03.06. June
Yet there are some people who are like wavering reeds. Instead of being rooted in Christ, their roots go down into the soft mud of this world, and of course they are easily torn up. Then they have no fixed principles to hold them upright and make them true and strong; and they are bent by every wind, and moved and swayed by every influence of fear or favor. The boy that cannot say ’no’ when other boys tease him to smoke, or drink, or do a wrong or mean thing — is a reed swayed by the wind. The girl who is influenced by frivolities and worldly pleasure, and drawn away from Christ and from a beautiful life, is likewise a reed bent and swayed by the wind.
These reeds are growing everywhere, and the wind shakes them every time it blows. Who wants to be a reed? Who would not rather be like the oak-growing in soil as solid as a rock, which no storm bends or even causes to tremble?
There is one apparent advantage in being like a reed — one seems to escape persecution. John would hardly have met the fate he did meet — if he had been easily shaken. People who are like reeds, do not often lose their heads on the martyr’s block. But they are in danger of losing their souls — and that certainly is worse!
June 2. The Friend of Sinners
"When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house — she brought an alabaster jar of perfume" Luk 7:37
It is wonderful how genuine goodness draws to itself the unfortunate, the troubled, the friendless, the outcast, the fallen. Wherever Jesus went — these classes always found Him out and gathered about Him. It was because He was the true, unselfish friend of all men. They found sympathy in Him. He would listen to their story. Though He was the sinless One, there was yet no air of "I am holier than you" about Him. He was just as gentle to an outcast sinner — as to a religious Nicodemus. No matter who reached out a hand for help — He was ready to grasp it. One of the truest things ever said of Jesus, was the prophetic word concerning him, "He shall not break a bruised reed!" He always dealt most gently with sore spirits and with bruised hearts!
Those who want to be useful in this world — must have the same qualities as Jesus. There is a kind of false "holiness" which draws nobody to itself — but rather repels. Genuine holiness, however, wins its way everywhere into men’s hearts. The secret of it all, is in living "not to be served — but to serve;" in considering one’s self not too good to serve the unworthiest of God’s creatures. If we live in this world to be served — we shall be of no use to anyone. But if we live to minister to others, yearning to be of service to everyone we meet — then our life will be of great worth. The hungry-hearted and the soul-needy will be drawn to us — and God will love to put work into our hands.
We need, too, to train ourselves to exceeding gentleness in dealing with human souls in their spiritual crises. Many earnest people, in the excess of their zeal — do incalculable harm to those whom they greatly desire to help. People with sore and bruised hearts — usually need loving sympathy and strong, kindly friendship — much more than they need a lecture in theology!
June 4. Free Forgiveness "Neither of them had the money to pay him back — so he canceled the debts of both." Luk 7:42
All of us are in debt. Of course there is a difference in the amount of our debts. Some have sinned far more than others. But whether our debt is little or much — we have nothing at all with which to pay it. We could not more easily pay the fifty, than the five hundred. God forgave them both. It is just as easy for God to forgive the greatest sins — as the smallest. He forgave them. That is the only way we can ever get clear of our sins. A king owed a large sum to one of his nobles — but could not pay it. The nobleman made a great feast in honor of his king. A fire of perfumed woods burned on the hearth. During the feast, the host brought out all he king’s debt-notes and cast them into the fire, thus obliterating beyond possibility of restoration, every evidence of his indebtedness. That is the way God does with our sins. Into the fragrant flames of Christ’s sacrifice — he casts them all, and they will never more be heard of!
There is a story of a half-witted boy whose idea of forgiveness was beautiful. He said that Jesus came, and with his red hand rubbed out all of his sins. A quaint man used to carry a little book, which he took very often from his pocket, and which he called his "biography." It had only three pages, and there was not a word written on any of them; yet he said the book told the whole story of his life. The first leaf was black: that was his sin; that was his condition by nature. He would shudder when he looked at it. The second was
June 5. Peace with Pardon "Your faith has saved you; go in peace!" Luk 7:50
Saved! This poor, shame-soiled, sin-ruined thing, whom the Pharisee would have thrust out of his house into the street — saved! Never to go back any more to her old life! An heir of Heaven now, destined to walk the heavenly streets in white!
There is an old legend that Mohammed once in passing along the way, touched a noxious plant — and it became a geranium, and has ever since been a geranium, pouring fragrance everywhere. The legend does not matter at all — but Christ did something far more wonderful on the day of our story. He touched this sinful soul — and it was transformed into beauty! That woman has been in glory for eighteen centuries. That is what Christ does for every one who creeps to his feet in penitence and faith.
Peace came with the forgiveness. There could be no peace — until she was forgiven. No one has any right to be at peace — while the guilt of sin remains uncancelled. But when Christ has forgiven us — we should be at peace. Why or of what should we then be afraid? What is there for us to fear in this world, or the next?
