Morning
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour."
Matthew 5:43
"Love
thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art poor, and
living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly mansion; thou
seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his sumptuous banquets;
God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth, and think no hard
thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own lot, if thou canst
not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour, and wish that he were
as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not envy him.
Perhaps,
on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside the poor. Do not
scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art bound to love them. The
world calls them thy inferiors. In what are they inferior? They are far
more thine equals than thine inferiors, for "God hath made of one blood
all people that dwell upon the face of the earth." It is thy coat which
is better than theirs, but thou art by no means better than they. They
are men, and what art thou more than that? Take heed that thou love thy
neighbour even though he be in rags, or sunken in the depths of poverty.
But,
perhaps, you say, "I cannot love my neighbours, because for all I do
they return ingratitude and contempt." So much the more room for the
heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior, instead of
bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall win the
most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly, still loving
thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire on their
heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please them, but to
please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love, thy Master hath
not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to him as if it had been
acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so doing thou art
following the footsteps of Christ.
Evening
"To whom belongest thou?"
1 Samuel 30:13
No
neutralities can exist in religion. We are either ranked under the
banner of Prince Immanuel, to serve and fight his battles, or we are
vassals of the black prince, Satan. "To whom belongest thou?"
Reader,
let me assist you in your response. Have you been "born again"? If you
have, you belong to Christ, but without the new birth you cannot be his.
In whom do you trust? For those who believe in Jesus are the sons of
God. Whose work are you doing? You are sure to serve your master, for he
whom you serve is thereby owned to be your lord. What company do you
keep? If you belong to Jesus, you will fraternize with those who wear
the livery of the cross. "Birds of a feather flock together." What is
your conversation? Is it heavenly or is it earthly? What have you
learned of your Master?--for servants learn much from their masters to
whom they are apprenticed. If you have served your time with Jesus, it
will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John, "They took knowledge
of them, that they had been with Jesus."
We press the question,
"To whom belongest thou?" Answer honestly before you give sleep to your
eyes. If you are not Christ's you are in a hard service--Run away from
your cruel master! Enter into the service of the Lord of Love, and you
shall enjoy a life of blessedness. If you are Christ's let me advise you
to do four things. You belong to Jesus--obey him; let his word be your
law; let his wish be your will. You belong to the Beloved, then love
him; let your heart embrace him; let your whole soul be filled with him.
You belong to the Son of God, then trust him; rest nowhere but on him.
You belong to the King of kings, then be decided for him. Thus, without
your being branded upon the brow, all will know to whom you belong.
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