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January 25 |
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Morning Reading |
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Evening
Reading |
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"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the
Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath
bestowed on us." |
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Isaiah 63:7 |
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And canst thou not do this? Are there no
mercies which thou hast experienced? What though thou art gloomy now,
canst thou forget that blessed hour when Jesus met thee, and said,
"Come
unto me"? Canst thou not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped thy
fetters, dashed thy chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break thy
bonds and set thee free"? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten,
there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not
quite grown over with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of his
mercy towards thee? What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which
thou art suffering now, and did he not restore thee? Wert thou never poor
before, and did he not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before,
and did he not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience, and
pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine infant-
faith may float safely on the stream. Forget not what thy God has done for
thee; turn over the book of thy remembrance, and consider the days of old.
Canst thou not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with thee at
Hermon? Hast thou never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Hast thou never
been helped in time of need? Nay, I know thou hast. Go back, then, a little
way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now,
light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and
thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away.
"Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses, for they
have been ever of old." |
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Evening Reading |
Go to Morning Reading |
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"Do we then make void the law through
faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." |
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Romans 3:31 |
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When the believer is adopted into the Lord's
family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he
is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it
is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have
nothing to do with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as
you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish,
the least intimation of his will. Does he bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance?
It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your
Father. Does he command you to seek the image of Jesus? Is it not your joy
to do so? Does Jesus tell you,
"Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is
in heaven is perfect"? Then not because the law commands, but because your
Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in holiness. Does he bid his
saints love one another? Do it, not because the law says,
"Love thy
neighbour," but because Jesus says,
"If ye love me, keep my commandments;"
and this is the commandment that he has given unto you,
"that ye love one
another." Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity
is a burden which you dare not shirk, but because Jesus teaches,
"Give to
him that asketh of thee." Does the Word say,
"Love God with all your heart"?
Look at the commandment and reply, "Ah! commandment, Christ hath fulfilled
thee already — I have no need, therefore, to fulfil thee for my salvation,
but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now and he
has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute." May the Holy Ghost make
your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ's love, that your
prayer may be, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein
do I delight." Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the
apologist of sin. |
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