There is a story of one, in the olden days, who had committed a capital crime. He was the king’s friend and favorite; and when his trial came on, although the case went sorely against him, he manifested no fear. The evidence accumulated. There was no loophole of escape from conviction. His friends had no hope — yet they marveled at his calmness — he was at perfect peace. He was convicted, and was about to be sentenced; still there was no trace of alarm. At the last moment, the secret was revealed. He drew from his pocket a paper, and handed it to the judge. It was the king’s pardon. With that in his possession, he had no cause for fear. And with our King’s pardon, no matter how guilty we are — we have no need to be afraid, and may be at peace.
June 6. Right Enthusiasm
"When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said: He is out of his mind!" Mark 3:21
Even our Lord’s relatives did not understand Him. His life was so unworldly, that it could not be measured by the ordinary standards. They could account for his unconquerable zeal — only by concluding that He was insane. We hear much of the same kind of talk in modern days, when some devoted follower of Christ utterly forgets self — in love for his Master. People say, "He must be insane!" They think every man is crazy, whose religion kindles into a sort of unusual fervor, or who grows more earnest than the average Christian in work for the Master. Some of Paul’s friends thought he was crazy — when he went sweeping over land and sea to carry the gospel to every city. But his answer was, "No, I am not crazy — the love of Christ constrains me!" That is a good sort of insanity. It is a sad pity that it is so rare. If there were more of it — there would not be so many unsaved souls dying under the very shadow of our churches; it would not be so hard to get missionaries and money to send the gospel to the dark continents; there would not be so many empty pews in our churches, so many long pauses in our prayer-meeting, so few to teach in our Sunday schools. It would be a glorious thing if all Christians were beside themselves as the Master was, or as Paul was.
It is a far worse insanity, which in this world never gives a thought to the eternal world; which, moving continually among lost men, never pities them, nor thinks of their lost condition, nor puts forth any effort to save them. It is easier to keep a cool head and a colder heart — and to give ourselves no concern about perishing souls. But we are our brothers’ keepers, and no malpractice in duty can be worse than that which pays no heed to their eternal salvation!
June 7. A Beacon-Light
"But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin!" Mark 3:29
Few words in the Bible have caused more anxiety and fear than these. Learned men do not agree in their idea as to what it is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. But no matter about the exact meaning of the words; they stand here as a warning against a terrible danger. They are like a red light hung over a perilous rock. While we may not know exactly what constitutes the sin — it certainly is our duty to keep as far from its edge as possible! And surely all willful and determined resistance to the influence of the Holy Spirit is a step toward this point of awful peril. This utterance of our Lord should lead us to treat with the utmost reverence, every appeal, persuasion, or bidding of the Holy Spirit; never to resist — but always to yield to his every influence. We have no other Friend in this world, who can guide us home. If we drive him away from us forever — we shall be left in the darkness of eternal night. How long we may continue to reject Him and not go beyond the line that marks the limit of hope — we know not; but the very thought that there is such a line somewhere, ought to startle us into instant acceptance of the offered guidance.
Oh, where is this mysterious line
That crosses every path —
The hidden boundary between
God’s patience and his wrath?
How for may we go in sin?
How long will God forbear?
Where does hope end, and where begin
The confines of despair? An answer from the skies is sent:
"You that from God depart,
While it is called Today, repent,
And harden not your heart!"
June 8. Christ’s Relatives
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:33-35 This seems too good to be true. To be the brother or the sister of Jesus — did you ever try to think about what it means? Then for every Christian to be taken by Christ into as close and tender a relationship as His own mother sustained to Him — did you ever try to think that out, remembering that you are the one taken into this loving fellowship?
Thousands of women have wished that they could have had Mary’s honor in being the mother of Jesus. Well, here it lies close to their hand. They cannot have Mary’s distinction in this world — but they can have a place just as near to the heart of the Christ as she has. How strange it is — that sinful creatures can be taken thus into the very family of God, and have all the privileges and joys of the children of God! We cannot understand it — but let us believe it and think of it — until it fills our heart with warmth and gladness.
We do not begin to realize the blessedness and glory of being a Christian. There is a picture which seen in one light shows a poor, weary pilgrim, lying on a miserable pallet in a dreary garret. But seen in another light — the same picture shows a saint of God, an heir of glory, arrayed in white robes, surrounded and carried up by angels to heavenly glory. The first view is that which human eyes see in the Christian; the other is the reality — that which God sees. But we must not overlook the first part of this verse, which tells us who are received into this close relationship, "Whoever does God’s will." At every point as we go on, we catch more and more distinctly the teaching, that obedience to God is part of true saving faith. We must do God’s will, and follow Christ with loving fidelity — if we would obtain the privilege of being the brothers and sisters of Christ.
June 9. Always on Duty
"As He was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table." Luk 11:37 Our Lord was not ashamed to be the guest of publicans and sinners — but neither did he reject the invitations of the rich and influential. He was ready to go wherever there was an opportunity of doing good, even to social feasts and large dinner-parties. Of course we are safe in following His example; but we must read on a little farther, and then we shall see that He always used these opportunities as occasions of doing good.
