Friday Morning, August 10
"Christ, who is our life."
Colossians 3:4
Paul's marvellously rich expression indicates, that Christ is the source of our life. "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb raised us to newness of life. He is now the substance of our spiritual life. It is by his life that we live; he is in us, the hope of glory, the spring of our actions, the central thought which moves every other thought. Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus' flesh and blood? "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die." O wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin, you never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your spirits, except ye find it in him! Christ is the solace of our life. All our true joys come from him; and in times of trouble, his presence is our consolation. There is nothing worth living for but him; and his lovingkindness is better than life! Christ is the object of our life. As speeds the ship towards the port, so hastes the believer towards the haven of his Saviour's bosom. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies the Christian towards the perfecting of his fellowship with Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his captain, and is crowned in his captain's victory, so the believer contends for Christ, and gets his triumph out of the triumphs of his Master. "For him to live is Christ." Christ is the exemplar of our life. Where there is the same life within, there will, there must be, to a great extent, the same developments without; and if we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus we shall grow like him. We shall set him before us as our Divine copy, and we shall seek to tread in his footsteps, until he shall become the crown of our life in glory. Oh! how safe, how honoured, how happy is the Christian, since Christ is our life!
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Evening, August 10
"The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins."
Matthew 9:6
Behold one of the great Physician's mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, he had power to forgive sin. Hath he not power to do it now that he hath died? What power must dwell in him who to the utmost farthing has faithfully discharged the debts of his people! He has boundless power now that he has finished transgression and made an end of sin. If ye doubt it, see him rising from the dead! behold him in ascending splendour raised to the right hand of God! Hear him pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to his wounds, urging the merit of his sacred passion! What power to forgive is here! "He hath ascended on high, and received gifts for men." "He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins." The most crimson sins are removed by the crimson of his blood. At this moment, dear reader, whatever thy sinfulness, Christ has power to pardon, power to pardon thee, and millions such as thou art. A word will speak it. He has nothing more to do to win thy pardon; all the atoning work is done. He can, in answer to thy tears, forgive thy sins today, and make thee know it. He can breathe into thy soul at this very moment a peace with God which passeth all understanding, which shall spring from perfect remission of thy manifold iniquities. Dost thou believe that? I trust thou believest it. Mayst thou experience now the power of Jesus to forgive sin! Waste no time in applying to the Physician of souls, but hasten to him with words like these:—
"Jesus! Master! hear my cry;
Save me, heal me with a word;
Fainting at thy feet I lie,
Thou my whisper'd plaint hast heard."
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http://www.heraldofhiscoming.com/other/home.htm
"Consider . . . Jesus"
By B. M'Call Barbour
"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2).
The greatest and the grandest of all themes is Jesus. Jesus is the source, the substance and the sum of all genuine and lasting joy. It is in Jesus that reality is found. It is contact with Jesus that makes our own lives real.
Jesus alone satisfies God. Jesus only can satisfy us. To be satisfied with Jesus makes us very simple. More than that, to be simple delivers us from what is artificial, superficial, and merely sentimental. Blessed deliverance indeed!
Jesus is a universal Savior. There is that in Him which meets all human needs. Less than Jesus will not do. Other than Jesus will not suit. More than Jesus is not possible. He is "the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).
The claims of Jesus are stated and His appeals are made in the simplest of terms, that all may understand, accept and enjoy Him and His salvation. Who Jesus is, what Jesus says, what Jesus does and is going to do, is the confidence, the comfort and the encouragement of all who put their trust in Him.
Jesus is the solace, the supply, the satisfaction for every human heart oppressed by sin and sorrow, suffering and care. This then is what Jesus is and does. This He alone can do. He is able. He is willing. He is ready.
Listen then, O soul! Are you in sin? Are you in sorrow? Are you wounded by the cruel treatment of the world? Are you misunderstood and misrepresented? Is your spirit crushed? Is your heart perplexed? Have your oft-repeated failures cast you down? Is life to you a mystery, a weariness, a dread? Are you fearful about the future? Have you a hunger and a thirst for something – yes, rather for a someone who will satisfy?
Go to Jesus!
"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Yes, it is in Jesus, and all that that blessed name implies, that weary hearts and weakened wills and worn-out frames find true abiding rest. Just in Jesus and nowhere else.
In Jesus all the problems of earth's suffering are solved, its sorrows soothed, its sin is "washed away." In Jesus is the stimulus, the strength, the stay for every present need. In Jesus is the only hope there is for future bliss (1 Tim. 1:1).
Oh wonder not, my soul, that hearts, when they have tasted of the sweetness and the all-sufficiency of His great love, are weaned away from all the profitless pleasures of this passing world and find no sweeter theme of thought, or speech or song than "Jesus, blessed Jesus!"
Jesus Himself
Jesus! Behind that precious name is the peerless person Himself. It is the PERSON who satisfies. It is not what others say about Him that can meet our need. It is not a system or a creed, not His gifts, however generous, nor His glories, however grand, that can comfort us. It is not for things our hearts are hungering. It is for HIM – JESUS HIMSELF.
