March 15
Morning
"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." — 2Ti_2:1
Christ has grace without measure in himself, but he hath not retained
it for himself. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ
emptied out his grace for his people. "Of his fulness have all we
received, and grace for grace." He seems only to have in order to dispense
to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order
to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like
a tree, he bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by
those who need. Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse, to preserve,
to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be had from
him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which
he has not bestowed upon his people. As the blood of the body, though flowing
from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are
the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet
communion between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same
grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the same oil
runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an
unction of the same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head. This is
true communion when the sap of grace flows from the stem to the branch, and
when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained by the very nourishment
which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more
constantly recognize it as coming from him, we shall behold him in communion
with us, and enjoy the felicity of communion with him. Let us make daily use of
our riches, and ever repair to him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from
him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from
their own purse.
2 Timothy 2:1
my: 2Ti_1:2;
1Ti_1:2, 1Ti_1:18
be: 2Ti_1:7;
Jos_1:7; Hag_2:4;
1Co_16:13; 2Co_12:9-10; Eph_6:10;
Php_4:13; 2Pe_3:18
Evening
"He did it with all his heart and prospered." — 2Ch_31:21
This is no unusual occurrence; it is the general rule of the moral
universe that those men prosper who do their work with all their hearts, while
those are almost certain to fail who go to their labour leaving half their
hearts behind them. God does not give harvests to idle men except harvests of
thistles, nor is he pleased to send wealth to those who will not dig in the
field to find its hid treasure. It is universally confessed that if a man would
prosper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is
in other things. If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart
work, and let it be done with all your heart. Put as much force, energy,
heartiness, and earnestness into religion as ever you do into business, for it
deserves far more. The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, but he does not
encourage our idleness; he loves active believers. Who are the most useful men
in the Christian church? The men who do what they undertake for God with all
their hearts. Who are the most successful Sabbath-school teachers? The most
talented? No; the most zealous; the men whose hearts are on fire, those are the
men who see their Lord riding forth prosperously in the majesty of his
salvation. Whole-heartedness shows itself in perseverance; there may be failure
at first, but the earnest worker will say, "It is the Lord's work, and it
must be done; my Lord has bidden me do it, and in his strength I will
accomplish it." Christian, art thou thus "with all thine heart"
serving thy Master? Remember the earnestness of Jesus! Think what heart-work
was his! He could say, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."
When he sweat great drops of blood, it was no light burden he had to carry upon
those blessed shoulders; and when he poured out his heart, it was no weak
effort he was making for the salvation of his people. Was Jesus in earnest, and
are we lukewarm?
2 Chronicles
31:21
in the law: Psa_1:2-3
he did it: Deu_6:5,
Deu_10:12; 1Ki_2:4; 1Ch_22:19;
Ecc_9:10; Jer_29:13
prospered: 2Ch_14:7,
2Ch_20:26, 2Ch_26:5; Jos_1:7-8;
1Ch_22:13; Psa_1:3; Mat_6:33,
Mat_7:24-27
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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