《am Morgen》11. November 

 《Morgen für Morgen》9. November

"Wie ihr nun Christus Jesus, den Herrn, angenommen habt, so wandelt ihr in ihm" – Kolosser 2:6

Wenn wir Christus selbst in unserem innersten Herzen aufgenommen haben, wird unser neues Leben seine innige Bekanntschaft mit ihm durch einen Weg des Glaubens an ihn offenbaren.

Gehen impliziert Handeln.

Unsere Religion darf nicht auf unseren Schrank beschränkt sein; Wir müssen das, was wir glauben, in die Tat umsetzen. Wenn ein Mensch in Christus wandelt, dann handelt er so, wie Christus handeln würde; für Christus, der in er, seine Hoffnung, seine Liebe, seine Freude, sein Leben, er ist der Reflex des Bildes Jesu; Und die Menschen sagen von diesem Mann: "Er ist wie sein Meister; er lebt wie Jesus Christus."

Gehen bedeutet Fortschritt.

"So wandelt ihr in ihm"; Gehe von Gnade zu Gnade, laufe vorwärts, bis du den äußersten Grad an Wissen erreichst, den ein Mensch über unseren Geliebten erlangen kann.

Gehen impliziert Kontinuität.

Es muss ein immerwährendes Bleiben in Christus geben. Wie viele Christen meinen, dass sie morgens und abends in die Gesellschaft Jesu kommen müssten und dann ihr Herz der Welt schenken könnten den ganzen Tag: aber das ist ein armseliges Leben; Wir sollten immer bei ihm sein, in seine Fußstapfen treten und seinen Willen tun.

Gehen impliziert auch Gewohnheit.

Wenn wir von dem Gang und der Unterhaltung eines Menschen sprechen, meinen wir seine Gewohnheiten, den beständigen Tenor seines Lebens. Wenn wir uns aber manchmal an Christus erfreuen und ihn dann vergessen; manchmal nennt man ihn unser, und anon verliert unser Halt, der keine Gewohnheit ist; Wir wandeln nicht in Ihm.

Wir müssen an ihm festhalten, uns an ihn klammern, ihn nie gehen lassen, sondern leben und unser Sein in ihm haben. "Wie ihr Christus Jesus, den Herrn, angenommen habt, so wandelt ihr in ihm"; Beharrt auf die gleiche Weise, wie ihr Und wie Christus Jesus beim ersten Mal das Vertrauen deines Glaubens, die Quelle deines Lebens, das Prinzip deines Handelns und die Freude deines Geistes war, so sei er derselbe bis ans Ende des Lebens; Ebenso, wenn ihr durch das Tal des Schattens des Todes wandelt und in die Freude und die Ruhe eintretet, die dem Volk Gottes übrig bleiben.

O Heiliger Geist, befähige uns, diesem himmlischen Gebot zu gehorchen.

《Morning By Morning》November 9

 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”— Colossians 2:6

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him.

Walking implies action.

Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.”

Walking signifies progress.

“So walk ye in him”; proceed from grace to grace, run forward until you reach the uttermost degree of knowledge that a man can attain concerning our Beloved.

Walking implies continuance.

There must be a perpetual abiding in Christ. How many Christians think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into the company of Jesus, and may then give their hearts to the world all the day: but this is poor living; we should always be with him, treading in his steps and doing his will.

Walking also implies habit.

When we speak of a man’s walk and conversation, we mean his habits, the constant tenor of his life. Now, if we sometimes enjoy Christ, and then forget him; sometimes call him ours, and anon lose our hold, that is not a habit; we do not walk in him.

We must keep to him, cling to him, never let him go, but live and have our being in him. “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”; persevere in the same way in which ye have begun, and, as at the first Christ Jesus was the trust of your faith, the source of your life, the principle of your action, and the joy of your spirit, so let him be the same till life’s end; the same when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and enter into the joy and the rest which remain for the people of God.

O Holy Spirit, enable us to obey this heavenly precept.

