first-born. And in the wilderness the shadow of the pillar of cloud, and the flowing rock, gave the weary pilgrims sweet repose.
At this hour, we rest in the promises of our faithful God, knowing that His words are full of truth and power. We rest in the doctrines of His Word, which are consolation itself. We rest in the covenant of His grace, which is a haven of delight. More highly favored are we than David in Adullam, or Jonah beneath his gourd, for none can invade or destroy our shelter. The person of Jesus is the quiet resting-place of His people, and when we draw near to Him in the breaking of the bread, in the hearing of the Word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise—we find any form of approach to Him to be the return of peace to our spirits!
December 10 — Morning
"And so we will be with the Lord forever!" 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Even the sweetest visits from Christ, how short they are—and how transitory! One moment our eyes see Him, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory—but in a little time, and we do not see Him, for our beloved withdraws Himself from us. Like a roe or a young deer—He leaps over the mountains of division; He is gone to the land of spices, and feeds no more among the lilies.
"If today He deigns to bless us
With a sense of pardoned sin,
He tomorrow may distress us,
Make us feel the plague within."Oh, how sweet the prospect of the time—when we shall not behold Him at a distance—but see Him face to face; when He shall not be as a wayfaring man tarrying but for a night—but shall eternally enfold us in the bosom of His glory. We shall not see Him for only a little season—but
"Millions of years our wondering eyes,
Shall o'er our Savior's beauties rove;
And myriad ages we'll adore,
The wonders of His love"In heaven there shall be no interruptions from care or sin; no weeping shall dim our eyes; no earthly business shall distract our holy thoughts! We shall have nothing to hinder us from gazing forever on the Sun of Righteousness with unwearied eyes! Oh, if it be so sweet to see Him now and then—how sweet to gaze on that blessed face forever—and never have a cloud rolling between, and never have to turn one's eyes away to look on a world of weariness and woe!
If to die is but to enter into uninterrupted communion with Jesus, then death is indeed gain, and the black drop is swallowed up in a sea of victory!
December 10 — Evening
"Whose heart the Lord opened." Acts 16:14
In Lydia's conversion, there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira—but just at the right time for hearing Paul—we find her at Philippi. Providence, which is the handmaid of grace—led her to the right spot. Again, grace was preparing her soul for the blessing—grace preparing for grace. She did not know the Savior—but as a Jewess, she knew many truths which were excellent stepping-stones to a knowledge of Jesus.
Her conversion took place in the use of the means. On the Sabbath she went when prayer was accustomed to be made—and there prayer was heard. Never neglect the means of grace; God may bless us when we are not in His house—but we have the greater reason to hope that He will bless us—when we are in communion with His saints.
Observe the words, "Whose heart the Lord opened." Lydia did not open her own heart. Her prayers did not do it. Paul did not do it. The Lord Himself must open the heart, to receive the things which make for our eternal peace. He alone can put the key into the hole of the door, and open it, and get admittance for Himself. He is the heart's master—as He is the heart's maker.
The first outward evidence of the opened heart, was obedience. As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized. It is a sweet sign of a humble and broken heart, when the child of God is willing to obey a command which is not essential to his salvation, which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation—but is a simple act of obedience and of communion with his Master.
The next evidence was love, manifesting itself in acts of grateful kindness to the apostles. Love to the saints has ever been a mark of the true convert. Those who do nothing for Christ or His church, give but sorry evidence of an "opened heart". Lord, evermore give me an opened heart.
December 11 — Morning
"Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Heaven is a place where we shall never sin; where we shall cease our constant watch against an indefatigable enemy, because there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cease from troubling—and the weary are at rest. Heaven is an "undefiled inheritance"; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security. But do not the saints even on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security?
The doctrine of God's Word is—that all who are in union with the Lamb are safe; that all the righteous shall hold on their way; that those who have committed their souls to the keeping of Christ shall find Him a faithful and immutable preserver. Sustained by such a doctrine—we can enjoy security even on earth; not that high and glorious security which renders us free from every slip—but that holy security which arises from the sure promise of Jesus—that none who believe in Him shall ever perish—but shall be with Him where He is.
Believer, let us often reflect with joy on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honor the faithfulness of our God by a holy confidence in Him. May our God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May He assure you that your name is engraved on His hand; and whisper in your ear the promise, "Fear not, I am with you."
Look upon Him, the great Surety of the covenant, as faithful and true, and, therefore, bound and engaged to present you, the weakest of the family, with all the chosen race, before the throne of God; and in such a sweet contemplation, you will drink the juice of the spiced wine of the Lord's pomegranate, and taste the dainty fruits of Paradise. You will have a foretaste of the enjoyments which ravish the souls of the perfect saints above, if you can believe with unstaggering faith that "faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it."
December 11 — Evening
"You serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:24
To what choice order of officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a divine right? Ah, no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Was this spoken to those so-called "right reverend fathers," or "the venerable bishops"? No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken—but to servants, ay, and to slaves!
Among the toiling multitudes, the workers, the day laborers, the domestic servants, the drudges of the kitchen—the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord's chosen, and to them he says, "Whatever you do—do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance—for you serve the Lord Christ."
This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile—but to wash His feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employment—but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the kitchen, and the office become temples—when men and women do all to the glory of God!
"Divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places—but all of life becomes holiness unto the Lord; and every place and thing, becomes as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick!
December 12 — Morning
"His ways are everlasting." Habakkuk 3:6
What He has done at one time, He will do yet again. Man's ways are variable—but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth—among them are the following:
The Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; He orders all things according to the counsel of His own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration. But nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than He has foreseen.
His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One Himself can undergo change—His ways, which are Himself in action—must remain forever the same. Is He eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender? Then His ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature—when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, His ways will abide everlastingly the same.
Moreover there is no reason from without—which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers; mountains tremble; the deep lifts up its hands; and sun and moon stand still—when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of His people. Who can stay His hand?
But it is not might alone, which gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Sin breeds decay and involves ruin—but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever—and in Him the Lord is ever gracious to His people!
December 12 — Evening
"They have dealt treacherously against the Lord." Hosea 5:7
Believer, here is a sorrowful truth! You are the beloved of the Lord, redeemed by blood, called by grace, preserved in Christ Jesus, accepted in the Beloved, on your way to heaven. Yet, "you have dealt treacherously" with God, your best friend; treacherously with Jesus, whose you are; treacherously with the Holy Spirit, by whom you have been quickened unto eternal life!
How treacherous you have been in the matter of vows and promises. Do you remember the love of your espousals, that happy time—the springtide of your spiritual life? Oh, how closely did you cling to your Master then! saying, "He shall never charge me with indifference! My feet shall never grow slow in the way of His service! I will not allow my heart to wander after other loves—in Him is every store of ineffable sweetness. I give all up for my Lord Jesus' sake."
Has it been so?
