Morning “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.” / Mark 3:13

Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are
not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to
rejoice that Jesus calleth whom he wills. If he shall leave me to be a
doorkeeper in his house, I will cheerfully bless him for his grace in
permitting me to do anything in his service. The call of Christ’s servants
comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in
holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom he calls must go up the
mountain to him, they must seek to rise to his level by living in constant
communion with him. They may not be able to mount to classic honours, or
attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of
God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be
fitted to proclaim the gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high
fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine
companionship if we would bless our fellowmen. No wonder that the apostles
were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where
Jesus was. This morning we must endeavour to ascend the mount of communion,
that there we may be ordained to the lifework for which we are set apart. Let
us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. Time spent with him
is laid out at blessed interest. We too shall cast out devils and work wonders
if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy which Christ alone
can give. It is of no use going to the Lord’s battle till we are armed with
heavenly weapons. We must see Jesus, this is essential. At the mercy-seat we
will linger till he shall manifest himself unto us as he doth not unto the
world, and until we can truthfully say, “We were with him in the Holy Mount.”

Evening “Evening wolves.” / Habakkuk 1:8

While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me
so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I
determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of
hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning.
May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of
distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from
our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is now thy God?” How
voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and
remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and
bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief.
How like are the fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of
Christ are in a cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they
hasten to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian in the
daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O
thou who hast laid down thy life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs
of the wolf.

False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life,
devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening
wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is
their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep’s skin.
Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of
grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church.

What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then
the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions
become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray
tonight.