《am Abend》9. November

《Abend für Abend》9. November

"Er wird in der Höhe wohnen; seine Verteidigungsstätte wird die Munition der Felsen sein; Brot wird ihm gegeben werden; seine Wasser werden sicher sein.« – Jesaja 33:16

Zweifelst du, o Christ, zweifelst du daran, ob Gott seine Verheißung erfüllen wird? Soll die Munition des Gesteins im Sturm getragen werden? Werden die Vorratskammern des Himmels versagen? Glauben Sie, dass Ihre Wird der himmlische Vater, obwohl er weiß, dass du Nahrung und Kleidung brauchst, dich doch vergessen?

Wenn kein Sperling ohne deinen Vater zu Boden fällt und die Haare auf deinem Haupt gezählt sind, wirst du ihm misstrauen und daran zweifeln? Vielleicht wird euer Leid über euch andauern, bis du wagst es, deinem Gott zu vertrauen, und dann wird es zu Ende sein.

Es gibt viele Menschen, die geprüft und gequält worden sind, bis sie schließlich in purer Verzweiflung dazu getrieben wurden, Glauben an Gott auszuüben, und der Augenblick ihres Glaubens war der Augenblick ihres Glaubens. Befreiung; sie haben gesehen, ob Gott sein Versprechen halten würde oder nicht.

Oh, ich bitte dich, zweifle nicht länger an ihm! Bitte nicht Satan und ärgere dich nicht selbst, indem du noch mehr diesen harten Gedanken an Gott nachgibst. Halte es nicht für leicht, an Jehova zu zweifeln. Denkt daran, es ist eine Sünde; Und auch keine kleine Sünde, aber im höchsten Grade verbrecherisch.

Die Engel zweifelten nie an ihm, auch die Teufel nicht: wir allein von allen Wesen, die Gott geschaffen hat, entehren ihn durch Unglauben und beflecken seine Ehre durch Mißtrauen. Schande über uns! Unser Gott verdient es nicht, so niederträchtig verdächtigt zu werden; In unserem früheren Leben haben wir bewiesen, dass er treu und treu zu seinem Wort war, und zwar mit so vielen Beispielen seiner Liebe und seiner Güte wie wir da wir von seinen Händen empfangen wurden und täglich empfangen werden, ist es niedrig und unverzeihlich, dass wir einen Zweifel erleiden, der in unserem Herzen verweilt.

Mögen wir von nun an einen beständigen Krieg führen gegen die Zweifel an unserem Gott, die Feinde unseres Friedens und seiner Ehre sind; und glaube mit unerschütterlichem Glauben, dass er das, was er versprochen hat, auch erfüllen wird. "Herr, Ich glaube, hilf meinem Unglauben."

《Evening by Evening》November 9

 “He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”— Isaiah 33:16

Do you doubt, O Christian, do you doubt as to whether God will fulfil his promise? Shall the munitions of rock be carried by storm? Shall the storehouses of heaven fail? Do you think that your heavenly Father, though he knoweth that you have need of food and raiment, will yet forget you?

When not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered, will you mistrust and doubt him? Perhaps your affliction will continue upon you till you dare to trust your God, and then it shall end.

Full many there be who have been tried and sore vexed till at last they have been driven in sheer desperation to exercise faith in God, and the moment of their faith has been the instant of their deliverance; they have seen whether God would keep his promise or not.

Oh, I pray you, doubt him no longer! Please not Satan, and vex not yourself by indulging any more those hard thoughts of God. Think it not a light matter to doubt Jehovah. Remember, it is a sin; and not a little sin either, but in the highest degree criminal.

The angels never doubted him, nor the devils either: we alone, out of all the beings that God has fashioned, dishonour him by unbelief, and tarnish his honour by mistrust. Shame upon us for this! Our God does not deserve to be so basely suspected; in our past life we have proved him to be true and faithful to his word, and with so many instances of his love and of his kindness as we have received, and are daily receiving, at his hands, it is base and inexcusable that we suffer a doubt to sojourn within our heart.

