November 14

Morning

I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham. — Zeph 1:5

Such people thought themselves safe because they were with both parties—they went with the followers of Jehovah, and also bowed down to Molech. But duplicity is despicable and abominable with God! His soul hates hypocrisy! The idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false God, has one sin less than he who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord—while his heart is with the world!

In the common matters of daily life, a double-minded man is despised but in religion he is loathsome to the last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible but it is well deserved. Should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?

My soul, search yourself this morning, and see whether you are guilty of double-dealing with God. You profess to be a follower of Jesus—do you truly love Him? Is your heart right with God? Are you of the family of old Father Honest—or are you a relative of Mr. By-ends? A mere profession of Christ is of little value—if I am indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will end in a terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all—or nothing.

If God truly reigns in my heart—there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for Him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation! If not—O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear Your name!

Evening

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. — Gen 29:26

We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty but we desire to learn from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be taken in order, and if we would win the second—we must secure the first. The second may be the more lovely in our eyes but the rule of the heavenly country must stand—the elder must be married first.

For instance, many men desire the beautiful Rachel of joy and peace but they must first be wedded to the bleary-eyed Leah of repentance. Everyone falls in love with happiness, and many would cheerfully serve twice seven years to enjoy it. But according to the rule of the Lord’s kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul—before the Rachel of true happiness can be attained.

Heaven is not first but second, and only by persevering to the end, can we win a portion in it. The cross must be carried—before the crown can be worn! We must follow our Lord in His humiliation—or we shall never rest with Him in glory.

My soul, are you so vain as to hope to break through the heavenly rule? Do you hope for reward without labor—or honor without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the difficult things—for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense you for all. In such a spirit, laboring and suffering, you will find that bitters grow sweet and that hard things grow easy. Like Jacob, your years of service will seem unto you but a few days—for the love you have to Jesus. And when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come—all your toils shall be as though they had never been! An hour with Jesus—will make up for ages of pain and labor!