We may go to any place where we can do the part of a messenger of God to other souls. We are never to be off duty as Christians, and as Christians we must be always Christ’s servants, ready to bear blessings from Him to others. We are to be sure, before we accept and invitation to any place, that our Master has an errand there for us. Then when we go, we are to improve the occasion for doing good in some way, to some who are there.
Christ never went to any such places of amusement as offer their temptations to young people in these days; and yet this same principle applies to these. "Is it right for me to attend the theater or the dancing-party?" Well, can you go there as a Christian? Can you confess Christ there? Can you talk of him to others? Can you ask his blessing on your going? Can you go as his messenger — sure that he sends you there? It is time we began to look at these matters very honestly and frankly. If we are Christians — we are to be Christians seven days in the week, and everywhere.
Then we are to be Christians always on duty. A young clergyman who had been reproved by his bishop for certain unministerial conduct, sought to excuse himself by saying that he was not on duty at the time. The bishop replied: "A clergyman is never off duty." This is true of every Christian. Wherever we go — we represent our Master.
June 10. Covetousness
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." Luk 7:15 This is one of the
"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things." Php 4:8
"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." 2Pe 1:5-7 Notice there is no encouragement to think on possessions — no exhortation to accumulate possessions.
June 11. Heart Hardening "As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the wayside, and the birds came and ate it up." Mat 13:4
How are human hearts beaten into a hard wayside? A child’s heart is sensitive to every impression. But as it grows older, the thousand influences, feelings, emotions, imaginations, treading over it continuously, trample it into hardness. Every time he feels that he ought to do a certain thing and does not do it, allowing the good impulse to pass — he is left a little less sensitive to good impressions afterward. The same effect is produced by the common experiences of life. The wheels and carts of business go lumbering over the heart. We ought to have our hearts fenced in, and allow none of these heavy wagons to pass over them. A business man ought to keep his heart soft and warm in the midst of all his business — as tender as a little child’s — as humble, teachable, loving, and trusting. He ought to have a sanctuary in his inner life into which no unhallowed foot, none but the priestly feet of heavenly guests, should ever pass. But too many make their hearts an open common, until they are beaten into a callousness that nothing can impress.
Another way is by the feet of sinful habits. There was an old legend of a goblin horseman that galloped over men’s fields at night; and wherever his foot struck, the soil was so blasted that nothing would ever grow on it again. So is it with the heart over which the beastly feet of lust, of sensuality, of greed, or selfishness, of passion — are allowed to tread.
There is a false impression that it does young people no harm to indulge in sin for a time, if they afterward repent. No more fatal falsehood was ever whispered by the tempter into any ear! The heart that is trodden over by vile lusts or indulgences of any kind — is never the same again!
June 12. Rootless Grace
"Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Mat 13:5-6
There is a thin covering of soil on top of the rock. The seed sinks in a little way, and the heat radiating from the rock causes it to shoot up at once. This represents a class whose religion is emotional. At first they give great promise. They are easily moved by any emotional appeal. The feelings work immediately to the surface. Such people always seem most affected by sorrow. They weep inconsolably; but their grief is soonest over. In like manner, they appear to be most deeply affected by religious appeals. They begin a Christian life with an earnestness that puts older Christians to shame. They attend all meetings; they weep as they sing and pray; they talk of Christ to their friends; their zeal is wonderful. "It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow." But such quick growths lack root, and cannot endure the heat of summer. The sun soon scorches them, and they wither. In spiritual life, also, the analogy holds. Emotional religion is not apt to be permanent. It bursts up into great luxuriance today — but we are not sure that it will be found tomorrow in healthy life. Too often the enthusiasm is but transient. In the heat of trials, temptations, toil, or sorrow — the rootless graces will wither and die.
Usually the religious life that is most permanent, is that which springs up naturally, and grows slowly to strength and luxuriance. It has good soil, and the roots go down deep into the earth, and are unaffected by the frequent changes in temperature, by heat or cold, by rain or drought.
If any one finds that his spiritual graces are rootless, and that there is a hard rock in his heart underneath the surface — he should seek at once to have the rock broken by penitence and prayer, that the plants of righteousness in him may have opportunity to grow.
June 13. What of the Root?
"But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Mat 13:6 A root is very important in a plant or a tree. One may take a green branch from a living tree and set it in the ground, and for a little while it may seem to be living; but soon, under the sun’s heat, it will wither. It has no root. The root is not a very beautiful part of a tree — it is hidden away out of sight, and nobody praises it; yet it is essential to the tree’s life. In like manner there is a hidden part in every Christian’s life. It does not seem to bless the world in any way. It is the heart-life, faith, love, communion with God in his Word and in prayer. No one praises a Christian’s inner, closet life; it is secret, and no one sees it. Yet it is the root of the whole strong, beautiful life — which men do see and praise, and whose ripe fruits feed their hunger. Our Lord says the trouble with these shallow-soil people is, that they have no root in themselves; that is, there is not in their heart that root-principle of Christian life which consists of faith in Christ and love to Him. Where there is such a root — no persecution can tear it away, no outward circumstances can affect the permanence of its life. It is not kept alive by any external influences. Its source is in the heart. It feeds on heavenly food. Temptations and persecutions only make the true Christian take root all the stronger. But it is no so with this superficial religion. It has no inward life of its own. It is not produced by an unconquerable love in the heart for Christ. It depends simply on external excitement — revival meetings, some favorite preacher, some special form of worship, the influence of some friend — something, at least, in the outer circumstances which keeps the emotions in play for a time. But it has no root in itself; and in such a religion — there is nothing to carry a life very far through experiences of trial.