May we henceforth wage constant war against doubts of our God—enemies to our peace and to his honour; and with an unstaggering faith believe that what he has promised he will also perform. “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”

《am Morgen》10. November

《Morgen für Morgen》10. November

"Der ewige Gott ist deine Zuflucht, und darunter sind die ewigen Waffen, und er wird den Feind vor dir vertreiben; und werden sagen: Vernichtet sie." (5. Mose 33:27)

Das Wort Zuflucht kann mit "Wohnung" oder "Aufenthaltsort" übersetzt werden, was den Gedanken vermittelt, dass Gott unsere Wohnstätte, unsere Heimat ist.

Es liegt eine Fülle und Süße in der Metapher, denn unser Heim liegt uns teuer, wenn es auch das bescheidenste Häuschen oder die kärgste Dachkammer ist; und teurer ist unser gepriesener Gott, in dem wir leben, uns bewegen und unser Sein haben.

Zu Hause fühlen wir uns sicher: Wir schließen die Welt aus und leben in stiller Geborgenheit. Wenn wir also bei unserem Gott sind, "fürchten wir kein Böses". Er ist unsere Zuflucht und Zuflucht, unsere bleibende Zuflucht. Zu Hause ruht uns aus; Dort finden wir Ruhe nach der Müdigkeit und Mühsal des Tages.

Und so finden unsere Herzen Ruhe in Gott, wenn wir, erschöpft von den Kämpfen des Lebens, uns an ihn wenden und unsere Seele ruhig verweilt.

Auch zu Hause lassen wir unser Herz los; Wir haben keine Angst, missverstanden zu werden, noch dass unsere Worte missverstanden werden. Wenn wir also bei Gott sind, können wir frei mit ihm kommunizieren und all unsere verborgene Wünsche; denn wenn das "Geheimnis des Herrn bei denen ist, die ihn fürchten", so sollten und müssen die Geheimnisse derer, die ihn fürchten, bei ihrem Herrn sein.

Auch die Heimat ist der Ort unseres wahrsten und reinsten Glücks, und in Gott finden unsere Herzen ihre tiefste Freude. Wir haben eine Freude an ihm, die alle andere Freude weit übertrifft. Es ist auch für zu Hause dass wir arbeiten und arbeiten.

Der Gedanke daran gibt Kraft, die tägliche Last zu tragen, und beschleunigt die Finger, die Arbeit zu vollbringen; und in diesem Sinne können wir auch sagen, dass Gott unsere Heimat ist. Die Liebe zu ihm stärkt uns. Wir denke an ihn in der Person seines lieben Sohnes; und ein flüchtiger Blick auf das leidende Antlitz des Erlösers zwingt uns, für seine Sache zu arbeiten.

Wir fühlen, dass wir arbeiten müssen, denn wir haben Brüder, die noch gerettet werden müssen, und wir haben das Herz unseres Vaters, das wir erfreuen können, indem wir seine wandernden Söhne nach Hause bringen; Wir würden die heilige Familie mit heiliger Heiterkeit erfüllen unter denen wir wohnen.

Glücklich sind, die also den Gott Jakobs zu ihrer Zuflucht haben!

《Morning By Morning》November 10

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”— Deuteronomy 33:27

The word refuge may be translated “mansion,” or “abiding- place,” which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home.

There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being.

It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we “fear no evil.” He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day.

And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life’s conflict, we turn to him, and our soul dwells at ease.

At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the “secret of the Lord is with them that fear him,” the secrets of them that fear him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord.

Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour.

The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to him strengthens us. We think of him in the person of his dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in his cause.

We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father’s heart to make glad by bringing home his wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell.

Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!

《am Abend》10. November

《Abend für Abend》10. November

"Es genügt dem Jünger, dass er sein Herr ist und der Knecht sein Herr. Wenn sie den Hausherrn Beelzebub genannt haben, wie viel mehr werden sie sie aus seinem Hause nennen?" — Matthäus 10:25

Niemand wird diese Behauptung bestreiten, denn es wäre unschicklich, wenn der Knecht über seinen Herrn erhaben wäre. Als unser Herr auf Erden war, wie wurde er behandelt? Waren seine Behauptungen Anerkannt, seine Anweisungen befolgt, seine Vollkommenheiten angebetet von denen, die zu segnen er gekommen ist?

