August 2

God hath made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ. - Acts 2:36.

HERE we observe-First, That it is important that we should entertain proper apprehensions of Christ. He is not only a Saviour, but he is also a Sovereign. He is our Lord and Master. Is Christ divided? This is impossible in the reality. But there are some who would thus separate what God has joined together, in their views, in their creed, and in their practice too. There are some who would receive him as their Redeemer, and yet would not hail him as their Sovereign; and concerning these he says, “As for those mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither and slay them before me.” Such is the doom of those who take his sceptre and dash it against his cross. Let us not forget that he came by water as well as by blood; that there is pollution in sin as well as guilt; that sin defiles as well as condemns; and that therefore we need cleansing as well as pardon.

Secondly, Let us beware of insincerity and inconsistency. “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Why do you wear my livery, while you are regardless of my concerns? “If I am a master, where is mine honour?” “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” “What doth it profit, my brethren,” says James, “though a man say he have faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” Yes, faith can save him, but not such faith; so it is to be understood. Faith without works is dead.

Oh, the inconsistency that is observable in many professors of religion! Let us, therefore, make it manifest that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we are concerned to promote his cause and glory in the world. Thirdly, Let those in whom there is some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, make it manifest by immediately and sincerely taking him for their Lord and Master. Oh that these would “take with them words, and turn unto him,” and say, “Lord, take away all iniquity, receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips.” Oh that such may realize the language of Isaiah: “One shall say I am the Lord’s,” and “another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and name himself by the name of Israel.”

What a privilege is early dedication to God! Beza says in his will, “Lord, I thank thee that at the tender age of sixteen I was enabled to give myself up to thy service.” There are many who can say the same, and they are daily blessing God that they were enabled to remember him in their youth; excited and encouraged by those blessed words that have adorned many an early tomb: “I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.” Those have found the Saviour worthy of all their homage and service; “that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.” And that “godliness is profitable in all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”