Days of Heaven Upon Earth Part 14

Perils as well as privileges attend the higher Christian life. The nearer we come to G.o.d, the thicker the hosts of darkness in heavenly places. The safe place lies in obedience to G.o.d's Word, singleness of heart, and holy vigilance.

When Christians speak of standing in a place where they do not need to watch, they are in great danger. Let us walk in sweet and holy confidence, and yet with holy, humble watchfulness, and "He will keep the feet of His saints." And "now unto Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and present us faultless before the presence of His glory, to the only wise G.o.d, our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."

What to do we often wonder, As we seek some watchword true, Lo, the answer G.o.d has given, What would Jesus do?

When the shafts of fierce temptation, With their fiery darts pursue, This will be your heavenly armor, What would Jesus do?

MARCH 30.

"I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth" (III. John 2).

In the way of righteousness is life and in the pathway thereof is no death. That is the secret of healing. Be right with G.o.d. Keep so. Live in the consciousness of it, and nothing can hurt you. Off from the breastplate of righteousness will glance all of the fiery darts of the devil, and faith be stronger for every fierce a.s.sault. How true it is, "Who is he that shall harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?"

And how true also, "Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith, have made s.h.i.+pwreck."

And yet again, "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy G.o.d, and wilt keep all His statutes and commandments, I will put none of these diseases upon thee that I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that healeth thee."

There's a question G.o.d is asking Every conscience in His sight, Let it search thine inmost being, Is it right with G.o.d, all right?

MARCH 31.

"What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them" (Mark xi. 24).

Faith is not working up by will power a sort of certainty that something is coming to pa.s.s, but it is seeing as an actual fact that G.o.d has said that this thing shall come to pa.s.s, and that it is true, and then rejoicing to know that it is true, and just resting and entering into it because G.o.d has said it. Faith turns the promise into a prophecy. While it is merely a promise it is contingent upon our co-operation; it may or may not be. But when faith claims it, it becomes a prophecy and we go forth feeling that it is something that must be done because G.o.d cannot lie.

Faith is the answer from the throne saying, "It is done." Faith is the echo of G.o.d's voice. Let us catch it from on high. Let us repeat it, and go out to triumph in its glorious power.

Hear the answer from the throne, Claim the promise, doubting one, G.o.d hath spoken, "It is done."

Faith hath answered, "It is done"; Prayer is over, praise begun, Hallelujah! It is done.

APRIL 1.

"Vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory" (Rom. ix. 23).

Our Father is fitting us for eternity. A vessel fitted for the kitchen will find itself in the kitchen. A vessel for the art gallery or the reception room will generally find itself there at last.

What are you getting fitted for? To be a slop-pail to hold all the stuff that people pour into your ears, or a vase to hold sweet fragrance and flowers for the King's palace and a harp of many strings that sounds the melodies and harmonies of His love and praise? Each one of us is going to his own place. Let us get fitted now.

The days of heaven are Christly days, The Light of Heaven is He; So walking at His side, our days As the days of heaven would be.

The days of heaven are endless days- Days of eternity; So may our lives and works endure While the days of heaven shall be.

Walk with us, Lord, through all the days, And let us walk with Thee; 'Til as Thy will is done in heaven, On earth so shall it be.

APRIL 2.

"He shall dwell on high" (Isa. x.x.xiii. 16).

It is easier for a consecrated Christian to live an out and out life for G.o.d than to live a mixed life. A soul redeemed and sanctified by Christ is too large for the shoals and sands of a selfish, worldly, sinful life. The great steams.h.i.+p, St. Paul, could sail in deep water without an effort, but she could make no progress in the shallow pool, or on the Long Branch sands; the smallest tugboat is worth a dozen of her there; but out in mid-ocean she could distance them in an hour.

Beloved, your life is too large, too glorious, too divine for the small place that you are trying to live in. Your purpose is too petty; arise and dwell on high in the resurrection life of Jesus, and the inspiring hope of His blessed coming.

Rise with thy risen Lord, Ascend with Christ above, And in the heavenlies walk with Him, Whom seeing not, you love.

Walk as a heavenly race, Princes of royal blood; Walk as the children of the light, The sons and heirs of G.o.d.

APRIL 3.

"My expectation is from Him" (Ps. lxii. 5).

When we believe for a blessing, we must take the att.i.tude of faith, and begin to act and pray as if we had our blessing. We must treat G.o.d as if He had given us our request. We must lean our weight over upon Him for the thing that we have claimed, and just take it for granted that He gives it, and is going to continue to give it. This is the att.i.tude of trust. When the wife is married, she at once falls into a new att.i.tude, and acts in accordance with the fact, and so when we take Christ as a Saviour, as a Sanctifier, as a Healer, or as a Deliverer, He expects us to fall into the att.i.tude of recognizing Him in the capacity that we have claimed, and expect Him to be to us all that we have trusted Him for.

You may bring Him ev'ry care and burden, You may tell Him ev'ry need in pray'r, You may trust Him for the darkest moment, He is caring, wherefore need you care?

Faith can never reach its consummation, 'Til the victor's thankful song we raise: In the glorious city of salvation, G.o.d has told us all the gates are praise.

APRIL 4.

"Resist the devil and he will flee" (James iv. 7).