March 2
Morning
"But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen
every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock." — 1Sa_13:20
We are engaged in a great war with the Philistines of evil. Every
weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching, teaching, praying, giving, all
must be brought into action, and talents which have been thought too mean for
service, must now be employed. Coulter, and axe, and mattock, may all be useful
in slaying Philistines; rough tools may deal hard blows, and killing need not
be elegantly done, so long as it is done effectually. Each moment of time, in
season or out of season; each fragment of ability, educated or untutored; each
opportunity, favourable or unfavourable, must be used, for our foes are many
and our force but slender.
Most of our tools want sharpening; we need quickness of perception,
tact, energy, promptness, in a word, complete adaptation for the Lord's work.
Practical common sense is a very scarce thing among the conductors of Christian
enterprises. We might learn from our enemies if we would, and so make the
Philistines sharpen our weapons. This morning let us note enough to sharpen our
zeal during this day by the aid of the Holy Spirit. See the energy of the
Papists, how they compass sea and land to make one proselyte, are they to
monopolize all the earnestness? Mark the heathen devotees, what tortures they
endure in the service of their idols! are they alone to exhibit patience and
self-sacrifice? Observe the prince of darkness, how persevering in his
endeavours, how unabashed in his attempts, how daring in his plans, how
thoughtful in his plots, how energetic in all! The devils are united as one man
in their infamous rebellion, while we believers in Jesus are divided in our
service of God, and scarcely ever work with unanimity. O that from Satan's
infernal industry we may learn to go about like good Samaritans, seeking whom
we may bless!
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
Evening
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ." — Eph_3:8
The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the
gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it
with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his
success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it
sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their abilities,
because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own weakness.
If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness,
attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you would feel how utterly powerless you
are apart from the living God, attempt especially the great work of proclaiming
the unsearchable riches of Christ, and you will know, as you never knew before,
what a weak unworthy thing you are. Although the apostle thus knew and
confessed his weakness, he was never perplexed as to the subject of his
ministry. From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing
but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and extolled the Son of God who bled
thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad
tidings of salvation, and let "Christ and him crucified" be your ever
recurring theme. The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers
which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying,
"Fill us with thy beams!" but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud,
they close their cups and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the
sweet influence of Jesus; Jesus must be his sun, and he must be the flower
which yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness. Oh! to speak of Christ alone,
this is the subject which is both "seed for the sower, and bread for the eater."
This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and the master-key to the
heart of the hearer.
Reference Verses
Ephesians 3:8
who am: Pro_30:2-3;
Rom_12:10; 1Co_15:9; Php_2:3;
1Ti_1:13, 1Ti_1:15;
1Pe_5:5-6
is this: 1Ch_17:16,
1Ch_29:14-15; Act_5:41; Rom_15:15-17
I: Eph_3:2;
Gal_1:16, Gal_2:8;
1Ti_2:7; 2Ti_1:11
unsearchable: Eph_3:16,
Eph_3:19, Eph_1:7-8,
Eph_2:7; Psa_31:19;
Joh_1:16; Rom_11:33;
1Co_1:30, 1Co_2:9;
Php_4:19; Col_1:27,
Col_2:1-3; Rev_3:18
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
Comments
Post a Comment