December 8

Morning

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. — Rev 3:4

We may understand this to refer to justification. “They shall walk with Me in white”; that is, they shall enjoy a constant sense of their own justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have all been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow.

Again, it refers to joy and gladness—for white robes were holiday dress among the Jews. They who have not defiled their garments shall have their faces always bright; they shall understand what Solomon meant when he said “Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. Let your garments be always white, for God has accepted your works.” He who is accepted of God shall wear white garments of joy and gladness, while he walks in sweet communion with the Lord Jesus.

Whence so many doubts, so much misery, and mourning? It is because so many believers defile their garments with sin and error, and hence they lose the joy of their salvation, and the comfortable fellowship of the Lord Jesus—they do not here below walk in white.

The promise also refers to walking in white in heaven, before the throne of God. Those who have not defiled their garments here on earth—shall most certainly walk in white up yonder, where the white-robed hosts sing perpetual hallelujahs to the Most High. They shall possess inconceivable joys, happiness beyond all dreams, bliss beyond imagination, and blessedness which even the stretch of desire has not reached.

The “undefiled” shall have all this—not of merit, nor of works but of grace. They shall walk with Christ in white, for He has made them “worthy.” In His sweet company they shall drink of the living fountains of waters!

Evening

Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. — Ps 68:10

All God’s gifts are prepared gifts—laid up in store for foreseen needs. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fullness which He has treasured up in Christ Jesus, He provides of His goodness for the poor. You may trust Him for all the necessities that can occur, for He has infallibly foreknown every one of them. He can say of us in all conditions, “I knew that you would be this and that.”

A man goes a journey across the desert, and when he has made a day’s advance, and pitched his tent, he discovers that he needs many comforts and necessaries which he has not brought in his baggage. “Ah!” says he, “I did not foresee this—if I had this journey to begin again—I would bring these things with me, so necessary to my comfort.” But God has marked with omniscient eye, all the requirements of His poor wandering children; and when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. “My grace is sufficient for you.” “As your days—so shall your strength be.”

Reader, is your heart heavy this evening? God knew it would be; the comfort which your heart needs—is treasured in the sweet assurance of the text. You are poor and needy but He has thought upon you, and has the exact blessing which you require in store for you. Plead the promise, believe it and obtain its fulfillment. Do you feel that you never were so consciously vile as you are now? Behold, the crimson fountain is open still, with all its former efficacy, to wash your sin away. Never shall you come into such a position that Christ cannot aid you. No pinch shall ever arrive in your spiritual affairs—in which Jesus Christ shall not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus!