December 3 - Morning"There is no spot in thee." — Song of Solomon 4:7
Having pronounced His Church positively full of beauty, our Lord
confirms His praise by a precious negative, "There is no spot in I thee."
As if the thought occurred to the Bridegroom that the carping world would
insinuate that He had only mentioned her comely parts, and had purposely
omitted those features which were deformed or defiled, He sums up all by
declaring her universally and entirely fair, and utterly devoid of stain. A
spot may soon be removed, and is the very least thing that can disfigure
beauty, but even from this little blemish the believer is delivered in his
Lord's sight.
If He had said there is no hideous scar, no horrible deformity,
no deadly ulcer, we might even then have marvelled; but when He testifies
that she is free from the slightest spot, all these other forms of defilement
are included, and the depth of wonder is increased. If He had but promised
to remove all spots by-and-by, we should have had eternal reason for joy;
but when He speaks of it as already done, who can restrain the most
intense emotions of satisfaction and delight? O my soul, here is marrow
and fatness for thee; eat thy full, and be satisfied with royal dainties.
Christ Jesus has no quarrel with His spouse. She often wanders from Him,
and grieves His Holy Spirit, but He does not allow her faults to affect His
love. He sometimes chides, but it is always in the tenderest manner, with
the kindest intentions: it is "my love" even then. There is no remembrance
of our follies, He does not cherish ill thoughts of us, but He pardons and
loves as well after the offence as before it. It is well for us it is so, for if
Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we are, how could He commune with
us? Many a time a believer will put himself out of humour with the Lord
for some slight turn in providence, but our precious Husband knows our
silly hearts too well to take any offence at our ill manners. December 3 - Evening"The Lord mighty in battle." — Psalm 24:8
Well may our God be glorious in the eyes of His people, seeing that He
has wrought such wonders for them, in them, and by them. For them, the
Lord Jesus upon Calvary routed every foe, breaking all the weapons of the
enemy in pieces by His finished work of satisfactory obedience; by His
triumphant resurrection and ascension He completely overturned the
hopes of hell, leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies
openly, triumphing over them by His cross. Every arrow of guilt which
Satan might have shot at us is broken, for who can lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Vain are the sharp swords of infernal malice, and the
perpetual battles of the serpent's seed, for in the midst of the church the
lame take the prey, and the feeblest warriors are crowned.
The saved may well adore their Lord for His conquests in them, since the
arrows of their natural hatred are snapped, and the weapons of their
rebellion broken. What victories has grace won in our evil hearts! How
glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sin dethroned! As for our
remaining corruptions, they shall sustain an equally sure defeat, and every
temptation, and doubt, and fear, shall be utterly destroyed. In the Salem of
our peaceful hearts, the name of Jesus is great beyond compare: He has
won our love, and He shall wear it.
Even thus securely may we look for
victories by us. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
We shall cast down the powers of darkness which are in the world, by our
faith, and zeal, and holiness; we shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall
overturn false systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and
none shall stand before us. This evening let the Christian warrior chant the
war song, and prepare for to-morrow's fight. Greater is He that is in us
than he that is in the world. December 3 |