November 14 - Morning"I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham." — Zephaniah 1:5
Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both
parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same
time to Malcham. But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy
His soul hateth. 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 and the sins
thereof. To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a dastard's
policy. 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; for
how 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 thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of
double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus — dost thou
truly love Him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old
Father Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of
little value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on
the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible
fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole
universe, and hence there is no room for another God; if, then, He 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; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite
my heart to fear Thy name. November 14 - Evening"And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn." — Genesis 29:26
We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not 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, and the elder must be married
first. For instance, many men desire the beautiful and well-favoured Rachel
of joy and peace in believing, but they must first be wedded to the
tender-eyed Leah of repentance.
Every one 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 stands 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, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through
the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour
without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the
ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will
recompense thee for all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt
find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of
service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus;
and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall
be as though they had never been — an hour with Jesus will make up for
ages of pain and labour. Jesus, to win Thyself so fair, November 14 |