November 15

Morning

The Lord's portion is his people. — Deut 32:9

How are they His portion?

Firstly, by His own sovereign election. He chose them, and set His love upon them. He chose them altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which He foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom He would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life. Thus, therefore, are they His by His unconstrained election.

They are not only His by choice but by purchase. He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing, hence about His title to them—there can be no dispute. The Lord’s portion has been fully redeemed, not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! See the blood-mark upon all the elect, invisible to human eye but known to Christ, for “the Lord knows those who are His!” He forgets none of those whom He has redeemed! He counts the sheep for whom He laid down His life, and well remembers the people for whom He gave Himself.

They are also His by conquest. What a battle He had in us—before we would be won! How long He laid siege to our hearts! How often He sent us terms of surrender! But we barred our gates, and fortified our walls against Him. Do we not remember that glorious hour—when He conquered our hearts? When He placed His cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting the blood-red flag of His omnipotent mercy on our strongholds? Yes, we are, indeed—the conquered captives of His omnipotent love!

Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued—the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable—we rejoice that we never can be our own; and we desire, day by day, to do His will, and to show forth His glory!

Evening

Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. — Ps 68:28

It is our wisdom, as well as our necessity, to beseech God continually to strengthen that which He has wrought in us. It is because of their neglect in this, that many Christians may blame themselves for those trials and afflictions of spirit which arise from unbelief. It is true that Satan seeks to flood the fair garden of the heart and make it a scene of desolation but it is also true that many Christians leave the sluice-gates open themselves, and let in the dreadful deluge through carelessness, and lack of prayer to their strong Helper.

We often forget that the Author of our faith—must be the Preserver of it also. The lamp which was burning in the temple was never allowed to go out but it had to be daily replenished with fresh oil; in like manner, our faith can only live by being sustained with the oil of grace, and we can only obtain this from God Himself. We shall prove to be foolish virgins—if we do not secure the needed sustenance for our lamps. He who built the world—upholds it, or it would fall in one tremendous crash! He who made us Christians—must maintain us by His Spirit, or our ruin will be speedy and final.

Let us, then, evening by evening, go to our Lord for the grace and strength we need. We have a strong argument to plead, for it is His own work of grace which we ask Him to strengthen, “that which You have wrought in us.” Do you think He will fail to protect and sustain that? Only let your faith take hold of His strength and all the powers of darkness, led on by the master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over your joy and peace. Why faint—when you may be strong? Why suffer defeat—when you may conquer? Oh! take your wavering faith and drooping graces to Him who can revive and replenish them, and earnestly pray, “Strengthen, O God, that which you have wrought in us!”