December 5 - Morning"Ask, and it shall be given you." — Matthew 7:7
We know of a place in England still existing, where a dole of bread is
served to every passerby who chooses to ask for it. Whoever the traveller
may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is
the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loveth sinners that He has built a
St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he has but to
knock and have his wants supplied. Nay, He has done better; He has
attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath; and whenever a soul is black
and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The fountain is always
full, always efficacious.
No sinner ever went into it and found that it could
not wash away his stains. Sins which were scarlet and crimson have all
disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than snow. As if this were not
enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a wardrobe, and a
sinner making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to
foot; and if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for
ordinary wear, but armour which shall cover him from the sole of his foot
to the crown of his head. If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to
him, and a shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He
shall have spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal
heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord.
If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy's door, O my
soul, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy generous Lord.
Leave not the throne of grace till all thy wants have been spread before the
Lord, and until by faith thou hast a comfortable prospect that they shall be
all supplied. No bashfulness need retard when Jesus invites. No unbelief
should hinder when Jesus promises. No cold-heartedness should restrain
when such blessings are to be obtained. December 5 - Evening"And the Lord shewed me four carpenters." — Zechariah 1:20
In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns.
They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest
and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, "What are these?" The answer
was, "These are the horns which have scattered Israel." He saw before him
a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God.
There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well
might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared
before him four carpenters. He asked, "What shall these do?" These are
the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces.
God will
always find men for His work, and He will find them at the right time. The
prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but
first the "horns," and then the "carpenters." Moreover, the Lord finds
enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four
horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four
men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four
carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of
God, that when the "horns" grow troublesome, the "carpenters" will be
found.
You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at
any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer
who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged
Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London's poverty.
The Lord knows where to find His servants. He hath in ambush a
multitude of mighty men, and at His word they shall start up to the battle;
"for the battle is the Lord's," and He shall get to Himself the victory. Let
us abide faithful to Christ, and He, in the right time, will raise up for us a
defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of
peril to His Church. December 5 |