June 14. What are the Thorns "Some fell among thorns — and thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." Mark 4:7 The thorns had been chopped off — but their roots were still in the ground. Then as the seed began to grow, so did the thorns; and growing faster and more rankly than the wheat, they soon choked it out, so that it came to nothing in the end.
What are these thorns? Our Lord says they are "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches." "Cares" are anxieties, distractions, worries. Martha was in danger of having the good seed in her heart choked out by her distracting thoughts about her household affairs. Many a promising Christian life has been dwarfed and stunted, from the same cause. "The deceitfulness of riches" — thousands of spiritual lives have been starved into ghostly leanness by the desire for riches. "The lust of other things entering in, choke the word." We have all seen people who began well; but as cares multiplied or riches increased — their zeal waned. We need, however, to look to our own hearts — for we shall probably have enough to do, if we keep out all the thorns and weeds in the one little garden committed to us.
Jesus did not say these people are not Christians — but that they "bring no fruit to perfection." The distractions of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of others things, entering in — choke the spiritual life, stunting its graces. They lose the sweet comforts of a healthy faith. The fruits of the Spirit in them are shriveled. They may go on working in the church, preaching, teaching, praying; but the life is lacking.
What is the lesson? This: we need to watch without ceasing these hearts of ours, and let no weed or brier grown there for a day. Sometimes God himself does the weeding. He lifts out of the bosom, the earthly object that is absorbing all the heart’s love. The process is sore — but the results are full of blessing.
June 15. Golden Grain "The sower sows the word." Mark 4:14 The human heart is only the soil. Its natural products are thorns and briers. These grow without sowing and without cultivation. We do not need to be taught — in order to be wicked. But if good things are to grow in our hearts — they must be sown and cultivated. The seeds must be brought from Heaven. This is just what has been done. The words of the Bible are divine seeds. They have a wondrous power in themselves. Like natural seeds, they grow when planted, and produce plants of righteousness. Bare like the desert, or rather grown all over with rank weeds and briers, like neglected gardens, until the Sower comes — are our hearts by nature. Yet if we receive the good seed with faith and love, our lives are changed, and are made to blossom like the rose.
There is another thought: all of us may be sowers of this good seed. We must take heed that we really sow the "word." There is no other seed that will yield the harvest of spiritual life. The words of God have life in them. "The words that I speak unto you," said the Master, "they are spirit, and they are life." If we get these heavenly seeds into people’s hearts — we shall not look in vain for fruits. It is a holy privilege to be permitted to help the great Gardener in the sowing of this precious seed. We can carry the golden grains with us, and drop them wherever we go. This we can do by being full of the word, thus having something to give for every experience. We can sow the seed by the judicious giving of tracts and leaflets. We can do it by writing letters to carry to others some truth suited to their need. Then we can live so sweetly that our daily influence will be a scattering of heavenly seed all about us. Then some day we shall stand before the great Gardener — our bosom full of golden sheaves!
June 16. Hidden Lights
"Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?" Mark 4:21 No one would think of doing such a thing. People always set a lamp where it will give the most light. It would be very absurd to cover it up so that its beams could not pour out. Yet that is just what a great many people do with their Christian life. It is a very striking figure, which our Lord uses when describing Christians. He calls them lights, lamps, candles, which He lights with the fire of His own life when they believe on Him. There is much difference in the brightness of the light in different believers. Some are only little candles; others are great lights. But even a candle makes one spot a little brighter. The point of our Lord’s teaching here, is that the light is not to be hidden or covered up — but permitted to shine. Yet some people do indeed put their candle under a bowl. They carry it so that it never gives light to others. Sometimes they hide it away under an imagined modesty or humility. They do not want to "put themselves forward," it would seem presumptuous.
Sometimes it is the "bowl" of timidity or bashfulness under which they hide their light. One cannot rise to say a word in the prayer meeting; another cannot even conduct family worship in the midst of his own household; another cannot talk to a neighbor about his soul; another cannot stand up to make a public confession of Christ before the world; another cannot go to call on a poor family or sick person, or to offer consolation to one in sorrow — all because they are "too shy."
Some again hide their light under a very imperfect life. Their faults obscure the light of the religious knowledge they possess, as a dirty glass chimney dims a lamp’s shining. There are a great many lights hidden away under bowls, which ought to be shining to some purpose!
