Morning   “Forsake me not, O Lord.”   Psalm 38:21

Frequently we pray that God would not forsake us in the hour of trial and

temptation, but we too much forget that we have need to use this prayer at all

times. There is no moment of our life, however holy, in which we can do without

his constant upholding. Whether in light or in darkness, in communion or in

temptation, we alike need the prayer, “Forsake me not, O Lord.” “Hold thou me

up, and I shall be safe.” A little child, while learning to walk, always needs

the nurse’s aid. The ship left by the pilot drifts at once from her course. We

cannot do without continued aid from above; let it then be your prayer today,

“Forsake me not. Father, forsake not thy child, lest he fall by the hand of

the enemy. Shepherd, forsake not thy lamb, lest he wander from the safety of

the fold. Great Husbandman, forsake not thy plant, lest it wither and die.

Forsake me not, O Lord,’ now; and forsake me not at any moment of my life.

Forsake me not in my joys, lest they absorb my heart. Forsake me not in my

sorrows, lest I murmur against thee. Forsake me not in the day of my repentance,

lest I lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair; and forsake me not in the

day of my strongest faith, lest faith degenerate into presumption. Forsake me

not, for without thee I am weak, but with thee I am strong. Forsake me not, for

my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot do without thy

guidance. The hen forsakes not her brood; do thou then evermore cover me with

thy feathers, and permit me under thy wings to find my refuge. Be not far from

me, O Lord, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.’ Leave me not,

neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!'”

“O ever in our cleansed breast,

Bid thine Eternal Spirit rest;

And make our secret soul to be

A temple pure and worthy thee.”

 

Evening   “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem … and they told

what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them.”  Luke 24:33-35

When the two disciples had reached Emmaus, and were refreshing themselves at the

evening meal, the mysterious stranger who had so enchanted them upon the road,

took bread and brake it, made himself known to them, and then vanished out of

their sight. They had constrained him to abide with them, because the day was

far spent; but now, although it was much later, their love was a lamp to their

feet, yea, wings also; they forgot the darkness, their weariness was all gone,

and forthwith they journeyed back the threescore furlongs to tell the gladsome

news of a risen Lord, who had appeared to them by the way. They reached the

Christians in Jerusalem, and were received by a burst of joyful news

before they could tell their own tale. These early Christians were all on fire

to speak of Christ’s resurrection, and to proclaim what they knew of the Lord;

they made common property of their experiences. This evening let their example

impress us deeply. We too must bear our witness concerning Jesus. John’s account

of the sepulchre needed to be supplemented by Peter; and Mary could speak of

something further still; combined, we have a full testimony from which nothing

can be spared. We have each of us peculiar gifts and special manifestations; but

the one object God has in view is the perfecting of the whole body of Christ. We

must, therefore, bring our spiritual possessions and lay them

at the apostle’s feet, and make distribution unto all of what God has given to

us. Keep back no part of the precious truth, but speak what you know, and

testify what you have seen. Let not the toil or darkness, or possible unbelief

of your friends, weigh one moment in the scale. Up, and be marching to the place

of duty, and there tell what great things God has shown to your soul.