Nein; "Er wurde von den Menschen verachtet und verworfen." Außerhalb des Lagers war sein Platz, Kreuztragen war seine Beschäftigung. Gab ihm die Welt Trost und Ruhe? "Füchse haben Löcher, und die Vögel des Himmels Nester haben; aber der Menschensohn hat keinen Ort, wo er sein Haupt hinlegen soll."

Dieses unwirtliche Land gewährte ihm keine Zuflucht: es vertrieb ihn und kreuzigte ihn. Wenn du ein Nachfolger Jesu bist und einen beständigen, christusähnlichen Wandel und ein beständiges Gespräch führst, musst du Erwarte, daß du das Los desjenigen Teiles deines Geisteslebens sein wirst, der in seiner äußeren Entwicklung unter die Beobachtung der Menschen kommt.

Sie werden es so behandeln, wie sie den Heiland behandelt haben – sie werden es verachten. Träume nicht, dass die Weltmenschen dich bewundern werden, oder dass die Menschen umso friedlicher sind, je heiliger und je christusähnlicher du bist wird Ihnen gegenüber wirken.

Sie schätzten den polierten Edelstein nicht, wie sollten sie den Juwel im Rohzustand schätzen? "Wenn sie den Hausherrn Beelzebub genannt haben, wie viel mehr werden sie sie aus seinem Hause nennen?" Wenn wir wären wir Christus ähnlicher, so würden wir von seinen Feinden noch mehr gehaßt werden.

Es wäre eine traurige Schande für ein Kind Gottes, der Liebling der Welt zu sein. Es ist ein sehr schlechtes Omen, wenn eine böse Welt in die Hände klatscht und dem christlichen Menschen "Gut gemacht" zuruft. Er könnte anfangen zu schauen und wundert sich, ob er nicht Unrecht getan hat, wenn die Ungerechten ihm ihren Beifall geben.

Seien wir unserem Meister treu und schließen wir keine Freundschaft mit einer blinden und niederträchtigen Welt, die ihn verachtet und ablehnt. Fern sei es von uns, eine Krone der Ehre dort zu suchen, wo unser Herr eine Krone von Dornen.

《Evening by Evening》November 10

“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”— Matthew 10:25

No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment he received? Were his claims acknowledged, his instructions followed, his perfections worshipped, by those whom he came to bless?

No; “He was despised and rejected of men.” Outside the camp was his place: cross-bearing was his occupation. Did the world yield him solace and rest? “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

This inhospitable country afforded him no shelter: it cast him out and crucified him. Such—if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation—you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men.

They will treat it as they treated the Saviour—they will despise it. Dream not that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you.

They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? “If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by his enemies.

It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world’s favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout “Well done” to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation.

Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorns.

《am Morgen》November 11

《Morgen für Morgen》11. November

"Der ewige Gott ist deine Zuflucht, und darunter sind die ewigen Waffen, und er wird den Feind vor dir vertreiben; und werden sagen: Vernichtet sie." (5. Mose 33:27)

Gott – der ewige Gott – ist selbst zu jeder Zeit unsere Stütze, und besonders dann, wenn wir in großen Schwierigkeiten versinken.

Es gibt Zeiten, in denen der Christ in Demütigung sehr tief versinkt. Im tiefen Bewußtsein seiner großen Sündhaftigkeit wird er vor Gott gedemütigt, bis er kaum noch zu beten versteht, weil er in sein eigenes Augenlicht, so wertlos.

Nun, Kind Gottes, denke daran, daß, wenn du am schlimmsten und niedrigsten bist, doch »unter dir« »ewige Waffen sind«. Die Sünde mag dich noch so tief ziehen, aber das große Sühnopfer Christi ist noch immer unter alle. Du magst in die Tiefe hinabgestiegen sein, aber du kannst nicht so tief gefallen sein wie "der Äußerste", und bis zum Äußersten, den er rettet.