Alas! if conscience speaks, it will say, "He who promised so well—has performed most ill. Prayer has oftentimes been slurred—it has been short—but not sweet; brief—but not fervent. Communion with Christ has been forgotten. Instead of a heavenly mind, there have been carnal cares, worldly vanities and thoughts of evil. Instead of service, there has been disobedience; instead of fervency, lukewarmness; instead of patience, petulance; instead of faith, confidence in an arm of flesh! And as a soldier of the cross, there has been cowardice, disobedience, and desertion, to a very shameful degree."
"You have dealt treacherously." Treachery to Jesus! What words shall be used in denouncing it! Words avail little—let our penitent thoughts execrate the sin which is so surely in us. Treacherous to Your wounds, O Jesus! Forgive us, and let us not sin again! How shameful to be treacherous to Him—who never forgets us—but who this day stands with our names engraved on His breastplate before the eternal throne!
December 13 — Morning
"You are to give him salt without limit." Ezra 7:22
Salt was used in every offering made by fire unto the Lord, and from its preserving and purifying properties, it was the grateful emblem of divine grace in the soul. It is worthy of our attentive regard that, when Artaxerxes gave salt to Ezra the priest, he set no limit to the quantity; and we may be quite certain that when the King of kings distributes grace among His royal priesthood, the supply is not cut short by Him. Often are we straitened in ourselves—but never in the Lord. He who chooses to gather much manna—will find that he may have as much as he desires.
There is no such famine in Jerusalem that the citizens should eat their bread by weight and drink their water by measure. Some things in the economy of grace are measured; for instance our vinegar and gall are given us with such exactness, that we never have a single drop too much. But no stint is made of the salt of grace. "Ask what you will—and it shall be given unto you." Parents need to lock up the candy cupboard, and the sweet jars—but there is no need to keep the salt-box under lock and key, for few children will eat too greedily from that. A man may have too much money, or too much honor—but he cannot have too much grace. When Jeshurun waxed fat in the flesh—he kicked against God. But there is no fear of a man's becoming too full of grace—an excess of grace is impossible. More wealth brings more care—but more grace brings more joy. Increased knowledge is increased sorrow—but abundance of the Spirit is fullness of joy.
Believer, go to the throne for a large supply of heavenly salt! It will season your afflictions, which are unsavory without salt! It will preserve your heart—which corrupts if salt is absent. And it will kill your sins—even as salt kills reptiles. You need much; seek much, and have much!
December 13 — Evening
"I will make your windows of agates." Isaiah 54:12
The church is most instructively symbolized by a building erected by heavenly power, and designed by divine skill. Such a spiritual house must not be dark, for the Israelites had light in their dwellings; there must therefore be windows to let the light in and to allow the inhabitants to gaze abroad. These windows are precious as agates—that is, the ways in which the church beholds her Lord and heaven, and spiritual truth in general, are to be had in the highest esteem.
Agates are not the most transparent of gems, they are but semi-transparent at the best. Faith is one of these precious agate windows—but alas! it is often so misty and beclouded, that we see but darkly, and mistake much that we do see. Yet if we cannot gaze through windows of diamonds and know even as we are known—it is a glorious thing to behold the altogether lovely One, even though the glass be as hazy as the agate.
Experience is another of these dim but precious windows, yielding to us a subdued religious light, in which we see the sufferings of the Man of Sorrows, through our own afflictions. Our weak eyes could not endure windows of transparent glass to let in the Master's glory—but when they are dimmed with weeping, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness are tempered, and shine through the windows of agate with a soft radiance inexpressibly soothing to tempted souls.
Sanctification, as it conforms us to our Lord, is another agate window. Only as we become heavenly, can we comprehend heavenly things. The pure in heart—see a pure God. Those who are like Jesus—see Him as He is. Because we are so little like Him, the window is but agate; because we are somewhat like Him, it is agate. We thank God for what we have—and long for more. When shall we see God and Jesus, and heaven and truth, face to face?
December 14 — Morning
"They go from strength to strength." Psalm 84:7
There are various renderings of these words—but all of them contain the idea of progress. "They go from strength to strength." That is, they grow stronger and stronger. Usually, if we are walking, we go from strength to weakness; we start fresh and in good order for our journey—but by-and-by the road is rough, and the sun is hot; we sit down by the wayside, and then again painfully pursue our weary way. But the Christian pilgrim having obtained fresh supplies of grace, is as vigorous after years of toilsome travel and struggle—as when he first set out! He may not be quite so elated and buoyant, nor perhaps quite so hot and hasty in his zeal as he once was—but he is much stronger in all that constitutes real power, and travels, if more slowly—far more surely.
Some gray-haired veterans have been as firm in their grasp of truth, and as zealous in diffusing it, as they were in their younger days; but, alas, it must be confessed it is often otherwise, for the love of many waxes cold and iniquity abounds—but this is their own sin and not the fault of the promise, which still holds good, "The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall—but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint!"
Fretful spirits sit down and trouble themselves about the future. "Alas!" say they, "we go from affliction to affliction." Very true, O you of little faith—but then you go from strength to strength also. You shall never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace. God will give the strength of ripe manhood—with the burden allotted to full-grown shoulders.
December 14 — Evening
"I am crucified with Christ." Galatians 2:20
The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what He did as a great public representative person, and His dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all His people. He rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins. The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ's chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ's death—he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God.
Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, "I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute, the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ."
But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ's death, and trusted in it—but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, "I cannot enjoy these—I am dead to them." Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world—as one who is utterly dead.
Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, "Nevertheless I live." He is fully alive unto God. The Christian's life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead—yet alive! Crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Savior—and death to the world and sin—are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!
December 15 — Morning
"Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung to Naomi." Ruth 1:14
Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them if they cared for ease and comfort—to return to their Moabitish friends. At first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord's people; but upon still further consideration, Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss, left her mother in law, and her people, and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends; while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother in law.
It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair—and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy—but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness—is not so small a matter.
How does the case stand with us—is our heart fixed upon Jesus? Is the sacrifice bound with cords to the horns of the altar? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all worldly loss for the Master's sake? The after gain will be an abundant recompense, for Egypt's treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be revealed.
Orpah is heard of no more; in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure, her life melts into the gloom of death. But Ruth lives in history and in heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line from whence sprung the King of kings. Blessed among women shall those be—who for Christ's sake can renounce all; but forgotten and worse than forgotten shall those be—who in the hour of temptation do violence to conscience and turn back unto the world. O that we may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah's kiss! But may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus!
December 15 — Evening
"Lay your foundations with sapphires." Isaiah 54:11
Not only that which is seen of the church of God—but that which is unseen, is fair and precious. Foundations are out of sight, and so long as they are firm it is not expected that they should be valuable; but in Jehovah's work everything is costly, nothing slurred, nothing cheap.
The deep foundations of the work of grace, are as sapphires for preciousness, no human mind is able to measure their glory. We build upon the covenant of grace, which is firmer than adamant, and as enduring as jewels upon which age spends itself in vain. Sapphire foundations are eternal, and the covenant abides throughout the lifetime of the Almighty.
