October 6

Morning

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. — John 4:14

He who is a believer in Jesus—finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him for evermore! The believer is not the man whose days are weary for lack of comfort and whose nights are tedious from absence of heart-cheering thought. For he finds in piety—such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and happy!

Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company.

Place him in a barren wilderness—he will eat the bread of heaven.

Drive him away from friendship and he will meet the “friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

Blast all his gourds and he will find shelter beneath the Rock of Ages.

Sap the foundation of his earthly hopes and his heart will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord.

The human heart is insatiable—until Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fullness in Christ—that He alone is the believer’s ALL. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus—that he thirsts no more—except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain!

In that sweet manner, believer, shall you THIRST. It shall not be a thirst of pain but of loving desire. You will find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller enjoyment of Jesus’ love.

One in days of yore, has said, “I have constantly been sinking my bucket down into this well but now my thirst after Jesus has become so insatiable—that I long to put the well itself to my lips, and drink!”

Is this the feeling of your heart now, believer? Do you feel that all your desires are satisfied in Jesus, and that you have no need now but to know more of Him, and to have closer fellowship with Him? Then come continually to the fountain and take of the water of life freely! Jesus will never think you take too much but will ever welcome you, saying, “Drink, yes, drink abundantly, O My beloved!”

Evening

He had married an Ethiopian woman. — Num 12:1

Strange choice of Moses! But how much more strange—is the choice of Him who is a prophet like unto Moses, and greater than him! Our Lord, who is pure as the lily, has entered into marriage union with one who confesses herself to be black. It is the wonder of angels—that the love of Jesus should be set upon poor, lost, guilty men!

Each believer must, when filled with a sense of Jesus’ love—be also overwhelmed with astonishment, that such divine love should be lavished on an object so utterly unworthy of it. Knowing as we do—our secret guiltiness, unfaithfulness, and black-heartedness, we are dissolved in grateful admiration of the matchless freeness and sovereignty of grace! Jesus must have found the cause of His love—in His own heart. He could not have found it in us—for it is not there! Even since our conversion we have been black with sin—though sovereign grace has made us lovely in His sight.

Most tender and faithful Husband of our souls—pursue Your gracious work of conforming us to Your image, until You shall present even us poor Ethiopians unto Yourself— without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing!

Moses met with opposition because of his marriage, and both himself and his spouse were the subjects of an evil eye. Can we wonder that this vain world opposes Jesus and His spouse, and especially when heinous sinners are converted? This is ever the Pharisee’s ground of objection, “This Man receives sinners!” Still the old cause of quarrel is revived, “Because he had married an Ethiopian woman!”