From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Daily devotions for 06-19-2005:
Devotion: Morning and Evening
Morning Title: The Offices of Christ
Evening Title: The Garden of Christ
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Morning: The Offices of Christ
"Thy Redeemer." --Isaiah 54:5
Jesus, the Redeemer, is altogether ours and ours for ever. All the offices of
Christ are held on our behalf. He is king for us, priest for us, and prophet
for us. Whenever we read a new title of the Redeemer, let us appropriate Him as
ours under that name as much as under any other. The shepherd's staff, the
father's rod, the captain's sword, the priest's mitre, the prince's sceptre,
the prophet's mantle, all are ours. Jesus hath no dignity which He will not
employ for our exaltation, and no prerogative which He will not exercise for
our defence. His fulness of Godhead is our unfailing, inexhaustible
treasure-house.
His manhood also, which he took upon him for us, is ours in all its perfection.
To us our gracious Lord communicates the spotless virtue of a stainless
character; to us he gives the meritorious efficacy of a devoted life; on us he
bestows the reward procured by obedient submission and incessant service. He
makes the unsullied garment of his life our covering beauty; the glittering
virtues of his character our ornaments and jewels; and the superhuman meekness
of his death our boast and glory. He bequeaths us his manger, from which to
learn how God came down to man; and his Cross to teach us how man may go up to
God. All His thoughts, emotions, actions, utterances, miracles, and
intercessions, were for us. He trod the road of sorrow on our behalf, and hath
made over to us as his heavenly legacy the full results of all the labours of
his life. He is now as much ours as heretofore; and he blushes not to
acknowledge himself "our Lord Jesus Christ," though he is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Christ everywhere and every
way is our Christ, for ever and ever most richly to enjoy. O my soul, by the
power of the Holy Spirit! call him this morning, "thy Redeemer."
Evening: The Garden of Christ
"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse." --Song of Solomon 5:1
The heart of the believer is Christ's garden. He bought it with His precious
blood, and He enters it and claims it as His own. A garden implies separation.
It is not the open common; it is not a wilderness; it is walled around, or
hedged in.
Would that we could see the wall of separation between the church and the world
made broader and stronger. It makes one sad to hear Christians saying, "Well,
there is no harm in this; there is no harm in that," thus getting as near to
the world as possible. Grace is at a low ebb in that soul which can even raise
the question of how far
it may go in worldly conformity. A garden is a place of beauty, it far
surpasses the wild
uncultivated lands. The genuine Christian must seek to be more excellent in his
life than the best moralist, because Christ's garden ought to produce the best
flowers in all the world. Even the best is poor compared with Christ's
deservings; let us not put Him off with withering and dwarf plants. The rarest,
richest, choicest lilies and roses ought to bloom in the place which Jesus
calls His own. The garden is a place of growth. The saints are not to remain
undeveloped, always mere buds and blossoms.
We should grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. Growth should be rapid where Jesus is the Husbandman, and the Holy
Spirit the dew from above. A garden is a place of retirement. So the Lord
Jesus Christ would have us reserve our souls as a place in which He can
manifest Himself, as He doth not
unto the world. O that Christians were more retired, that they kept their
hearts more closely shut up for Christ! We often worry and trouble ourselves,
like Martha, with much serving, so that we have not the room for Christ that
Mary had, and do not sit at His feet as we should. The Lord grant the sweet
showers of His grace to water His garden this day.
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Daily devotions for 06-18-2005:
Devotion: Morning and Evening
Morning Title: A Prayer Frequently Used
Evening Title: The Well of Promise
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Morning: A Prayer Frequently Used
"Help, Lord." --Psalm 12:1
The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious,
and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted
up his heart in supplication--when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator.
He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at
the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for
the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of
directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this
petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings
of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to
his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where
to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner.
The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential
afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing
them. Students, in doctrinal
difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to
the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may
send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their
request. Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time of need.
Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty
supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve
the turn of needy souls. "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering
or labouring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found, let us not be
slack to cry to Him.
The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus.
The Lord's
character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as
Father and Husband guarantee us His aid; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every
good thing; and His sure promise stands, "Fear not, I WILL HELP THEE."
Evening: The Well of Promise
"Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it." --Numbers
21:17
Famous was the well of Beer in the wilderness, because it was the subject of a
promise: "That is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people
together, and I will give them water." The people needed water, and it was
promised by their gracious God. We need fresh supplies of heavenly grace, and
in the covenant the Lord has pledged Himself to give all we require. The well
next became the cause of a song. Before the water gushed forth, cheerful faith
prompted the people to sing; and as they saw the crystal fount bubbling up, the
music grew yet more joyous. In like manner, we who believe the promise of God
should rejoice in the prospect of divine revivals in our souls, and as we
experience them our holy joy should overflow. Are we thirsting? Let us not
murmur, but sing.
Spiritual thirst is bitter to bear, but we need not bear it--the promise
indicates a well; let us be of good heart, and look for it. Moreover, the well
was the centre of prayer. "Spring up, O well." What God has engaged to give, we
must enquire after, or we manifest that we have neither desire nor faith.
This evening let us ask that the Scripture we have read, and our devotional
exercises, may not be an empty formality, but a channel of grace to our souls.
O that God the Holy Spirit would work in us with all His mighty power, filling
us with all the fulness of God. Lastly, the well was the object of effort. "The
nobles of the people digged it with their staves." The Lord would have us
active in obtaining grace. Our staves are ill adapted for digging in the sand,
but we must use them to the utmost of our ability. Prayer must not be
neglected; the assembling of ourselves together must not be forsaken;
ordinances must not be slighted. The Lord will give us His peace most
plenteously, but not in a way of idleness.
Let us, then, bestir ourselves to seek Him in whom are all our fresh springs.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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