Another foundation is the person of the Lord Jesus, which is clear and spotless, everlasting and beautiful as the sapphire; blending in one the deep blue of earth's ever rolling ocean—and the azure of its all embracing sky. Once might our Lord have been likened to the
ruby as He stood covered with His own blood—but now we see Him radiant with the soft blue of love—love abounding, deep, eternal.Our eternal hopes are built upon the justice and the faithfulness of God, which are as clear and cloudless as the sapphire. We are not saved by a compromise, by mercy defeating justice, or law suspending its operations. No! We defy the eagle's eye to detect a flaw in the groundwork of our confidence—our foundation is of sapphire, and will endure the fire.
The Lord Himself has laid the foundation of His people's hopes. It is matter for grave enquiry whether our hopes are built upon such a basis. Good works and ceremonies are not a foundation of sapphires—but of wood, hay, and stubble; neither are they laid by God—but by our own conceit. Foundations will all be tried before long—woe unto him whose lofty tower shall come down with a crash, because based on a quicksand! He who is built on sapphires may await storm or fire with equanimity, for he shall abide the test!
December 16 — Morning
"Come unto Me." Matthew 11:28
The cry of the Christian Religion is the gentle word, "Come." The Jewish LAW harshly said, "Go, take heed unto your steps as to the path in which you shall walk. Break the commandments, and you shall perish; keep them, and you shall live." The LAW was a dispensation of terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the GOSPEL draws with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before His sheep, bidding them follow Him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet word, "Come." The LAW repels—the GOSPEL attracts. The law shows the distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it. From the first moment of your spiritual life, until you are ushered into glory—the language of Christ to you will be, "Come, come unto Me!"
As a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by saying, "Come," even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you, bidding you follow Him as the soldier follows his captain. He will always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you shall hear His animating voice calling you after Him all through life. In the solemn hour of death, His sweet words with which He shall usher you into the heavenly world shall be, "Come, you who are blessed of my Father."
Nay, further, this is not only Christ's cry to you—but, if you be a believer, this is your cry to Christ, "Come! Come!" You will be longing for His second advent; you will be saying, "Come quickly—even so come Lord Jesus." You will be panting for nearer and closer communion with Him. As His voice to you is "Come," your response to Him will be, "Come, Lord, and abide with me! Come, and occupy alone the throne of my heart! Reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to Your service!"
December 16 — Evening
"You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open!" Isaiah 48:8
"You have neither heard nor understood!" It is painful to remember that, in a certain degree, this accusation may be laid at the door of believers, who too often are in a measure spiritually insensible. We may well bewail ourselves, that we do not hear the voice of God as we ought, "You have not heard!" There are gentle motions of the Holy Spirit in the soul which are unheeded by us. There are whisperings of divine command and of heavenly love which are alike unobserved by our leaden intellects.
Alas! we have been carelessly ignorant, "You have neither heard nor understood!" There are matters within our hearts which we ought to have seen: corruptions which have made headway unnoticed; sweet affections which are being blighted like flowers in the frost, untended by us; glimpses of the divine face which might be perceived—if we had not walled up the windows of our soul. But we "have not understood."
As we think of it—we are humbled in the deepest self-abasement. How must we adore the grace of God as we learn from the context—that all this folly and ignorance, on our part, was foreknown by God, and, notwithstanding that foreknowledge, He yet has been pleased to deal with us in a way of mercy! Admire the marvelous sovereign grace which could have chosen us—in the sight of all this! Wonder at the price that was paid for us—when Christ knew what we would be! He who hung upon the cross foresaw us as unbelieving, backsliding, cold-hearted, indifferent, careless, lax in prayer—and yet He said, "I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior! I have loved you!"
O redemption, how wondrously resplendent do you shine—when we think how black we are! O Holy Spirit, give us henceforth the hearing ear, and the understanding heart!
December 17 — Morning
"I remember you." Jeremiah 2:2
Let us note that Christ delights to think upon His Church, and to look upon her beauty. As the bird returns often to its nest, and as the wayfarer hastens to his home—so does the mind continually pursue the object of its desire. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love. We desire always to have our precious things in our sight.
It is just so with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity "His delights were with the sons of men." When the world was set upon its pillars, He was there—and His thoughts rolled onward to the time when His elect would be born into the world; He viewed them in the mirror of His foreknowledge. Many a time before His incarnation, He descended to this lower earth in the similitude of a man, and visited His people: on the plains of Mamre (Gen. 18), by the brook of Jabbok (Gen. 32:24-30), beneath the walls of Jericho (Josh. 5:13), and in the fiery furnace of Babylon (Dan. 3:19, 25).
Because His soul delighted in them—He could not rest away from them, for His heart longed after them. He had engraved their names upon His hands. Never were they absent from His heart, for as the breastplate containing the names of the tribes of Israel was the most brilliant ornament worn by the high priest—so the names of Christ's elect were His most precious jewels, and glittered on His heart.
We may often forget to meditate upon the perfections of our Lord—but He never ceases to remember us. Let us chide ourselves for past forgetfulness, and pray for grace ever to bear Him in fondest remembrance. Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul—the image of Your lovely Son!
December 17 — Evening
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture." John 10:9
Jesus, the great I AM, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God Himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by Him,
four choice privileges:1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost—who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into forgiveness—is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an open door, a wide door, a safe door; and blessed is he who rests all his hope of admission to glory, upon the crucified Redeemer!
2. He shall go in. He shall be privileged to go in among the divine family, sharing the children's bread, and participating in all their honors and enjoyments. He shall go in to the chambers of communion with God, to the banquets of love, to the treasures of the covenant, to the storehouses of the promises. He shall go in unto the King of kings in the power of the Holy Spirit—and the secret of the Lord shall be with him.
3. He shall go out. This blessing is much forgotten. We go out into the world to labor and suffer—but what a mercy to go in the name and power of Jesus! We are called to bear witness to the truth, to cheer the disconsolate, to warn the careless, to win souls, and to glorify God. And as the angel said to Gideon, "Go in this your might," even thus the Lord would have us proceed as His messengers, in His name and strength.
4. He shall find pasture. He who knows Jesus shall never lack. Going in and out shall be alike helpful to him. In fellowship with God he shall grow—and in watering others he shall be watered. Having made Jesus his all—he shall find all in Jesus. His soul shall be as a watered garden, and as a well whose waters shall never fail.
December 18 — Morning
"Rend your heart—and not your garments." Joel 2:13
Garment-rending and other external signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested, and are frequently hypocritical. To feel true repentance is far more difficult, and consequently far less common. Unsaved men will attend to the most multiplied and minute religious ceremonies and regulations—for such things are pleasing to their flesh. But true godliness is too humbling, too heart-searching, too spiritual for the tastes of the carnal men! They prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. External religious rituals are temporarily comfortable; eye and ear are pleased; self-conceit is fed, and self-righteousness is puffed up. But they are ultimately delusive, for at the day of judgment, the soul needs something more substantial than religious ceremonies and rituals to lean upon.
