Morning

“Sanctified by God the Father.”  Jude 1

 “Sanctified in Christ Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 1:2

 “Through sanctification of the Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:2

 Mark the union of the Three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How

unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the

Trinity; who think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely

and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of

kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and

the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds

of grace none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the rest. They are

as united in their deeds as in their essence. In their love towards the chosen

they are one, and in the actions which flow from that great central source

they are still undivided. Specially notice this in the matter of

sanctification. While we may without mistake speak of sanctification as the

work of the Spirit, yet we must take heed that we do not view it as if the

Father and the Son had no part therein. It is correct to speak of

sanctification as the work of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Still

doth Jehovah say, “Let us make man in our own image after our likeness,” and

thus we are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which

God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” See the value which God

sets upon real holiness, since the Three Persons in the Trinity are

represented as co-working to produce a Church without “spot, or wrinkle, or

any such thing.” And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a

high value on holiness–upon purity of life and godliness of conversation.

Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope, but never speak

disparagingly of the work of the Spirit which is your meetness for the

inheritance of the saints in light. This day let us so live as to manifest the

work of the Triune God in us.

 

Evening

“His heavenly kingdom.” / 2 Timothy 4:18

 Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed spirits

serve him day and night in his temple. They never cease to fulfil the good

pleasure of their King. They always “rest,” so far as ease and freedom from

care is concerned; and never “rest,” in the sense of indolence or inactivity.

Jerusalem the golden is the place of communion with all the people of God. We

shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We shall hold

high converse with the noble host of the elect, all reigning with him who by

his love and his potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not sing

solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King. Heaven is a place of victory

realized. Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy

lusts–whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at thy

feet–thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when the

Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt find thyself

more than conqueror through him who hath loved thee. Paradise is a place of

security. When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge of

that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect citizen of

the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou happy harbour of my

soul! Thanks, even now, to him whose love hath taught me to long for thee; but

louder thanks in eternity, when I shall possess thee.

 “My soul has tasted of the grapes,

 And now it longs to go

 Where my dear Lord his vineyard keeps

 And all the clusters grow.

 “Upon the true and living vine,

 My famish’d soul would feast,

 And banquet on the fruit divine,

 An everlasting guest.”