Wieder sinkt der Christ manchmal sehr tief in eine schmerzliche Prüfung von außen. Jedes irdische Requisit wird weggeschnitten. Was dann? Unter ihm befinden sich immer noch "die ewigen Arme". Er kann nicht so tief hineinfallen Not und Bedrängnis, was aber die Bundesgnade eines stets treuen Gottes noch um ihn herum umschließen wird.

Der Christ mag durch heftige Kämpfe von innen her in Schwierigkeiten versinken, aber selbst dann kann er nicht so tief gebracht werden, dass er außerhalb der Reichweite der "ewigen Waffen" ist – sie sind unter ihn; und solange sie aufrechterhalten werden, nützen alle Bemühungen Satans, ihm zu schaden, nichts.

Diese Zusicherung der Unterstützung ist ein Trost für jeden müden, aber ernsthaften Arbeiter im Dienst Gottes. Es impliziert das Versprechen von Kraft für jeden Tag, Gnade für jedes Bedürfnis und Kraft für jede Pflicht. Und Und wenn der Tod kommt, wird die Verheißung immer noch gelten.

Wenn wir mitten im Jordan stehen, werden wir mit David sagen können: "Ich fürchte kein Unheil, denn du bist mit mir." Wir werden hinabsteigen in das Grab, aber wir werden nicht tiefer gehen, für die Ewigkeit Arme verhindern unseren weiteren Fall.

Das ganze Leben hindurch, und am Ende seines Lebens, werden wir von den "ewigen Armen" gestützt werden – Armen, die weder erlahmen noch ihre Kraft verlieren, denn "der ewige Gott ermattet nicht und wird nicht müde".

《Morning By Morning》November 11

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”— Deuteronomy 33:27

God–the eternal God—is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble.

There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless.

Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the uttermost;” and to the uttermost he saves.

Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “the everlasting arms.” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him.

The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”—they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing.

This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good.

When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall.

All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms”—arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary.”

《am Abend》11. November

《Abend für Abend》11. November

"Er wird uns unser Erbe erwählen, die Exzellenz Jakobs, den er liebte. Selah." (Psalm 47:4)

Gläubiger, wenn dein Erbe ein geringes ist, so sollst du mit deinem irdischen Anteil zufrieden sein; denn Sie können versichert sein, dass es das Passendste für Sie ist. Untrügliche Weisheit hat dein Los bestimmt, und Für Sie den sichersten und besten Zustand ausgewählt.

Ein Schiff von großer Tonnage soll den Fluß hinaufgebracht werden; Nun gibt es in einem Theile des Baches eine Sandbank; wenn jemand fragt: "Warum steuert der Kapitän durch den tiefen Teil des Kanals? und so sehr von einer geraden Linie abweicht?"

Seine Antwort würde lauten: »Weil ich mein Schiff gar nicht in den Hafen bringen würde, wenn ich mich nicht an den tiefen Kanal hielte.« So könnte es sein, dass du auf Grund laufen und Schiffbruch erleiden würdest, wenn dein göttlicher Der Kapitän hat dich nicht in die Tiefen des Leids gelenkt, wo Wellen des Ärgers in schneller Folge aufeinander folgen.

Manche Pflanzen sterben ab, wenn sie zu viel Sonne haben. Es kann sein, dass du dort gepflanzt wirst, wo du nur wenig bekommst, du wirst von dem liebenden Landwirt dorthin gesetzt, denn nur in dieser Situation wirst du bringen Frucht zur Vollkommenheit hervorbringen.

Denke daran: Wäre ein anderer Zustand besser für dich gewesen als der, in dem du dich befindest, hätte dich die göttliche Liebe dorthin gebracht. Du bist von Gott in die geeignetsten Umstände versetzt worden, und wenn hättest du die Wahl deines Loses, so würdest du bald rufen: Herr, wähle mir mein Erbe, denn durch meinen Eigenwillen bin ich von vielen Leiden durchbohrt.