Apart from vital godliness—all religion is utterly vain! When offered without a sincere heart, every form of religious worship is a solemn sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of God!
Heart-rending is divinely wrought and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form—but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of—but keenly and sensitively felt in every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating and sin-purging! But also, it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud unhumbled souls are unable to receive! This heart-rending is distinctly differentiating, for it belongs to the elect of God—and to them alone.
The text commands us to rend our hearts—but they are naturally as hard as marble! How then, can this be done? We must take them to Calvary! A dying Savior's voice rent the rocks once—and it is just as powerful now. O blessed Spirit, let us hear the death-cries of Jesus—and our hearts shall be rent by the solemn sight!
December 18 — Evening
"Be diligent to know the condition of your flock—and pay attention to your herds." Proverbs 27:23
Every wise merchant will occasionally hold a stock-taking, when he will cast up his accounts, examine what he has on hand, and ascertain decisively whether his trade is prosperous or declining. Every man who is wise in the kingdom of heaven, will cry, "Search me, O God, and try me!" He will frequently set apart special seasons for self-examination, to discover whether things are right between God and his soul.
The God whom we worship is a great heart-searcher; and of old His servants knew Him as the "Righteous God, who searches minds and hearts!" Let me stir you up in His name— to make diligent search and solemn trial of your state, lest you come short of the promised rest.
That which every wise man does, that which God Himself does with us all, I exhort you to do with yourself this evening. Let the oldest saint look well to the fundamentals of his piety, for grey heads may cover black hearts! Let not the young professor despise the word of warning, for the greenness of youth may be joined to the rottenness of hypocrisy. The enemy still continues to sow tares among the wheat.
It is not my aim to introduce doubts and fears into your mind; nay, truly—but I shall hope the rather—that the rough wind of self-examination may help to drive them away! It is not security—but carnal security, which we would kill! It is not confidence—but fleshly confidence, which we would overthrow! It is not peace—but false peace, which we would destroy! By the precious blood of Christ, which was not shed to make you a hypocrite—but that sincere souls might show forth His praise, I beseech you, search and look, lest at the last it be said of you, "You are weighed in the balances, and are found lacking!"
December 19 — Morning
"We may throw the dice—but the Lord determines how they fall." Proverbs 16:33
If the fall of the dice is under the Lord's control—then whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the a simple casting of the dice is guided by Him—how much more the events of our entire life—especially when we are told by our blessed Savior, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered! Not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father!" It would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were always to remember this. It would so relieve your mind from worry—that you would be the better able to walk in patience, calmness, and cheerfulness, as a Christian should.
When a man is anxious—he cannot pray with faith, or serve his Master. When you worry and fret about your lot and circumstances, you are meddling with Christ's business, and neglecting your own! You have been attempting "providing" work—and forgetting that it is yours to "obey". Be wise and attend to the obeying—and let Christ manage the providing.
Come and survey your Father's storehouse, and ask whether He will let you starve—while He has laid up so great an abundance in His garner! Look at His heart of mercy—and ask if that can ever prove unkind! Look at His inscrutable wisdom—and ask if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while He pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If He remembers even sparrows, will He forget one of His poor children?
"Cast your burden upon the Lord—and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Psalm 55:22
December 19 — Evening
"And there was no more sea." Revelation 21:1
Scarcely could we rejoice at the thought of losing the glorious old ocean. The new heavens and the new earth are none the fairer to our imagination, if, indeed, literally there is to be no great and wide sea, with its gleaming waves and shelly shores.
Is not the text to be read as a metaphor, tinged with the bias with which the Oriental mind universally regarded the sea in the olden times? A real physical world without a sea it is mournful to imagine, it would be an iron ring, without the diamond which made it precious. There must be a spiritual meaning here.
In heaven, there will be no division—the sea separates nations and divides peoples from each other. To John on the island of Patmos, the deep waters were like prison walls, shutting him out from his brethren and his work. There shall be no such barriers in the world to come. Leagues of rolling billows lie between us and many a kinsman whom we prayerfully remember—but in the bright world to which we go—there shall be unbroken fellowship for all the redeemed family. In this sense there shall be no more sea.
The sea is the emblem of change—with its ebbs—and flows, its glassy smoothness—and its mountainous billows, its gentle murmurs—and its tumultuous roarings. The sea is never the same for long. As the slave of the fickle winds and the changeful moon—its instability is proverbial.
In this mortal state—we have too much of this change. This world is constant—only in her inconstancy! But in the heavenly state—all mournful change shall be unknown, and with it all fear of storm to wreck our hopes and drown our joys. The sea of glass glows with a glory, which is unbroken by a wave! No tempest howls along the peaceful shores of paradise!
Soon shall we reach that happy land where partings, and changes, and storms shall all be ended! Jesus will waft all of His people there! Are you in Him or not? This is the grand question!
December 20 — Morning
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love!" Jeremiah 31:3
Sometimes the Lord Jesus tells His Church His love thoughts. He does not think it enough to tell it behind her back—but in her very presence He says, 'You are absolutely beautiful, My beloved!' It is true, this is not His ordinary method; He is a wise lover, and knows when to keep back the intimation of love—and when to let it out; but there are times when He will make no secret of it; times when He will put it beyond all dispute in the souls of His people.
The Holy Spirit is often pleased, in a most gracious manner, to witness the love of Jesus to our souls. He takes of the things of Christ—and reveals them unto us. No voice is heard from the clouds, and no vision is seen in the night—but we have a testimony more sure than either of these. If an angel should fly from heaven and inform the saint personally of the Savior's love to him—the evidence would not be one whit more satisfactory than that which is borne in the heart by the Holy Spirit! Ask those of the Lord's people who have lived the nearest to the gates of heaven, and they will tell you that they have had seasons when the love of Christ towards them has been a fact so clear and sure—that they could no more doubt it than they could question their own existence!
Yes, beloved believer, you and I have had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and then our faith has mounted to the topmost heights of assurance. We have had confidence to lean our heads upon the bosom of our Lord, and we have no more questioned our Master's affection to us—than John did when in that blessed posture; nay, nor so much—for the dark question, "Lord, is it I who shall betray you?" has been put far from us. He has kissed us with the kisses of His mouth; and has killed our doubts—by the closeness of His embrace. His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls!
December 20 — Evening
"Call your laborers, and give them their pay." Matthew 20:8
God is a good paymaster. He pays His servants while at work—as well as when they have done it. One of His payments is this—a clear conscience. If you have spoken faithfully of Jesus to one person, when you go to bed at night you feel happy in thinking, "This day I have discharged my conscience of that man's blood." There is a great comfort in doing something for Jesus. Oh, what a happiness to place jewels in His crown, and give Him to see of the travail of His soul!
There is also very great reward in watching the first buddings of conviction in a soul! To say of that girl in the class, "She is tender of heart, I do hope that there is the Lord's work within." To go home and pray over that boy, who said something in the afternoon which made you think he must know more of divine truth than you had imagined! Oh, the joy of hope!
