Morning “I in them.” / John 17:23

 If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our

Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow

pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of

amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of

living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door,

let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates,

every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the

uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small

loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to

thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed

in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with

many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to

carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father’s house; but see his

kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more, he takes

lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts, that so he may have

perpetual intercourse with us. O how foolish must we be, if we do not live in

habitual communion with him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and

difficult, we need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when

they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her

husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him,

but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in

one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his

banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for he is thy

Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press him to thine heart,

for he is of thine own flesh.

 

Evening “And these are the singers … they were employed in that work day and night.”

/ 1 Chronicles 9:33

 Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for

evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth forever. As

mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music

hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in

the ceaseless song of Zion’s temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see

thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God’s praise is

constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to

practise the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his

light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that

by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they

swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a golden belt

of song.

 The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for his

works of creation and providence, for his goodness towards his creatures, and

especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvellous

blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it

cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow;

and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less

liable to blind us with its glare. Have we not something to sing about at this

moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past

deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is

housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to

shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may

lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred

up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.