Seid zufrieden mit dem, was ihr habt, denn der Herr hat alles zu eurem Besten angeordnet. Nehmen Sie Ihr eigenes tägliches Kreuz auf sich; Es ist die Last, die am besten für Ihre Schulter geeignet ist, und wird sich am besten als wirksam, um dich in jedem guten Wort zu vervollkommnen und zur Ehre Gottes zu wirken.

Von deinem geschäftigen Selbst und deiner stolzen Ungeduld ist es nicht deine Sache, zu wählen, sondern der Herr der Liebe!

"Prüfungen müssen und werden kommen ...

Aber mit demütigem Glauben zu sehen,

Die Liebe war ihnen allen eingeschrieben;

Das ist für mich Glück."

《Evening by Evening》November 11

“He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.”— Psalm 47:4

Believer, if your inheritance be a lowly one you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition.

A ship of large tonnage is to be brought up the river; now, in one part of the stream there is a sandbank; should some one ask, “Why does the captain steer through the deep part of the channel and deviate so much from a straight line?”

His answer would be, “Because I should not get my vessel into harbour at all if I did not keep to the deep channel.” So, it may be, you would run aground and suffer shipwreck, if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succession.

Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you are planted where you get but little, you are put there by the loving Husbandman, because only in that situation will you bring forth fruit unto perfection.

Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you had the choosing of your lot, you would soon cry, “Lord, choose my inheritance for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows.”

Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder, and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God.

Down busy self, and proud impatience, it is not for you to choose, but for the Lord of Love!

     “Trials must and will befall—

       But with humble faith to see

     Love inscribed upon them all;

       This is happiness to me.”

《am Morgen》November 12

《Morning By Morning》November 12

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”— 1 Peter 1:7

Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators.

When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves not to its harbour; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too.

Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired haven.

No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity.

Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength had you not been supported amid the water-floods.

Faith increases in solidity, assurance and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.

Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will be measured out to you in due season.

Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.

《am Abend》November 12

《Evening by Evening》November 12

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”— Luke 6:12

If ever one of woman born might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect Lord, and yet none was ever so much in supplication as he! Such was his love to his Father, that he loved much to be in communion with him: such his love for his people, that he desired to be much in intercession for them.

The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us—he hath given us an example that we may follow in his steps. The time he chose was admirable, it was the hour of silence, when the crowd would not disturb him; the time of inaction, when all but himself had ceased to labour; and the season when slumber made men forget their woes, and cease their applications to him for relief.

While others found rest in sleep, he refreshed himself with prayer. The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: thus was he free from Pharisaic ostentation and vulgar interruption.

Those dark and silent hills were a fit oratory for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of his pleadings is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill his devotions; the grim darkness did not darken his faith, or loneliness check his importunity.

We cannot watch with him one hour, but he watched for us whole nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after his enemies had been enraged—prayer was his refuge and solace; it was before he sent forth the twelve apostles—prayer was the gate of his enterprise, the herald of his new work.

Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial, or contemplate fresh endeavours for the Master’s glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.

《am Morgen》November 13

《Morning By Morning》November 13

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”— John 15:4

How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourselves on his great atonement, and rested on his finished righteousness. Ah! what fruit you had then! Do you remember those early days?

Then indeed the vine flourished, the tender grape appeared, the pomegranates budded forth, and the beds of spices gave forth their smell. Have you declined since then? If you have, we charge you to remember that time of love, and repent, and do thy first works.

Be most in those engagements which you have experimentally proved to draw you nearest to Christ, because it is from him that all your fruits proceed. Any holy exercise which will bring you to him will help you to bear fruit.

The sun is, no doubt, a great worker in fruit-creating among the trees of the orchard: and Jesus is still more so among the trees of his garden of grace.

When have you been the most fruitless? Has not it been when you have lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened in prayer, when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith, when your graces have engrossed your attention instead of your Lord, when you have said, “My mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved”; and have forgotten where your strength dwells—has not it been then that your fruit has ceased?

Some of us have been taught that we have nothing out of Christ, by terrible abasements of heart before the Lord; and when we have seen the utter barrenness and death of all creature power, we have cried in anguish, “From him all my fruit must be found, for no fruit can ever come from me.”