But as for the joy of success! it is unspeakable. This joy, overwhelming as it is, is a hungry thing—you pine for more of it. To be a soul-winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ—you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above! Oh, how sweet is that sentence, "Enter into the joy of your Lord!"
Do you know what the joy of Christ is, over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when He mounts the throne, you shall mount with Him. When the heavens ring with "Well done, well done!" you shall partake in the reward! You have toiled with Him, you have suffered with Him, you shall now reign with Him! You have sown with Him, you shall reap with Him! Your face was covered with sweat like His, and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as His soul was—now shall your face be bright with heaven's splendor as is His countenance, and now shall your soul be filled with beatific joys even as His soul is!
December 21 — Morning
"He has established an everlasting covenant with me—ordered and secured in every detail!" 2 Samuel 23:5
This covenant is divine in its origin. "HE has established an everlasting covenant with me." Oh that great word, HE! Stop, my soul! God, the everlasting Father, has positively made a covenant with you; yes, that God who spoke the world into existence by a word; He, stooping from His majesty, takes hold of your hand—and makes a covenant with you! Is not this stupendous condescension, a deed which might ravish our hearts forever, if we could really understand it?
If a king had made a covenant with me—that would be something special. But the Prince of the kings of the earth, El-Shaddai, the Lord All-sufficient, the Jehovah of ages, the everlasting Elohim, "HE has established an everlasting covenant with me!"
But notice, it is particular in its application. "He has established an everlasting covenant with ME." Here lies the sweetness of it, to each believer. It is nothing for me that He made peace for the world; I want to know whether He made peace for me! It is little that He has made a covenant, I want to know whether He has made a covenant with me.
Blessed is the assurance that He has made an everlasting covenant with me! If God the Holy Spirit gives me assurance of this, then His salvation is mine, His heart is mine, He Himself is mine—He is my God!
This covenant is everlasting in its duration. An everlasting covenant means a covenant which had no beginning, and which shall never, never end. How sweet amidst all the uncertainties of life, to know that "the foundation of the Lord stands sure," and to have God's own promise, "I will not break My covenant, nor alter anything that has gone out of my lips." Like dying David, I will sing of this, even though my house is not so with God as my heart desires!
December 21 — Evening
"I clothed you in embroidered cloth and provided you with leather sandals. I also wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk." Ezekiel 16:10
See with what matchless generosity the Lord provides for His people's apparel. They are so arrayed, that the divine skill is seen producing an unrivaled embroidered work, in which every attribute takes its part, and every divine beauty is revealed.
There is no art like the art displayed in our salvation, no skillful workmanship like that beheld in the righteousness of the saints. Justification has engrossed learned pens in all ages of the church, and will be the theme of admiration in eternity. God has indeed "skillfully wrought it."
With all this beauty, there is mingled utility and durability, comparable to our being shod with leather. The animal here meant is unknown—but its skin covered the tabernacle, and formed one of the finest and strongest leathers known. The righteousness which is of God by faith endures forever, and he who is shod with this divine preparation, will tread the desert safely, and may even set his foot upon the lion and the adder.
Purity and dignity of our holy vesture, are brought out in the fine linen. When the Lord sanctifies His people, they are clad as priests in pure white. Not the snow itself, excels them in purity. They are in the eyes of men and angels fair to look upon, and in the Lord's eyes they are even without spot.
Meanwhile the royal apparel is delicate and rich as silk. No expense is spared, no beauty withheld, no daintiness denied.
What, then? Is there no inference from this? Surely there is gratitude to be felt and joy to be expressed. Come, my heart, refuse not your evening hallelujah!
December 22 — Morning
"I will strengthen you." Isaiah 41:10
God has the ability to discharge this engagement; for He is able to do all things. Believer, until you can drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, until you can break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength—you never need to fear. Do not think that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of God. While the earth's huge pillars stand—you have enough reason to abide firm in your faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven—has promised to supply you with daily strength! While He is able to uphold the universe—do not dream that He will prove unable to fulfill His own promises.
Remember what He did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how He spoke—and it was done; how He commanded—and it stood fast. Shall He who created the world—grow weary? He hangs His world upon nothing—shall He who does this, be unable to support His children? Shall He be unfaithful to His Word—for lack of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Does not He ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds His chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of His hand? How can He fail you?
When He has put such a faithful promise as this on record, will you for a moment indulge the thought that He has out-promised Himself, and gone beyond His power to fulfill? Ah, no! You can doubt no longer!
O you who are my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of Your grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of Your strength can never be emptied by Your friends—or rifled by Your enemies!
"Now let the feeble all be strong,
And make Jehovah's arm their song."
December 22 — Evening
"The spot of His children." Deuteronomy 32:5
What is the secret spot which infallibly betokens the child of God? It were vain presumption to decide this based upon our own judgment; but God's Word reveals it to us, and we may tread surely where we have Scriptural revelation to be our guide.
In Scripture, we are told concerning our Lord, "to as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believed on His name." Then, if I have received Christ Jesus into my heart, I am a child of God. That reception is described in the same verse as believing on the name of Jesus Christ. If, then, I believe on Jesus Christ's name—that is, simply from my heart trust myself with the crucified, but now exalted, Redeemer—I am a member of the family of the Most High. Whatever else I may not have, if I have this, I have the privilege to become a child of God.
Our Lord Jesus puts it in another shape. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Here is the matter in a nutshell. Christ appears as a Shepherd to His own sheep—and not to others. As soon as He appears, His own sheep perceive Him—they trust Him, they are prepared to follow Him. He knows them—and they know Him. There is a mutual knowledge—there is a constant connection between them. Thus the one mark, the sure mark, the infallible mark of regeneration and adoption—is a hearty faith in the appointed Redeemer.
Reader, are you in doubt, are you uncertain whether you bear the secret mark of God's children? Then let not an hour pass over your head until you have said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" I adjure you—do not trifle concerning this! If you must trifle anywhere, let it be about some secondary matter—your health, or the title deeds of your estate; but about your soul—your never-dying soul and its eternal destinies, I beseech you to be in earnest! Make sure work for eternity!
December 23 — Morning
"Friend, move up higher." Luke 14:10
When first the life of grace begins in the soul, we do indeed draw near to God—but it is with great fear and trembling. The soul conscious of guilt, and humbled thereby—is overawed with the solemnity of its position; it is cast into the dust—by a sense of the grandeur of Jehovah, in whose presence it stands. With sincere bashfulness it takes the lowest place. But, in later life, as the Christian grows in grace, although he will never forget the solemnity of his position, and will never lose that holy awe which must encompass a gracious man—when he is in the presence of the God who can create or can destroy; yet his fear has all its terror taken out of it—it becomes a holy reverence, and no more an overshadowing dread.
