January 25

Morning

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us. — Isa 63:7

And can you not do this? Are there no mercies which you have experienced? What though you are gloomy now, can you forget that blessed hour when Jesus met you, and said, “Come unto me!” Can you not remember that rapturous moment when He snapped your fetters, dashed your chains to the earth, and said, “I came to break your bonds and set you free!” Or if the love of your espousals is forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss—on which you can read a happy memorial of His mercy towards you? What, did you never have a sickness like that which you are suffering now and did He not restore you? Were you never poor before and did He not supply your needs? Were you never in difficulties before and did He not deliver you? Arise, go to the river of your experience, and pull up a few bulrushes, and weave them into an ark, wherein your infant-faith may float safely on the stream.

Do not forget what your God has done for you; turn over the book of your remembrance, and consider the days of old. Can you not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with you at Hermon? Have you never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Have you never been helped in time of need? Nay, I know you have! Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now—light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and you shall trust in the Lord until the day breaks and the shadows flee away. “I remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your loving kindnesses, for they have been ever of old.”

Evening

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. — Rom 3:31

When the believer is adopted into the Lord’s family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God’s child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit—you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father’s faintest wish, the least intimation of His will. Does He bid you fulfill a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father! Does He command you to seek the image of Jesus? It is not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect”? Then not because the law commands but because your Savior enjoins, you will labor to be perfect in holiness. Does He bid his saints love one another? Do it, not because the law says, “Love your neighbor,” but because Jesus says, “If you love Me—keep My commandments;” and this is the commandment that He has given unto you, “that you love one another.” Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk but because Jesus teaches, “Give to him who asks of you.” Does the Word say, “Love God with all your heart”? Look at the commandment and reply, “Ah! commandment, Christ has fulfilled you already—I have no need, therefore, to fulfill you for my salvation but I rejoice to yield obedience to you, because God is my Father now and He has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute.”

May the Holy Spirit make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ’s love, that your prayer may be, “Make me to go in the path of Your commandments; for therein do I delight.” Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness and not the license for sin.