We are taught, by past experience, that the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ, and wait upon the Holy Spirit, the more we shall bring forth fruit unto God. Oh! to trust Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

《am Abend》November 13

《Evening by Evening》November 13

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”— Luke 18:1

If men ought always to pray and not to faint, much more Christian men. Jesus has sent his church into the world on the same errand upon which he himself came, and this mission includes intercession.

What if I say that the church is the world’s priest? Creation is dumb, but the church is to find a mouth for it. It is the church’s high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed.

The veil was rent for her, the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her, God constantly invites her to ask what she wills. Will she refuse the privilege which angels might envy her? Is she not the bride of Christ?

May she not go in unto her King at every hour? Shall she allow the precious privilege to be unused? The church always has need for prayer. There are always some in her midst who are declining, or falling into open sin.

There are lambs to be prayed for, that they may be carried in Christ’s bosom? the strong, lest they grow presumptuous; and the weak, lest they become despairing. If we kept up prayer-meetings four-and-twenty hours in the day, all the days in the year, we might never be without a special subject for supplication.

Are we ever without the sick and the poor, the afflicted and the wavering? Are we ever without those who seek the conversion of relatives, the reclaiming of back-sliders, or the salvation of the depraved?

Nay, with congregations constantly gathering, with ministers always preaching, with millions of sinners lying dead in trespasses and sins; in a country over which the darkness of Romanism is certainly descending; in a world full of idols, cruelties, devilries, if the church doth not pray, how shall she excuse her base neglect of the commission of her loving Lord?

Let the church be constant in supplication, let every private believer cast his mite of prayer into the treasury.

《am Morgen》November 14

《Morning By Morning》November 14

“And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;”— Zephaniah 1:5

Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham. But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy his soul hateth.

The idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord, while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof.

To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a dastard’s policy. In the common matters of daily life, a double-minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?

My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus—dost thou truly love him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends?

A name to live is of little value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing.

God fills the whole universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, he reigns in my heart, there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for him?

Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear thy name.

《am Abend》November 14

《Evening by Evening》November 14

“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.”— Genesis 29:26

We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be taken in order, and if we would win the second we must secure the first.

The second may be the more lovely in our eyes, but the rule of the heavenly country must stand, and the elder must be married first. For instance, many men desire the beautiful and well-favoured Rachel of joy and peace in believing, but they must first be wedded to the tender-eyed Leah of repentance.

Every one falls in love with happiness, and many would cheerfully serve twice seven years to enjoy it, but according to the rule of the Lord’s kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before the Rachel of true happiness can be attained.

Heaven stands not first but second, and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion in it. The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in his humiliation, or we shall never rest with him in glory.

My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense thee for all.

In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never been—an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.

     Jesus, to win thyself so fair,

       Thy cross I will with gladness bear:

     Since so the rules of heaven ordain,

       The first I’ll wed the next to gain.

《am Morgen》15. November

《Morning By Morning》November 15

“For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”— Deuteronomy 32:9

How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them, and set his love upon them.

This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election.

They are not only his by choice, but by purchase. He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing, hence about his title there can be no dispute. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord’s portion has been fully redeemed.

There is no mortgage on his estate; no suits can be raised by opposing claimants, the price was paid in open court, and the Church is the Lord’s freehold forever.

See the blood-mark upon all the chosen, invisible to human eye, but known to Christ, for “the Lord knoweth them that are his”; he forgetteth none of those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which he gave himself.

They are also his by conquest. What a battle he had in us before we would be won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent us terms of capitulation! but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls against him.

Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm? When he placed his cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting on our strongholds the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy?

Yes, we are, indeed, the conquered captives of his omnipotent love. Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued, the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable: we rejoice that we never can be our own; and we desire, day by day, to do his will, and to show forth his glory.

《am Abend》15. November

《Evening by Evening》November 15

“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”— Psalm 68:28

It is our wisdom, as well as our necessity, to beseech God continually to strengthen that which he has wrought in us. It is because of their neglect in this, that many Christians may blame themselves for those trials and afflictions of spirit which arise from unbelief.