June 17. Profitable Hearing "Take heed what you hear!" Mark 4:24 This is a very important counsel. "Take heed what you hear." The things we hear enter into our souls and become part of our being; they give form and color to our character. There have come infinite blessings from the printing-press. There are thousands of good books, whose pages are like leaves from the tree of life, for the healing of the nations. But there are also thousands of evil books — whose pages reek with poison, and scatter influences of moral and spiritual death. With all this great mass of books, good and bad — it is vitally important that we take heed what we hear. We would not eat poisoned food — so why should we take poison into our souls?
If we open our ears to the evil things that are continually spoken on all sides, and that come to us on vile printed pages — our hearts will become foul and unclean, and our lives will be debauched. We should shut our ears to all that is unholy. Many a now utterly ruined life, dates the beginning to its debasement from the moment when an impure word was whispered in a listening ear, or when a vile book or paper was secretly read. On the other hand, every beautiful life has been made beautiful by what it has heard. We are saved by words. Pure, true words are transforming. The Bible is simply a book of words; but every word contains a revelation of some beautiful thing in character or attainment which we should strive to reach. We should always gladly, because we may always safely and profitably — hear the word of God.
Then we must not forget the Master’s other counsel, "Take heed therefore how you hear." We should hear thoughtfully, reverently, obediently, letting the good words of God into our heart, that they may transform our life!
June 18. Christian Growth
"All by itself, the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 4:28
Yet not without certain other influences upon it. If the sun does not shine upon it, and if there is no rain from Heaven — the seed will never germinate, however rich the soil. The human heart is the soil in which the seeds of truth grow; but it must have the sunshine and rain of divine grace upon it — before it will produce any spiritual fruit. A gentleman tore down an building that had stood for many years in his yard. He smoothed over the ground, and left it. The warm spring rains fell upon it, and the sunshine flooded it; and in a few days there sprang up multitudes of little flowers, unlike any that grew in the neighborhood. Where the building had stood was once a garden, and the seeds had lain in the soil without moisture, light, or warmth all the years. So soon as the sunshine and the rain touched them — they sprang up into life and beauty. So ofttimes the seeds of truth lie long in a human heart, not growing, because the light and warmth of the Holy Spirit are shut away from them by sin and unbelief; but after long years the heart is opened in some way to the influences of the Divine Spirit — and the seeds, living still, shoot up into beauty. The instructions of a mother may lie in a heart, fruitless, from the childhood to old age — and yet at last may save the soul. When we have sown the heavenly seed, we should continually pray that God would pour his Spirit, like rain and sunshine, upon the heart where it lies — to quicken it into life.
Then, for ourselves, we should seek always to keep our hearts open to every invigorating influence of the grace of God. We need to pray constantly for the rain to come down — else our hearts will lie bare and sterile, though filled with the divine seeds.
June 19. Progress "First the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 4:28
We understand this well enough in nature; but do we in spiritual life? The beginnings of Christian life are very feeble and imperfect. We must not expect in young converts, the maturity of character we look for in older Christians. Grace begins in a small way. We have no right to look at once for the ripened fruits of Christian experience. But the wheat does not stop at the tender blade; it shoots up into a strong stalk, at last into ripeness. Christian lives should grow; they have no right to stay always at the starting-point. They should grow in knowledge, in power, in purpose, in achievement — until they put forth all the fruits of the Spirit, and grow into the ripeness of mature Christian experience.
We are to notice here also that while the growth is secret — its results are manifest. The growth of spiritual life are invisible — but the results are not. If a Christian is growing in grace — we shall know it by his life. He will wear more and more of the image of Christ, and the "mind of Christ" will appear more and more in his disposition and conduct!
Another thought suggested here, is that the beginnings of Christian life in young Christians ought to be most gently nurtured by those who are their spiritual overseers. The tender blades cannot endure a frost. Young converts cannot endure the sharp trials and temptations of this world. A clergyman is reported as saying, "I do not dare to bring too many children into my church — not because I do not believe in their sincerity and piety and fitness for church membership — but because there is no provision for their growth and nurture after they are in the church." Could any sadder confession be made? Something must be wrong with the church — when this is true. Let the words stand for the pondering of those whom they concern.
June 20. Dropping Seeds
"The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." Mark 4:31-32
Many great histories of blessing — may be traced back to a very small seed. A woman whose name is forgotten dropped a Christian tract in the way of a man named Richard Baxter. He picked it up and read it, and it led him to Christ. He became a holy Christian, and wrote a book entitled, "A Call to the Unconverted," which brought many people to the Savior, and among others Philip Doddridge. Doddridge in turn wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion," which led many into the kingdom of God, among them the great William Wilberforce. Wilberforce wrote, "A Practical View of Christianity," which was the means of saving a multitude, among them Legh Richmond. In his turn Richmond wrote the book called "The Dairyman’s Daughter," which has been instrumental in the conversion of thousands. The dropping of that one little tract seemed a very small thing to do; but see what a wonderful, many-branched tree has sprung from it! This is only one illustration of marvels of grace coming from the most minute grains of the heavenly seed. One seed planted in a heart, dropped by some very humble worker, perhaps unconsciously — may not only save a soul for an eternity of blessedness — but may start a series of divine influences which shall reach thousands of other lives. A simply invitation from his brother — brought Simon to Jesus; and what a tree sprang from that seed!