He is called up higher, to greater access to God in Christ Jesus. Then the man of God, walking amid the splendors of Deity, and veiling his face like the glorious cherubim, with those twin wings, the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, will, reverent and bowed in spirit, approach the throne. And seeing there a God of love, of goodness, and of mercy—he will realize rather the covenant character of God—than His absolute Deity. He will see in God rather His goodness—than His greatness; and more of His love—than of His majesty. Then will the soul, bowing still as humbly as before, enjoy a more sacred liberty of intercession. For while prostrate before the glory of the Infinite God, it will be sustained by the refreshing consciousness of being in the presence of boundless mercy and infinite love, and by the realization of his acceptance "in the Beloved."
Thus the believer is bidden to come up higher, and is enabled to exercise the privilege of rejoicing in God, and drawing near to Him in holy confidence, saying, "Abba, Father!"
"So may we go from strength to strength,
And daily grow in grace,
Until in Your image raised at length,
We see You face to face."
December 23 — Evening
"The night also is Yours." Psalm 74:16
Yes, Lord, You do not abdicate Your throne—when the sun goes down. Nor do You leave the world all through these long wintry nights—to be the prey of evil. Your eyes watch us as the stars, and Your arms surround us as the zodiac belts the sky. The dews of kindly sleep and all the influences of the moon are in Your hand, and the alarms and solemnities of night are equally with You.
This is very sweet to me when watching through the midnight hours, or tossing to and fro in anguish. There are precious fruits put forth by the moon as well as by the sun—may my Lord make me to be a favored partaker in them.
The night of affliction is as much under the arrangement and control of the Lord of Love—as the bright summer days when all is bliss. Jesus is in the tempest! His love wraps the night as a cloak—but to the eye of faith the sable robe is scarcely a disguise. From the first watch of the night even unto the break of day—the eternal Watcher observes His saints, and overrules the shadows and dews of midnight, for His people's highest good. We believe in no rival deities of good and evil contending for the mastery—but we hear the voice of Jehovah saying, "I create light—and I create darkness; I, the Lord, do all these things!"
Gloomy seasons of religious indifference and social sin—are not exempted from the divine purpose. When the altars of truth are defiled, and the ways of God forsaken, the Lord's servants weep with bitter sorrow. But they may not despair, for the darkest eras are governed by the Lord, and shall come to their end at His bidding. What may seem like defeat to us—may be victory to Him.
December 24 — Morning
"Though He was rich—yet for your sakes He became poor." 2 Corinthians 8:9
The Lord Jesus Christ was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted; but "though He was rich—yet for your sakes He became poor." As the rich saint cannot be true in his communion with his poor brethren—unless of his substance he ministers to their necessities; so (the same rule holding with the head as between the members), it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship with us—unless He had imparted to us of His own abounding wealth, and had become poor—to make us rich. Had He remained upon His throne of glory, and had we continued in the ruins of the fall without receiving His salvation, communion would have been impossible on both sides.
Our position by the fall, apart from the covenant of grace, made it as impossible for fallen man to communicate with God—as it is for Belial to be in concord with Christ. In order, therefore, that communion might be compassed, it was necessary that the rich Kinsman should bestow his estate upon his poor relatives; that the righteous Savior should give to His sinning brethren of His own perfection; and that we, the poor and guilty—should receive of His fullness grace for grace; that thus in giving and receiving, the One might descend from the heights, and the other ascend from the depths, and so be able to embrace each other in true and hearty fellowship.
Poverty must be enriched by Him in whom are infinite treasures—before it can venture to commune; and guilt must lose itself in imputed and imparted righteousness, before the soul can walk in fellowship with purity. Jesus must clothe His people in His own garments—or He cannot admit them into His palace of glory! And He must wash them in His own blood—or else they will be too defiled for the embrace of His fellowship. O believer, herein is love! For your sake the Lord Jesus "became poor" that He might lift you up into communion with Himself!
December 24 — Evening
"The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together." Isaiah 40:5
We anticipate the happy day when the whole world shall be converted to Christ; when the gods of the heathen shall be cast to the moles and the bats; when Romanism shall be exploded, and the crescent of Mohammed shall wane, never again to cast its baleful rays upon the nations; when kings shall bow down before the Prince of Peace, and all nations shall call their Redeemer blessed. Some despair of this. They look upon the world as a vessel breaking up and going to pieces, never to float again. We know that the world and all that is therein is one day to be burnt up, and afterwards we look for new heavens and for a new earth.
We are not discouraged by the length of His delays; we are not disheartened by the long period which He allots to the church in which to struggle—with little success and much defeat. We believe that God will never allow this world, which has once seen Christ's blood shed upon it, to be always the devil's stronghold. Christ came hither to deliver this world from the detested sway of the powers of darkness.
What a shout shall that be—when men and angels shall unite to cry "Hallelujah, hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" What a satisfaction will it be in that day—to have had a share in the fight, to have helped to break the arrows of the bow, and to have aided in winning the victory for our Lord! Happy are they who trust themselves with this conquering Lord, and who fight side by side with Him, doing their little in His name, and by His strength! How unhappy are those on the side of evil! It is a losing side, and it is a matter wherein to lose—is to lose and to be lost forever. On whose side are you?
December 25 — Morning
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."
Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. Let us adore and admire Him!
Let us notice at the very first glance—His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since—that a virgin should conceive and bear a child. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise Lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Savior, although truly man, was as to His human nature—the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory.
Fail not to note—His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise. But yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King! Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us—or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and second coming splendor!
December 25 — Evening
"When these celebrations ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job's regular practice." Job 1:5
What the patriarch did early in the morning, after the family festivities, it will be well for the believer to do for himself before he rests tonight. Amid the cheerfulness of household gatherings, it is easy to slide into sinful levities, and to forget our avowed character as Christians.
It ought not to be so—but so it is—that our days of feasting are very seldom days of sanctified enjoyment—but too frequently degenerate into unhallowed mirth. There is a way of joy as pure and sanctifying as though one bathed in the rivers of Eden—holy gratitude should be quite as purifying an element as grief. Alas! for our poor hearts, that facts prove that the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting.
Come, believer, in what have you sinned today? Have you been forgetful of your high calling? Have you been even as others in idle words and loose speeches? Then confess the sin, and fly to the sacrifice. The sacrifice sanctifies. The precious blood of the Lamb slain—removes the guilt, and purges away the defilement of our sins of ignorance and carelessness. This is the best ending of a Christmas-day—to wash anew in the cleansing fountain.
Believer, come to this sacrifice continually; if it be so good tonight, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood; to them sin, great as it is, is nevertheless no cause for despair, since they draw near yet again to the sin-atoning victim, and their conscience is purged from dead works.
Gladly I close this festive day,
Grasping the altar's hallowed horn;
My slips and faults are washed away,
The Lamb has all my trespass borne!
December 26 — Morning
"The last Adam." 1 Corinthians 15:45
Jesus is the federal head of His elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the covenant of works. So under the covenant of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love.
The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him—it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure forever. Thus, whatever Christ has done—He has wrought for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with delight by the righteous Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head.
