March 9
Morning
"Yea, he is altogether lovely." —
Son_5:16
The superlative beauty of Jesus is all-attracting; it is not so much to
be admired as to be loved. He is more than pleasant and fair, he is lovely.
Surely the people of God can fully justify the use of this golden word, for he
is the object of their warmest love, a love founded on the intrinsic excellence
of his person, the complete perfection of his charms. Look, O disciples of
Jesus, to your Master's lips, and say, "Are they not most sweet?" Do
not his words cause your hearts to burn within you as he talks with you by the
way? Ye worshippers of Immanuel, look up to his head of much fine gold, and
tell me, are not his thoughts precious unto you? Is not your adoration
sweetened with affection as ye humbly bow before that countenance which is as
Lebanon, excellent as the cedars? Is there not a charm in his every feature,
and is not his whole person fragrant with such a savour of his good ointments,
that therefore the virgins love him? Is there one member of his glorious body
which is not attractive?-one portion of his person which is not a fresh
lodestone to our souls?-one office which is not a strong cord to bind your
heart? Our love is not as a seal set upon his heart of love alone; it is
fastened upon his arm of power also; nor is there a single part of him upon
which it does not fix itself. We anoint his whole person with the sweet spikenard
of our fervent love. His whole life we would imitate; his whole character we
would transcribe. In all other beings we see some lack, in him there is all
perfection. The best even of his favoured saints have had blots upon their
garments and wrinkles upon their brows; he is nothing but loveliness. All
earthly suns have their spots: the fair world itself hath its wilderness; we
cannot love the whole of the most lovely thing; but Christ Jesus is gold
without alloy-light without darkness-glory without cloud-"Yea, he is
altogether lovely."
Reference
Verses
Song of Solomon 5:16
mouth: Heb. palate, Son_1:2; Psa_19:10, Psa_119:103; Jer_15:16
most: Son_1:16, Son_2:1, Son_2:3; Psa_45:2, Psa_89:6, Psa_148:13; Isa_9:6-7; Php_3:8; 1Pe_2:6-7
my beloved: Son_2:16, Son_6:3; Gal_2:20
friend: Jer_3:20 *marg. Hos_3:1; Jas_2:23, Jas_4:4
Evening
"Abide in me." — Joh_15:4
Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be
the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close
fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take bitterness from the one, and satiety
from the other. Live near to Jesus, Christian, and it is a matter of secondary
importance whether thou livest on the mountain of honour or in the valley of
humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art covered with the wings of God, and
underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Let nothing keep thee from that
hallowed intercourse, which is the choice privilege of a soul wedded to THE
WELL-BELOVED. Be not content with an interview now and then, but seek always to
retain his company, for only in his presence hast thou either comfort or
safety. Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon us now and then,
but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road before thee:
see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go not without thy guide. Thou hast to
pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to be thy companion. Thou hast to storm
the Jericho of thine own corruptions: attempt not the warfare until, like
Joshua, thou hast seen the Captain of the Lord's host, with his sword drawn in
his hand. Thou art to meet the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until
at Jabbok's brook thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and prevailed. In every
case, in every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of all, when the iron
gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy soul's Husband, lean
thy head upon his bosom, ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine of his
pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of him at the last, without spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast lived with him, and lived in him
here, thou shalt abide with him for ever.
Reference
Verses
John 15:4
Abide: Joh_6:68-69, Joh_8:31; Son_8:5; Luk_8:15; Act_11:23, Act_14:22; Gal_2:20; Col_1:23; Col_2:6; 1Th_3:5; Heb_10:39; 1Jn_2:6, 1Jn_2:24-28; 2Jn_1:9; Jud_1:20-21
I: Joh_6:56, Joh_14:20, Joh_17:23; Rom_8:9-10; 2Co_13:5; Eph_3:17; Col_1:27
As: Isa_27:10-11; Eze_15:2-5; Hos_14:8; 2Co_12:8-10; Gal_2:20; Php_1:11
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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