Let us go on, day by day, dropping seeds into as many hearts as we can. We may not always know what comes of them — but from any one of them may spring a history of blessing which shall reach thousands of souls. The branches of the tree from one seed may spread over all lands.
June 21. The Other Side "He said unto them: Let us pass over unto the other side." Mark 4:35
Christ is continually saying the same to us, though with varying meaning in his words. He is ever calling us to pass over some line — into new fields, with their new experiences, new privileges, new duties, new conflicts, new joys.
He says it to the impenitent, when he graciously invites them to become his disciples. He wants them to cut loose from this world, from sin and all their old dead past, and rise up and go with him to the better life which lies beyond. He invites them to His Father’s country, into His Father’s family. It is a land of blessing and of beauty, of plenty and of great riches. True, there is a sea that must be crossed to reach it. No one can reach the glorious country on "the other side" — without passing over this sea, and no one can pass over without encountering tempests. There are fierce temptations, sore self-denials, mighty struggles, and many losses and sorrows — before we can reach Heaven; but the reward is so great, that we should be ready to endure any hardship or suffering to win it.
Then Christ gives the same call and invitation to His people when they reach the end of earthly life, and when He comes to take them home. Before them then rolls the sea of death, dark and full of terrors to natural sense. They shrink from crossing it. Yet there is no reason why they should. On "the other side" glory awaits. There is the Father’s house with the many mansions. And however dark and terrible may seem the narrow sea that has to be crossed — there is no danger; for Jesus himself accompanies His people, and none of them can perish! But if we would have this final invitation to come over to the other side into the heavenly glory — we must now accept the Savior’s call to come over out of the old life of sin into the new life of holiness.
June 22. Life’s Storms
"Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat!" Mat 8:23-24 Had the disciples put out sea without Christ’s bidding — they would not have had the same reason to expect His protection and deliverance. The lesson we learn here, is that storms may arise, even when we are in the plain line of Christian duty. We should not be discouraged by the difficulty or trouble which comes — and conclude that we are in the wrong path.
We see, too, that Christ’s presence with His disciples, does not keep the storms away. There are no promises in the Bible that Christian people shall not meet trials. The Gospel builds no high walls around us — to break the force of the stormy winds. Troubles come to the Christian — just as surely as to the worldly man.
There are the storms of temptation — these sweep down with sudden and terrific power from the cold mountains of this world! Then there are storms of sickness, of disappointment and adversity, of sorrow — which make the waves and billows to roll over the soul. On the Sea or Galilee, travelers say that a boat will be gliding along smoothly over a glassy surface, unbroken by a ripple — when suddenly, without a moment’s warning — a tempest will sweep down, and almost instantly, the boat will be tossed upon the angry waves.
Just so, do many of life’s storms come. Great troubles come when we are not looking for them. We are at peace in a happy home. At an hour when we all is calm, without warning — the darling child whom we love so much lies dead in our arms! The friend we trusted, and who we thought would never fail us — proves false! The hopes cherished for years — wither in our hands, like flowers when the frost comes! The storms of life are nearly all sudden surprises. They do not hang out danger-signals days before, to warn us. The only way to be ready for them — is to have Jesus with us in our boat!
June 23. Faithless Fear
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped! Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him: Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?" Mark 4:37-38
These words imply that the disciples thought Jesus was indifferent to them in their danger — that He was neglecting them by sleeping while they were exposed to such peril. But how unjust was this reproach! They were never safer than they were that moment, in the midst of the wild tempest. The bark that bore the Lord, could not sink in the sea. Faith should have trusted in the darkness.
Yet do we never, at least in our hearts — make the same complaint of our Lord? When we are in some sore trial, and the trial grows very sore, and He does not come to deliver us; when we seem about to be engulfed by the waves of adversity, and no relief comes down from Him — do we never say, "Jesus does not care that I perish"? When we pray long and with importunity for the lifting away of some heavy cross, or the lightening of some sore burden — and no answer comes, does the thought never arise in our minds that Jesus does not hear us, or that he does not come to us? But such complaint is never just. Sometimes he may seem not to care. The disciples had some lessons to learn. One was, how helpless they were in themselves in the world’s dangers. Another was, that Christ alone could deliver them. They could not learn these lessons — except in the storm with the Master asleep. So there are similar lessons that we never can learn — until Christ withholds his help for a time. And sometimes He hides Himself for a season just to teach us faith. But He is never indifferent to us. He never neglects nor forgets us. His heart ever wakes and watches, and at the right moment He comes and brings deliverance. We should learn to trust our Lord so confidently, that in any hour of danger we can nestle down in his bosom, without fear or anxiety, and let Him take care of us.
