Morning   “I am with you alway.”   Matthew 28:20

It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is

well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul,

set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set

thine heart upon him who abides forever faithful to thee. Build not thine house

upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this

rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably

secure. My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet;

store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ; set

all thine affections on his person, all thy hope in his merit, all

thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in his presence, and so thou

mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction. Remember that all the flowers in the

world’s garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but

the black, cold earth. Death’s black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle.

Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon

roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to him who will never

leave thee; trust thyself with him who will go with thee through the black and

surging current of death’s stream, and who will land thee safely on the

celestial shore, and make thee sit with him in heavenly places

forever. Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who

sticketh closer than a brother. Trust all thy concerns with him who never can be

taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave

him, even “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” “Lo, I am

with you alway,” is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

 

Evening   “Only be thou strong and very courageous.”   Joshua 1:7

Our God’s tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of

their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a

small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not

so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with

fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice.

Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are

desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to

be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our

countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into

the king’s court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings,

for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the

spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason

to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that

he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful

and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is.

This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon

spreads amongst the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad.

Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for

you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall

be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you; but

cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful

spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his

God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope

shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be thou strong, and very

courageous.”