It is true that Satan seeks to flood the fair garden of the heart and make it a scene of desolation, but it is also true that many Christians leave open the sluice-gates themselves, and let in the dreadful deluge through carelessness and want of prayer to their strong Helper.

We often forget that the Author of our faith must be the Preserver of it also. The lamp which was burning in the temple was never allowed to go out, but it had to be daily replenished with fresh oil; in like manner, our faith can only live by being sustained with the oil of grace, and we can only obtain this from God himself.

Foolish virgins we shall prove, if we do not secure the needed sustenance for our lamps. He who built the world upholds it, or it would fall in one tremendous crash; he who made us Christians must maintain us by his Spirit, or our ruin will be speedy and final.

Let us, then, evening by evening, go to our Lord for the grace and strength we need. We have a strong argument to plead, for it is his own work of grace which we ask him to strengthen—”that which thou hast wrought for us.”

Think you he will fail to protect and sustain that? Only let your faith take hold of his strength, and all the powers of darkness, led on by the master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over your joy and peace.

Why faint when you may be strong? Why suffer defeat when you may conquer? Oh! take your wavering faith and drooping graces to him who can revive and replenish them, and earnestly pray, “Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”

《am Morgen》November 16

《Morning By Morning》November 16

“The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”— Lamentations 3:24

It is not “The Lord is partly my portion,” nor “The Lord is in my portion”; but he himself makes up the sum total of my soul’s inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire.

The Lord is my portion.

Not his grace merely, nor his love, nor his covenant, but Jehovah himself. He has chosen us for his portion, and we have chosen him for ours. It is true that the Lord must first choose our inheritance for us, or else we shall never choose it for ourselves; but if we are really called according to the purpose of electing love, we can sing—

     “Lov’d of my God for him again

       With love intense I burn;

     Chosen of him ere time began,

       I choose him in return.”

The Lord is our all-sufficient portion. God fills himself; and if God is all-sufficient in himself, he must be all- sufficient for us. It is not easy to satisfy man’s desires. When he dreams that he is satisfied, anon he wakes to the perception that there is somewhat yet beyond, and straightway the horse-leech in his heart cries, “Give, give.”

But all that we can wish for is to be found in our divine portion, so that we ask, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Well may we “delight ourselves in the Lord” who makes us to drink of the river of his pleasures.

Our faith stretches her wings and mounts like an eagle into the heaven of divine love as to her proper dwelling-place. “The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage.” Let us rejoice in the Lord always; let us show to the world that we are a happy and a blessed people, and thus induce them to exclaim, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

《am Abend》16. November

《Evening by Evening》November 16

“Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.”— Isaiah 33:17

The more you know about Christ the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of him; and the more deeply you study his transactions in the eternal covenant, his engagements on your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fulness of his grace which shines in all his offices, the more truly will you see the King in his beauty.

Be much in such outlooks. Long more and more to see Jesus. Meditation and contemplation are often like windows of agate, and gates of carbuncle, through which we behold the Redeemer. Meditation puts the telescope to the eye, and enables us to see Jesus after a better sort than we could have seen him if we had lived in the days of his flesh.

Would that our conversation were more in heaven, and that we were more taken up with the person, the work, the beauty of our incarnate Lord. More meditation, and the beauty of the King would flash upon us with more resplendence.

Beloved, it is very probable that we shall have such a sight of our glorious King as we never had before, when we come to die. Many saints in dying have looked up from amidst the stormy waters, and have seen Jesus walking on the waves of the sea, and heard him say, “It is I, be not afraid.”

Ah, yes! when the tenement begins to shake, and the clay falls away, we see Christ through the rifts, and between the rafters the sunlight of heaven comes streaming in. But if we want to see face to face the “King in his beauty” we must go to heaven for the sight, or the King must come here in person.

O that he would come on the wings of the wind! He is our Husband, and we are widowed by his absence; he is our Brother dear and fair, and we are lonely without him. Thick veils and clouds hang between our souls and their true life: when shall the day break and the shadows flee away?

Oh, long-expected day, begin!