June 24. The Hearer of Prayer
"He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: ’Silence! Be still!’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm!" Mark 4:39
Jesus did not hear the roar of the storm in His sound sleep; but the moment there was a cry from His disciples for help — He instantly awoke. What a revelation of His heart we have here! He is never asleep to His people, when they call Him. Amid the wildest tumults of this world — He ever hears the faintest cry of prayer. Nor is He ever too weary to listen to the supplications of distress from His people.
We have another illustration of this same quickness to hear prayer, in the hours of our Lord’s sufferings on the cross. His life was fast ebbing away. His own agony was intense beyond description. Around Him surged a storm of human passion. Curses fell upon His ear. But amid all this tempest of hate — He was silent. To all these bitter insults and keen reproaches — He answered not a word. Then amid the derisions and jeers of the multitude — there broke a voice of prayer. It came from one of the crosses beside him. It was the penitential cry of a soul, "Lord, remember me!" And in all the tumult of the hour — He heard this feeble supplication. In His own agony He gave instant answer. Doubt not that this Jesus always hears prayer. His love is ever on the watch, ready to catch the faintest note of human distress.
Though aroused so suddenly in the midst of such scenes of terror, Jesus awakes calm and peaceful. Here we have an illustration of what Christ’s peace was, and of what He meant when He said, "My peace I give unto you." It was thus He moved through all the turbulent scenes of His earthly life.
June 25. Christ in the Storm "He rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea: Peace, be still!" Mark 4:39
He spoke to the storm and to the tossing sea — as if they were intelligent creatures — just as a man would speak to his servants. The truth we learn here, is that He is Lord of nature; that the elements recognize His voice, and obey Him even in their wildest moods. If we only fully believed this, it would bring a great deal of peace to our lives. No tempest ever breaks from the control of Him who is our Lord and Redeemer. No wave ever rolls any farther than He permits. There is nothing in this world, which is not under the sway of the hand that was nailed on the cross!
There is a story of a Christian army officer at sea with his family in a storm. There was great terror among the passengers — but he was calm. His wife, in her consternation, chided him, saying that he ought to be concerned for her and the children, if not for himself, in such danger. He made no reply — but soon came to her with his sword drawn, and with a stern countenance pointed it at her heart. She was not the least alarmed — but looked up into his face with a smile. "What!" said he, "are you not afraid when a drawn sword is at your heart?" "No," she replied, "not when I know it is in the hands of one that loves me." "And would you have me," he asked, "to be afraid of this tempest — when I know it to be in the hand of my heavenly Father, who loves me?" Thus even in the wild tumults of nature, we should be at peace, since our Savior is Lord of nature.
Someone tells of being at sea in a terrible cyclone, and of seeing a little bird fly down, when the storm was at its height, and light on the crest of a wave, where it sat as quietly as if it had been perching on some green bough in the quiet forest. So should the believer in Christ repose in quietness and confidence, in the wildest terror!
June 26. Depart from Us "Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region." Mark 5:17 This is one of the saddest sentences in the Gospels. We can scarcely conceive of any person asking Jesus to go away. He had come to their coast to bring them rich blessings. His hands were full of golden gifts. He had power to heal the sick, to open blind eyes, to make the lame walk, to scatter all kinds of blessings among the people. He had begun His work of grace as soon as He landed, by curing their most terrible case of demon-possession. He would have gone on performing other works of mercy and love — if they had not besought Him to depart. It was probably all because of the loss of the swine. If that was the way Christ’s work was going to affect them — they did not want Him to go any farther.
Some people feel the same way when a work of grace begins in their community. They are opposed to Christianity, because it interferes with their business. Rum-sellers and saloon-keepers oppose revivals, because when the devil is cast out of men — they stop drinking and card-playing, and so these men’s business suffers; they are against Christianity — because Christianity is against them. So all of us are apt to want Christ to depart from us — when He interferes with our cherished plans. We need to be careful lest we send Christ altogether away from us. For he did not stay after these people asked Him to go away. He would not stay — where He was not wanted. He carried back the gifts He had come there to leave. The sick remained unhealed, that He would have healed; an the lame continued lame, and the demoniacs remained possessed, and the dying whom He would have restored, passed away. Does anyone now ever ask Christ to depart, when He comes with blessings? Does Jesus never turn away from any heart now, because He is not wanted, because He is rejected?
June 27. Those Who Are Sick "Those who are whole have no need of the physician — but those who are sick." Mark 2:17 That was the answer of Jesus, to the murmuring about his presence among the disreputable people at Matthew’s feast. The Pharisees thought He was compromising Himself, in sitting down at the table with such sinful characters. Their insinuated inference was that He must belong to the same class Himself. But Jesus gave them a wise and good answer. These wicked and sinful ones — were the very classes that needed Him most. It was just with Him, as with a physician. The physician does not go about visiting the people who are in excellent health. Those who are well do not need the physician — but the sick and plague-stricken need him; and the sorer their sickness, the worse their diseases — the more do they require his presence and his service. No one would ever find fault with a physician, for going into sick-rooms, and into hospitals, and into plague-infested districts. No one would ever suggest that he must have a low and vitiated taste, because of the kind of people among whom he spends his time. It was just the same with Him, Jesus said. He had come to this world expressly to save sinners. Surely, then, He could not be blamed for going where sinners were; and the worse the sinners — the more reason there was why He should be found there. Good people, like those who criticized Him, did not need his services; but wherever He found a poor, lost sinner — there was one of the people He had come to help and save.
