BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibstudy/morneven.exe/ME06.AM

Text File | 1993-09-05 | 60KB | 1,137 lines

* 06/01/AM

"The evening and the morning were the first day."
                                                   --Genesis 1:5

   Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness
divide the realm of time in the first day? Then little wonder is
it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine
of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. It will not always
be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at
seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my
Beloved in the night. Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord's
beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and
of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight.
It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and
night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural
creation till we reach the land of which it is written, "there
is no night there." What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and
good.

   What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do? Learn first
_to be content_ with this divine order, and be willing, with
Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good.
Study next, to _make the outgoings of the morning and the
evening to rejoice_. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it
rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is
beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the
Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours.
_Believe that the night is as useful as the day_. The dews of
grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise
shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief. _Continue thy
service_ under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be
_labour_, at night exchange it for _watch_. Every hour has its
duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord's servant
until He shall suddenly appear in His glory. My soul, thine
evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for
it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, "I will cover him
all the day long."

* 06/02/AM

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh."

                                                --Galatians 5:17

   In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle
between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very
active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of
its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other
hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy
its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and
hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the
"whole armour of God," and wrestles earnestly. These two
opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are
in this world. The battle of "Christian" with "Apollyon" lasted
three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all
the way from the Wicket Gate in the river Jordan. The enemy is
so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out
while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset,
and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even
Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and
who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than
conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature
is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the
adversary to-day? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all
against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God
Himself is with you; _Jehovah Nissi_ is your banner, and
_Jehovah Rophi_ is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you
shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on,
"looking unto Jesus"; and though long and stern be the conflict,
sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.

             "From strength to strength go on;
             Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
             Tread all the powers of darkness down,
             And win the well-fought day."

* 06/03/AM

"These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and
hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work."
                                             --1 Chronicles 4:23

   Potters were the very highest grade of workers, but "the
king" needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service,
although the material upon which they worked was nothing but
clay. We, too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the
Lord's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for "the
king"; and therefore we will abide in our calling, hoping that,
"although we have lien among the pots, yet shall we be as the
wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with
yellow gold." The text tells us of those who _dwelt among plants
and hedges_, having rough, rustic, hedging and ditching work to
do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life,
society, and refinement, but they kept their appointed places,
for they also were doing the king's work. The place of our
habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of
whim and caprice, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a
blessing to those among whom we reside. These potters and
gardeners had _royal company_, for they dwelt "with the king"
and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king
_there_. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean,
can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting
hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or gaols, we may go
_with the king_. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesu's
fellowship. It is when we are in His work that we may reckon
upon His smile. Ye unknown workers who are occupied for your
Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be
of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills ere
now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and
ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell ye
with the King for His work, and when He writes His chronicles
your name shall be recorded.

* 06/04/AM

"The kindness and love of God our Saviour."
                                                     --Titus 3:4

   How sweet it is to behold the Saviour communing with His own
beloved people! There can be nothing more delightful than, by
the Divine Spirit, to be led into this fertile field of delight.
Let the mind for an instant consider the history of the
Redeemer's love, and a thousand enchanting acts of affection
will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their design
the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the intertwisting of
the thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of
Jesus. When we meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the
all-glorious Kinsman of the Church endowing her with all His
ancient wealth, our souls may well faint for joy. Who is he that
can endure such a weight of love? That partial sense of it
which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to afford, is more
than the soul can contain; how transporting must be a complete
view of it! When the soul shall have understanding to discern
all the Saviour's gifts, wisdom wherewith to estimate them, and
time in which to meditate upon them, such as the world to come
will afford us, we shall then commune with Jesus in a nearer
manner than at present. But who can imagine the sweetness of
such fellowship? It must be one of the things which have not
entered into the heart of man, but which God hath prepared for
them that love Him. Oh, to burst open the door of our Joseph's
granaries, and see the plenty which He hath stored up for us!
This will overwhelm us with love. By faith we see, as in a
glass darkly, the reflected image of His unbounded treasures,
but when we shall actually see the heavenly things themselves,
with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in
which our soul shall bathe itself! Till then our loudest sonnets
shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our
Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, passing the love of women.

* 06/05/AM

"The Lord shut him in."