May Christ be the object of our thoughts, the center of our lives. How can we endure to live at such a distance from our Beloved? Lord Jesus, draw us nearer to Yourself. Say unto us, “Abide in Me, and I in you”; and permit us to sing, “His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me.”
It is of no use going to the Lord’s battle—until we are armed with heavenly weapons. We must see Jesus, this is essential.
At the mercy-seat we will linger until He shall manifest Himself unto us as He does not unto the world, and until we can truthfully say, “We were with Him in the Holy Mount!”
The Christian, while in the world, is not to be of the world. He should be distinguished from it, in the great object of his life. To him, “to live,” should be “Christ.”
In your spirit, as well as in your aim—you should differ from the world.
And you should be separate from the world in your actions. If a thing is right, though you lose by it—it must be done; if it is wrong, though you would gain by it—you must scorn the sin for your Master’s sake.
The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we add no offence of our own. It is “to the Jews a stumbling block"—let us mind that we put no stumbling blocks where there are enough already.
Faith says of her grief, “This is a badge of honor, for the child must feel the rod”; and then she sings of the sweet result of her sorrows, because they work her spiritual good.
When Jesus receives sinners, He has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where He charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars—but He opens the golden gates of His royal heart, and receives the sinner right into Himself—yes, He admits the humble penitent into personal union, and makes Him a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, He is still receiving sinners—would to God sinners would receive Him!
May our hearts make Jesus their anchor, their rudder, their lighthouse, their life-boat, and their harbor. His Church is the Admiral’s flagship, let us attend her movements, and cheer her officers with our presence.
When the gospel came, we were placed on quite another footing. The word “Go” was exchanged for “Come”; distance was made to give place to nearness, and we who aforetime were afar off, were made near by the blood of Jesus Christ.
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
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