As we experience the intimacy of His person and know His presence with us in our hearts, the joy that the Lord gives becomes our strength (Neh. 8:10). Only as He comforts are we made confident. Only as Jesus fights for us are we made conquerors. Only as Jesus speaks is there power. Only as Jesus rules is there peace. Such is the blessedness of having Jesus in our lives!
O weary soul, in search for satisfaction, pursue your quest no further! Delay your decision no longer! Receive Him! Past efforts may have failed to bring the rest you have reckoned on, the peace He promised, and the power He offered. That must surely be because your heart was set on them, and not on Him. The blessings have been sought rather than the Blesser. So often in groping for the "gifts" we fail to grip the Giver. Learn now, O soul, that Jesus is the embodiment of all His gifts. When He is our portion, and our experienced possession, then is our every need supplied in Him.
O soul, what hinders you from knowing Jesus in this sweet, this simple, and this satisfying way? Is it the burden of your sin that makes the barrier that holds you back? Yet this burden is your greatest plea to come to Him.
"...Jesus...He shall save His people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). Jesus is the great, the only sin-bearer. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jesus has settled the sin question for those who put their trust in Him. "[He] loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Start there! There is no other start. That alone settles it. When it is settled by Jesus as our substitutionary Savior, it is settled for ever! It is the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, that cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11). "[He] made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20).
The blood of Jesus is the entrance door into the Father's presence, and into the experience of all the riches of His pardon, peace and power. Come then, O soul, come to Jesus! Seek not salvation in any other way. There is no other. It is Jesus who saves. "By Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:9). Then Jesus will be sweet to you – yes, even you!
Just as there is no salvation apart from the acceptance of Jesus and the possession of Him as the Savior, so there can be no success in service or support in suffering apart from submission to Him and following closely in His steps. O soul, make no mistake! He comes to you to be your very life. He is your life (Col. 3:4). If today your hopes are blighted, your heart is weary, your lot is hard, and your future dark – trust Jesus! Trust Him! Trust Him!
Speak to Jesus by Name
Make it the habit of your life to speak to Him by name. Say, "Jesus." Yes, say it! Train your heart to speak it in silence and your lips to voice it in sound. Whisper "Jesus," say "Jesus," sing "Jesus," till that name becomes to you your "shelter," your "shield," your "pillow," your "power," your "refuge," and your "strength."
When Jesus fills your vision, occupies your heart, engages your thoughts, and lingers on your lips, you shall be safe from all that would disturb or distress from "the world, the flesh, and the devil." When unwelcome thoughts pervade, and would pollute the mind – say "Jesus!" His presence will prevail.
When the concerns of business are confusing – say "Jesus!" He will clear your vision, calm your heart, and carry you quietly through. When the affairs of the family are harassing – say "Jesus!" "Jesus knows all about your trouble." He will sweeten with His sympathy your lot, and will direct your paths.
When troubles arise on every hand – say "Jesus!" He will transform your troubles into triumphs of His grace.
When the way is doubtful and the future dark – say "Jesus!" He will go before and banish all your fears. When fear assails, and faith is well nigh wrecked – say "Jesus!" His "fear not; I am with you," will suffice. When your prospects have been clouded o'er – say "Jesus!" He will remind you of His promise, "Surely I come quickly," and give a prospect brightened by "that Blessed Hope."
When your motives are misunderstood and your actions misrepresented – say "Jesus!" When friends forsake and companionships grow cold – say "Jesus!" He will draw near and fill the aching void of your desolated heart. When the clouds of sorrow cast their shadows on your course – say "Jesus!" He will clear the clouds away.
When sickness separates you from the throng and you are laid aside – say "Jesus!" His companionship will creep into your heart, and refresh your feeble frame. When in the silent sleepless watches of the night the hours drag on – say "Jesus!" He will soothe and solace, and His presence will give peace.
When the waywardness of those you love brings grief and pain into your life – say "Jesus!" He can stop the wanderers in their course, and bring them in repentance back again. When the thoughts of dear ones far away in danger zones distress – say "Jesus!" He can reach them, protect, preserve and bless. When the darkness of death descends upon the heart and home – say "Jesus!" In the hush you will hear Him speak His comfort in your soul.
O soul, what you have lost in lacking Jesus! Days have been dreary, nights have been sleepless, hearts have been burdened, friendships have been broken, work has been wearisome, tasks have been toilsome, pleasures have been passing; efforts have been vain, the outlook has been dark, all – all for lack of Jesus. We have kept Him on the doorstep of our lives when He has longed to be a partner in our daily lot, and to make our hearts His home. And still He stands! Still He waits! Still He pleads!
"If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Rev. 3:20). O soul, will you not then behold Him with the eye of faith and invite Him with the lip of love. Open! Open! Say "Jesus!" Let Him in! This is the satisfaction that He seeks. When we have given to Him His heart's desire we too shall find our own. We shall be satisfied and safe.
"The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul..." (Isa. 58:11).
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