March 13
Morning
"Why sit we here until we die?" —
2Ki_7:3
Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification
of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we
would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read
the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as
yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can
but die. "Nothing venture, nothing win," is the old proverb, and in
your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no
one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if
such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None
escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are
saved who believe in him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received
mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, "Who can tell?" Act upon
the same hope, and try the Lord's mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there
were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you
to stretch out your hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own
unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek
him he will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto him. You shall
not perish if you trust him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far
richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria's deserted camp. May the Holy
Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you
are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell
the King's household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter
of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the
good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day.
2 Kings 7:3
four leprous: 2Ki_5:1,
2Ki_8:4; Lev_13:46;
Num_5:2-4, Num_12:14
Why: 2Ki_7:4;
Jer_8:14, Jer_27:13
Evening
"Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto
him into the ark." — Gen_8:9
Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at length to the ark
as her only resting place. How heavily she flies-she will drop-she will never
reach the ark! But she struggles on. Noah has been looking out for his dove all
day long, and is ready to receive her. She has just strength to reach the edge
of the ark, she can hardly alight upon it, and is ready to drop, when Noah puts
forth his hand and pulls her in unto him. Mark that: "pulled her in unto
him." She did not fly right in herself, but was too fearful, or too weary
to do so. She flew as far as she could, and then he put forth his hand and pulled
her in unto him. This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove, and she was
not chidden for her wanderings. Just as she was she was pulled into the ark. So
you, seeking sinner, with all your sin, will be received. "Only
return"-those are God's two gracious words-"only return." What!
nothing else? No, "only return." She had no olive branch in her mouth
this time, nothing at all but just herself and her wanderings; but it is
"only return," and she does return, and Noah pulls her in. Fly, thou
wanderer; fly thou fainting one, dove as thou art, though thou thinkest thyself
to be black as the raven with the mire of sin, back, back to the Saviour. Every
moment thou waitest does but increase thy misery; thine attempts to plume
thyself and make thyself fit for Jesus are all vanity. Come thou to him just as
thou art. "Return, thou backsliding Israel." He does not say,
"Return, thou repenting Israel" (there is such an invitation
doubtless), but "thou backsliding one," as a backslider with all thy
backslidings about thee, Return, return, return! Jesus is waiting for thee! He
will stretch forth his hand and "pull thee in"-in to himself, thy
heart's true home.
Genesis 8:9
found: Deu_28:65;
Eze_7:16; Mat_11:28;
Joh_16:33
and she: Psa_116:7;
Isa_60:8
pulled her: Heb. caused her to come
Daily Devotions.
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an
electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
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