One suggestion is, that, like their Master — Christ’s disciples should try to carry the gospel to the lowest classes. We should not mingle among the wicked as companions; but when we strive to save them we are becoming Christ to them. Another lesson is, that no sinner need ever despair of hope, since the worse he is — the more surely is Christ willing to save him.
June 28. Joy in the Lord
"How can the guests of the bridegroom fast — while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them." Mark 2:19 This was our Lord’s answer to those who thought His religion was too sunny and joyous — that it had not fast-days enough in it. They thought that religion was genuine — only when it made people sad, and that its quality was just in proportion to its gloom. But Christ’s reply showed that mournful faces are no essential indicators of heart-piety. Should His disciples be mournful and sad — when He was with them, filling their lives with the gladness of His presence? Should Christians profess to be heavy-hearted, wearing the symbols of grief — when they are really filled with joy, and when there is no occasion for sorrow? Why should one who has been saved by the Lord Jesus, and who is rejoicing in full assurance to hope — go about in sackcloth and ashes? Is there any piety in a sad face? Does God love to see His children always mourning? Is human joy displeasing to our Father?
All these questions are answered here in our Lord’s words. He does not wish His disciples to go mourning and fasting — when they have no occasion for such exercises. His words are a defense of Christian joyfulness. Christ wants His friends to be glad. There is an utter incongruity in a sad and mournful Christian life. By its very nature — true religion is joyous. Our sins are forgiven. We are adopted into God’s family. We are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The covenant of love arches its shelter over us all the while. All things in this world work together for our good — and then glory waits for us beyond death’s gate. With all this blessed heritage — why should we be mournful and sad? While we enjoy the smile of Christ, the consciousness of his love, the assurance of his forgiveness, and the hope of Heaven and eternal life — what should make us sad? We should have radiant faces!
June 29. A New Garment "No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment." Mark 2:21
Christ did not come into this world to patch up an old religion, merely to mend a hole here, and beautify a spot there, and a touch to this part or that. He came to make all things new. And when He saves a sinner, He does not propose merely to mend him up a little here and there, to cover over some bad spots in him, and to close up rents in this character by strong patches of the new cloth of grace. Gospel work is not patchwork. Christ does not sew on pieces; He weaved a new garment without seam throughout. So we may try from without — to make human character lovely; but there is sin in its very fibre, and the blemishes will ever work out and mar all. The only way is to have a new heart, and then the beauty will be real and will endure. A mother lost a lovely and precious child by death — her only child. To occupy her heart and hand in some way, about her vanished treasure, and thus fill the empty hours — she took up a photograph of her child and began to touch it with her skillful fingers. Soon, as she wrought, the features became almost lifelike. The picture was then laid away for a few days, and when she sought it again, the eyes were dimmed and the face was marred with ugly blotches. Patiently she went over it a second time, and the bewitching beauty came again. A second time it was laid away, and again the blotches appeared. There was something wrong in the paper on which the photograph had been taken. There were chemicals lurking in it which in some way marred the delicate colors, and no amount of repainting could correct the faults. So is it in human lives. No outside reform is enough, for all the while the heart is evil within, and it sends up its pollution, staining the fairest beauty. The change that is permanent, must be wrought in the heart.
June 30. At the Point of Death
"One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and kept begging Him: My little daughter is at the point of death!" Mark 5:22-23
There is nothing like trouble — to drive people to Christ. So long as things go on prosperously, many men do not ask any favors of Him; but when sickness or great need comes — He is the first to whom they turn. This is one of the most obvious uses of trouble. God stirs up many an earthly nest in which his children are reposing to softly — that they may be compelled to try heavenward flights. There are many in Heaven now, who would never have left the old earthly life — had not God sent troubles, sorrows, and adversities. This father said his little daughter was "at the point of death." This is one point to which everyone must come. The paths of earth run in very diverse ways — but they all pass at last the "point of death." It is a point that lies hidden from view; no one knows the day of the hour when he will come to it — and yet somewhere along the sunny years, it waits for every one. Sometimes this point is struck in early youth. Here it is a little girl of twelve, who lies "at the point of death." Even children should think about dying, not as a sad and terrible thing — but as a point to which they must eventually come, and for which they should prepare.
It is a touching sight to see this father falling at Christ’s feet. The strongest men break down, when their own children are sick or in danger. A man may seem very cold and stern as he carries his load of business, or makes his struggle with the world, or presses toward the goal of his ambition. You think he has no tenderness in him — that he is a man of iron or rock. But let one of his children be stricken down-and your ’man of iron’ melts like wax. Behind his stern aspect and all his severity — there is a warm spot in his heart where he is gentle as a woman.