December 29

Morning

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. — 1 Sam 7:12

The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, “hitherto the Lord has helped us!” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation— “hitherto has the Lord helped us!”

We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Just so—look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of loving-kindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received “hitherto.”

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes “hitherto,” he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet— awakening in Jesus’s likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white clothing, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss!

O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise your “Ebenezer,” for—He who has helped you hitherto—will help you all your journey through. When read in heaven’s light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will your “hitherto” unfold to your grateful eye!

Evening

What think ye of Christ? — Matt 22:42

The great test of your soul’s health is, What do you think of Christ? Is He to you “fairer than the children of men” “the chief among ten thousand” the “altogether lovely”? Wherever Christ is thus esteemed, all the faculties of the spiritual man exercise themselves with energy. I will judge of your piety by this barometer—does Christ stand high or low with you? If you have thought little of Christ, if you have been content to live without His presence, if you have cared little for His honor, if you have been neglectful of His laws—then I know that your soul is sick—God grant that it may not be sick unto death! But if the first thought of your spirit has been, “How can I honor Jesus?” If the daily desire of your soul has been, “O that I knew where I might find Him!” I tell you that you may have a thousand infirmities, and even scarcely know whether you are a child of God at all, and yet I am persuaded, beyond a doubt, that you are safe, since Jesus is great in your esteem. I care not for your rags—what do you think of His royal apparel? I care not for your wounds, though they bleed in torrents—what do you think of His wounds? Are they like glittering rubies in your esteem?

I think none the less of you, though you lie like Lazarus on the dunghill, and the dogs lick your sores—I judge you not by your poverty—what do you think of the King in His beauty? Has He a glorious high throne in your heart? Would you set Him higher if you could? Would you be willing to die if you could but add another trumpet to the strain which proclaims His praise? Ah! then it is well with you.

Whatever you may think of yourself, if Christ is great to you—you shall be with Him before long!