Morning    “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.”    Psalm 66:20

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we

shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some

who think their prayers worthy of acceptance–as the Pharisee did; but the true

Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he

could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember,

Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have

wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and

few–far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, “I

will not let thee go except thou bless me.” Yet, wonderful to say, God

has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them.

Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in

trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance

has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding thou

hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has not ceased to bless. When thou

hast neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of

the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it

is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of

importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is he thus to

hear the prayers of those who come to him when they have pressing wants, but

neglect him when they have received a mercy; who approach him when they are

forced to come, but who almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful

and sorrows are few. Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our

hearts, so that we may henceforth be found “Praying always with all prayer and

supplication in the Spirit.”

 

Evening    “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.”   Philippians 1:27

The word “conversation” does not merely mean our talk and converse with one

another, but the whole course of our life and behaviour in the world. The Greek

word signifies the actions and the privileges of citizenship: and thus we are

commanded to let our actions, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, be such as

becometh the gospel of Christ. What sort of conversation is this? In the first

place, the gospel is very simple. So Christians should be simple and plain in

their habits. There should be about our manner, our speech, our dress, our whole

behaviour, that simplicity which is the very soul of beauty. The gospel is

pre-eminently true, it is gold without dross; and the Christian’s life will

be lustreless and valueless without the jewel of truth. The gospel is a very

fearless gospel, it boldly proclaims the truth, whether men like it or not: we

must be equally faithful and unflinching. But the gospel is also very gentle.

Mark this spirit in its Founder: “a bruised reed he will not break.” Some

professors are sharper than a thorn-hedge; such men are not like Jesus. Let us

seek to win others by the gentleness of our words and acts. The gospel is very

loving. It is the message of the God of love to a lost and fallen race. Christ’s

last command to his disciples was, “Love one another.” O for more real, hearty

union and love to all the saints; for more tender compassion towards the

souls of the worst and vilest of men! We must not forget that the gospel of

Christ is holy. It never excuses sin: it pardons it, but only through an

atonement. If our life is to resemble the gospel, we must shun, not merely the

grosser vices, but everything that would hinder our perfect conformity to

Christ. For his sake, for our own sakes, and for the sakes of others, we must

strive day by day to let our conversation be more in accordance with his gospel.