As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has—He holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it; and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it. And in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does—is ours as well as His, seeing that He is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution, which moved Justin Martyr to cry out, "O blessed change, O sweet substitution!" This is the very groundwork of the gospel of our salvation, and is to be received with strong faith and rapturous joy!
December 26 — Evening
"Lo, I am with you always." Matthew 28:20
The Lord Jesus is in the midst of His church; He walks among the golden candlesticks; His promise is, "Lo, I am with you always." He is as surely with us now—as He was with the disciples at the lake, when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Not carnally—but still in real truth, Jesus is with us!
And a blessed truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of Him so overcomes us, that we are ready to say, "Turn away Your eyes from me—for they have overcome me!" Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which drop from His perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment's leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of His divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer—but glow like seraphs, equal to every labor, and capable of every suffering. If we know that Jesus is with us—every power will be developed, and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the Lord's service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence of Christ to be desired above all things.
His presence will be most realized—by those who are most like Him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to Him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ's desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favored with His company. Remember, that His presence may be had. His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us! If He does not come, it is because we hinder Him by our indifference. He will reveal Himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously allow Himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to His people!
December 27 — Morning
"Can the reed grow up without mire?" Job 8:11
The reed is spongy and hollow, and even so is a hypocrite; there is no substance or stability in him. It is shaken to and fro in every wind—just as formalists yield to every influence. For this reason the reed is not broken by the tempest, neither are hypocrites troubled with persecution.
I would not willingly be a deceiver or be deceived; perhaps the text for this day may help me to try myself whether I be a hypocrite or not.
The reed by nature lives in water, and owes its very existence to the mire and moisture wherein it has taken root; let the mire become dry, and the reed withers very quickly. Its greenness is absolutely dependent upon circumstances, a present abundance of water makes it flourish, and a drought destroys it at once.
Is this my case? Do I only serve God when I am in good company, or when religion is profitable and respectable? Do I love the Lord only when temporal comforts are received from His hands? If so I am a base hypocrite, and like the withering reed—I shall perish when death deprives me of outward joys.
But can I honestly assert that when bodily comforts have been few, and my surroundings have been rather adverse to grace, than at all helpful to it—I have still held fast my integrity? Then have I hope that there is genuine vital godliness in me. The reed cannot grow without mire—but plants of the Lord's right hand planting can and do flourish even in the year of drought. A godly man often grows best—when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag—is a Judas! Those who follow Christ for loaves and fishes—are children of the devil. But those who follwo Him out of love to Himself—are His own beloved ones. Lord, let me find my life in You, and not in the mire of this world's favor or gain!
December 27 — Evening
"Jehovah shall guide you continually." Isaiah 58:11
"Jehovah shall guide you." Not an angel—but JEHOVAH Himself shall guide you. Moses said, "If Your presence does not go with me—carry us not up hence." Christian, God has not left you in your earthly pilgrimage to an angel's guidance—He Himself leads the van. You may not see the cloudy, fiery pillar—but Jehovah will never forsake you.
Notice the word shall, "Jehovah shall guide you." How certain this makes it! How sure it is that God will not forsake us! His precious "shalls" and "wills" are better than men's oaths. "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
Then observe the adverb "continually". We are not merely to be guided sometimes—but we are to have a perpetual monitor. We are not occasionally to be left to our own understanding, and so to wander—but we are continually to hear the guiding voice of the Great Shepherd; and if we follow close at His heels, we shall not err—but be led by a right way to a city to dwell in.
If you have to change your position in life; if you have to emigrate to distant shores; if it should happen that you are cast into poverty, or uplifted suddenly into a more responsible position than the one you now occupy; if you are thrown among strangers, or cast among foes—yet tremble not, for "the Lord shall guide you continually." There are no dilemmas out of which you shall not be delivered, if you live near to God, and your heart is kept warm with holy love. He does not go amiss—who goes in the company of God. Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot mistake your road. You have infallible wisdom to direct you, immutable love to comfort you, and eternal power to defend you. "Jehovah" mark the word, "Jehovah shall guide you continually."
December 28 — Morning
"The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." Galatians 2:20
When the Lord in mercy passed by and saw us in our blood, He first of all said, "Live!" He did this first, because life is one of the absolutely essential things in spiritual matters, and until it be bestowed we are incapable of partaking in the things of the kingdom. Now the life which grace confers upon the saints at the moment of their quickening, is none other than the life of Christ, which, like the sap from the stem, runs into us, the branches, and establishes a living connection between our souls and Jesus.
Faith is the grace which perceives this union, having proceeded from it as its first-fruit. Faith is the neck which joins the body of the Church to its all-glorious Head. Faith lays hold upon the Lord Jesus with a firm and determined grasp. She knows His excellence and worth, and no temptation can induce her to repose her trust elsewhere!
Jesus is so delighted with this heavenly grace—that He never ceases to strengthen and sustain her by the loving embrace and all-sufficient support of His eternal arms. Here, then, is established a living, sensible, and delightful union which casts forth streams of love, confidence, sympathy, delight, and joy, whereof both the bride and bridegroom love to drink. When the soul can evidently perceive this oneness between itself and Christ, the pulse may be felt as beating for both, and the one blood as flowing through the veins of each. Then is the heart as near heaven as it can be on earth, and is prepared for the enjoyment of the most sublime and spiritual kind of fellowship.
December 28 — Evening
"I did not come to send peace on earth—but a sword." Matthew 10:34
The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend—he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal Himself to him more graciously than ever. O you who have taken up His cross—do you know what your Master said? "I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, He brings war. Where the light comes, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abides, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels! If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it—the world will not speak well of you! He who has the friendship of the world—is an enemy to God! But if you are true and faithful to the Most High God—men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities.
Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion—to unhesitatingly pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe! But for the love of Jesus—you must thus be courageous. For the truth's sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral courage which only the Spirit of God can work in you. Do not turn your back like a coward—but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master's steps, for He has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare—and eternal rest; than false peace—and everlasting torment!
December 29 — Morning
"Hitherto has the Lord helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12
The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord has helped us!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation— "hitherto has the Lord helped us!"
We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Just so—look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of loving-kindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto."
But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet— awakening in Jesus's likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white clothing, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss!
O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise your "Ebenezer," for—He who has helped you hitherto—will help you all your journey through. When read in heaven's light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will your "hitherto" unfold to your grateful eye!
December 29 — Evening
"What do you think of Christ?" Matthew 22:42
The great test of your soul's health is, What do you think of Christ? Is He to you "fairer than the children of men" "the chief among ten thousand" the "altogether lovely"? Wherever Christ is thus esteemed, all the faculties of the spiritual man exercise themselves with energy. I will judge of your piety by this barometer—does Christ stand high or low with you? If you have thought little of Christ, if you have been content to live without His presence, if you have cared little for His honor, if you have been neglectful of His laws—then I know that your soul is sick—God grant that it may not be sick unto death! But if the first thought of your spirit has been, "How can I honor Jesus?" If the daily desire of your soul has been, "O that I knew where I might find Him!" I tell you that you may have a thousand infirmities, and even scarcely know whether you are a child of God at all, and yet I am persuaded, beyond a doubt, that you are safe, since Jesus is great in your esteem. I care not for your rags—what do you think of His royal apparel? I care not for your wounds, though they bleed in torrents—what do you think of His wounds? Are they like glittering rubies in your esteem?
