September 23 - Morning"Accepted in the beloved." — Ephesians 1:6
What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How
marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be the objects of
divine love! But it is only "in the beloved." Some Christians seem to be
accepted in their own experience, at least, that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted.
If they could but see that all their high joys do
not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them
in their Father's sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never
alters, in One who is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always
without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, how much happier they would
be, and how much more they would honour the Saviour! Rejoice then,
believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the beloved." Thou lookest within,
and thou sayest, "There is nothing acceptable here!" But look at Christ,
and see if there is not everything acceptable there.
Thy sins trouble thee;
but God has cast thy sins behind His back, and thou art accepted in the
Righteous One. Thou hast to fight with corruption, and to wrestle with
temptation, but thou art already accepted in Him who has overcome the
powers of evil. The devil tempts thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy
thee, for thou art accepted in Him who has broken Satan's head. Know by
full assurance thy glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more
accepted than thou art. They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved,"
and thou art even now accepted in Christ after the same manner. September 23 - Evening"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe." — Mark 9:23
A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a dumb spirit.
The father, having seen the futility of the endeavours of the disciples to
heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was
bidden to bring his son to Him, he said to Jesus, "If Thou canst do
anything, have compassion on us, and help us." Now there was an "if" in
the question, but the poor trembling father had put the "if" in the wrong
place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the "if,"
kindly puts it in its legitimate position. "Nay, verily," He seemed to say,
"there should be no ‘if' about My power, nor concerning My willingness,
the ‘if' lies somewhere else."
"If thou canst believe, all things are possible
to him that believeth." The man's trust was strengthened, he offered a
humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word,
and the devil was cast out, with an injunction never to return. There is a
lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there
is an "if" somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in
the wrong place. "If" Jesus can help me — "if" He can give me grace to
overcome temptation — "if" He can give me pardon — "if" He can make
me successful? Nay, "if" you can believe, He both can and will. You have
misplaced your "if."
If you can confidently trust, even as all things are
possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you. Faith standeth in
God's power, and is robed in God's majesty; it weareth the royal apparel,
and rideth on the King's horse, for it is the grace which the King delighteth
to honour. Girding itself with the glorious might of the all-working Spirit,
it becomes, in the omnipotence of God, mighty to do, to dare, and to
suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to him that believeth. My
soul, canst thou believe thy Lord to-night? September 23 |