Morning “Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.” / Genesis 24:63

Very admirable was his occupation. If those who spend so many hours in idle
company, light reading, and useless pastimes, could learn wisdom, they would
find more profitable society and more interesting engagements in meditation
than in the vanities which now have such charms for them. We should all know
more, live nearer to God, and grow in grace, if we were more alone. Meditation
chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered
elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found
Rebecca while engaged in private musings; many others have found their best
beloved there.

Very admirable was the choice of place. In the field we have a study hung
round with texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring
eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a
drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely
opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written
books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable,
or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean, but
feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once
be hallowed.

Very admirable was the season. The season of sunset as it draws a veil over
the day, befits that repose of the soul when earthborn cares yield to the joys
of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder, and
the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this
day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to
walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and
will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go
forth to meet him.

Evening “And I will give you an heart of flesh.” / Ezekiel 36:26

A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a
foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment,
is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of
stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.

“If to the right or left I stray,

That moment, Lord, reprove;

And let me weep my life away,

For having grieved thy love”

The heart of flesh is tender of God’s will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great
blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God’s will; but when the heart of
flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven,
and bows like an osier in every breeze of God’s Spirit. The natural will is
cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will,
like molten metal, is soon moulded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart
there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the
Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard
heart is selfish and coldly demands, “Why should I weep for sin? Why should I
love the Lord?” But the heart of flesh says; “Lord, thou knowest that I love
thee; help me to love thee more!” Many are the privileges of this renewed
heart; “‘Tis here the Spirit dwells, ’tis here that Jesus rests.” It is fitted
to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is
prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honour and praise of God, and
therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defence against
sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its
watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of
flesh?