I think none the less of you, though you lie like Lazarus on the dunghill, and the dogs lick your sores—I judge you not by your poverty—what do you think of the King in His beauty? Has He a glorious high throne in your heart? Would you set Him higher if you could? Would you be willing to die if you could but add another trumpet to the strain which proclaims His praise? Ah! then it is well with you.
Whatever you may think of yourself, if Christ is great to you—you shall be with Him before long!
December 30 — Morning
"The end of a matter—is better than its beginning." Ecclesiastes 7:8
Look at Christ's beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at His Father's right hand, waiting until His enemies be made his footstool.
"As He is—so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross—or you shall never wear the crown! You must wade through the mire—or you shall never walk the golden pavement! Cheer up, then, poor Christian. "The end of a matter—is better than its beginning."
See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that butterfly with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof. That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like Him, for you shall see Him as He is. Be content to be like Him—a deespised worm—that like Him you may be satisfied when you wake up in His likeness.
That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the jeweler. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much—much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound. A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the jeweler. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process.
Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you! "They shall be Mine," says the Lord, "in the day when I make up My jewels." "The end of a matter—is better than its beginning."
December 30 — Evening
"Don't you realize that this will only end in bitterness?" 2 Samuel 2:26
If, O my reader! you are merely a professor, and not a possessor of saving faith in Christ Jesus, the following lines are a true ketch of your end. You are a respectable attendant at a place of worship; you go because others go, not because your heart is right with God. This is your beginning. I will suppose that for the next twenty or thirty years you will be spared to go on as you do now, professing religion by an outward attendance upon the means of grace—but having no heart in the matter.
Tread softly, for I must show you the deathbed of such a one as yourself. Let us gaze upon him gently. A clammy sweat is on his brow, and he wakes up crying, "O God, it is hard to die. Did you send for my minister?" "Yes, he is coming." The minister comes. "Sir, I fear that I am dying!" "Have you any hope?" "I cannot say that I have. I fear to stand before my God; oh! pray for me." The prayer is offered for him with sincere earnestness, and the way of salvation is for the ten-thousandth time put before him—but before he has grasped the rope, I see him sink into death. I may put my finger upon those cold eyelids, for they will never see anything here again.
But where is the man, and where are the man's true eyes? It is written, "In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment." Ah! why did he not lift up his eyes before? Because he was so accustomed to hear the gospel that his soul slept under it. Alas! if you should lift up your eyes there, how bitter will be your wailings. Let the Savior's own words reveal the woe, "Father Abraham, send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue—for I am tormented in this flame!" There is a frightful meaning in those words. May you never have to spell it out by the red light of Jehovah's wrath!
December 31 — Morning
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying—if any man thirsts—let him come unto Me and drink!" John 7:37
Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day of the feast He pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the year He pleads with us, and waits to be gracious to us. Admirable indeed is the longsuffering of the Savior—in bearing with some of us year after year, notwithstanding our provocations, rebellions, and resistance of His Holy Spirit. Wonder of wonders that we are still in the land of mercy!
Pity expressed herself most plainly, for Jesus cried, which implies not only the loudness of His voice—but the tenderness of His tones. He entreats us to be reconciled. "We beg you," says the Apostle, "as though God did beseech you by us." What earnest, pathetic terms are these! How deep must be the love which makes the Lord weep over sinners, and like a mother—woo His children to His bosom! Surely at the call of such a cry—our willing hearts will come.
Provision is made most plenteously; all is provided that man can need to quench his soul's thirst. To his conscience the atonement brings peace; to his understanding the gospel brings the richest instruction; to his heart the person of Jesus is the noblest object of affection; to the whole man the truth as it is in Jesus, supplies the purest nutriment. Thirst is terrible—but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it.
Provision is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest—he who suffers from it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of grace—but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with deeper draughts of lust. But it is not goodness in the creature which brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without respect of persons.
Provision is declared most fully. The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances, or doctrines—but to a personal Redeemer, who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree. The bleeding, dying, rising Savior—is the only star of hope to a sinner. Oh for grace to come now and drink, before the sun sets upon the year's last day! No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at.
Drinking represents a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot can drink; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in Jesus. We need no golden cup, no bejewelled chalice, in which to convey the water to the thirsty; the mouth of poverty is welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing flood. Blistered, leprous, filthy lips—may touch the stream of divine love; they cannot pollute it—but shall themselves be purified by it. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear reader, hear the dear Redeemer's loving voice as He cries to each of us, "If any man thirsts—let him come unto Me and drink!"
December 31 — Evening
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended—and we are not saved." Jeremiah 8:20
Not saved! Dear reader, is this your mournful plight? Warned of the judgment to come, bidden to escape for your life—and yet at this moment not saved! You know the way of salvation, you read it in the Bible, you hear it from the pulpit, it is explained to you by friends—and yet you neglect it, and therefore you are not saved! You will be without excuse when the Lord shall judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit has given more or less of blessing upon the Word which has been preached in your hearing, and times of refreshing have come from the divine presence, and yet you are without Christ. All these hopeful seasons have come and gone—your summer and your harvest have past—and yet you are not saved. Years have followed one another into eternity, and your last year will soon be here—youth has gone, manhood is going—and yet you are not saved. Let me ask you—will you ever be saved? Is there any likelihood of it? Already the most propitious seasons have left you unsaved; will other occasions alter your condition? Means have failed with you—the best of means, used perseveringly and with the utmost affection—what more can be done for you? Affliction and prosperity have alike failed to impress you; tears and prayers and sermons have been wasted on your barren heart. Are not the probabilities dead against your ever being saved? Is it not more than likely that you will abide as you are—until death forever bars the door of hope?
Do you recoil from the supposition? Yet it is a most reasonable one—he who is not washed in so many waters—will in all probability go filthy to his end! The convenient time never has come, why should it ever come? It is logical to fear that it never will arrive, and that Felix-like, you will find no convenient season—until you are in hell. O think what that hell is—and of the dreadful probability that you will soon be cast into it!
Reader, suppose you should die unsaved—no words can picture your doom! Write out your dreadful estate in tears and blood, talk of it with groans and gnashing of teeth—you will be punished with everlasting destruction, away from the glory of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
A brother's voice would sincerely startle you into earnestness. O be wise, be wise in time, and before another year begins—believe in Jesus, who is able to save to the uttermost. Consecrate these last hours to serious thought, and if deep repentance is bred in you, it will be well; and if it lead to a humble faith in Jesus, it will be best of all. O see to it that this year does not pass away—and you remain unforgiven. Let not the new year's midnight peals, sound upon an unforgiven spirit! Now, NOW, NOW believe, and live. "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"