Daily Bible Notes: April, 18th
The following daily bible notes for every day of the year, are taken from six public domain sources:
- "Morning and Evening" by Charles H.Spurgeon
- "My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year" by John H.Jowett
- "Yet Another Day - A Prayer for Every Day of the Year" by John H.Jowett
- "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" by Charles H.Spurgeon
- "The Morning Message" by G.Campbell Morgan
- An Evening Meditation from "Searchlights from the Word" by G. Campbell Morgan
1. "Morning and Evening" by C.H.Spurgeon
Morning
She bound the scarlet line in the window.
Joshua 2:21
Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies, whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel. Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie the scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself, but she dared not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is there not here a lesson for thee? Hast thou been attentive to all thy Lord’s will, even though some of His commands should seem non-essential? Hast thou observed in his own way the two ordinances of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper? These neglected, argue much unloving disobedience in thy heart. Be henceforth in all things blameless, even to the tying of a thread, if that be matter of command.
This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I implicitly trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the scarlet cord, as with a Gordian knot in my window, so that my trust can never be removed? Or can I look out towards the Dead Sea of my sins, or the Jerusalem of my hopes, without seeing the blood, and seeing all things in connection with its blessed power? The passer-by can see a cord of so conspicuous a colour, if it hangs from the window: it will be well for me if my life makes the efficacy of the atonement conspicuous to all onlookers. What is there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song. My soul, there is One who will see that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not see it thyself; Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and pass over thee. Jericho’s walls fell flat:
Rahab’s house was on the wall, and yet it stood unmoved; my nature is built into the wall of humanity, and yet when destruction smites the race, I shall be secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh, and rest in peace.
Evening
And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.
Genesis 32:12
When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God’s protection, and as a master reason he pleaded, "And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good."
Oh, the force of that plea! He was holding God to His word -"Thou saidst." The attribute of God’s faithfulness is a splendid horn of the altar to lay hold upon; but the promise, which has in it the attribute and something more, is a yet mightier holdfast -"Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." And has He said, and shall He not do it? "Let God be true, and every man a liar." Shall not He be true? Shall He not keep His word? Shall not every word that cometh out of His lips stand fast and be fulfilled?
Solomon, at the opening of the temple, used this same mighty plea. He pleaded with God to remember the word which He had spoken to his father David, and to bless that place. When a man gives a promissory note, his honour is engaged; he signs his hand, and he must discharge it when the due time comes, or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that God dishonours His bills. The credit of the Most High never was impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the moment: He never is before His time, but He never is behind it. Search God’s word through, and compare it with the experience of God’s people, and you shall find the two tally from the first to the last. Many a hoary patriarch has said with Joshua, "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass." If you have a divine promise, you need not plead it with an "if," you may urge it with certainty. The Lord meant to fulfil the promise, or He would not have given it. God does not give His words merely to quiet us, and to keep us hopeful for awhile with the intention of putting us off at last; but when He speaks, it is because He means to do as He has said.
2. "My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year" by J.H.Jowett
Philemon 10-18
10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
MECHANICAL PIETY
The Apostle Paul declares that benefits may be given in one of two ways - "of necessity" and "willingly." One is mechanical, the other is spontaneous. I once saw a little table-fountain playing in a drawing-room, but I heard the click of its machinery, and the charm was gone! It had to be wound up before it would play, and at frequent periods it "ran down." A little later I saw another fountain playing on a green lawn, and it was fed from the deep secret resources of the hills!
There is a generosity which is like the drawing-room fountain. If you listen you can hear the mechanical click, and a sound of friction, arising from murmuring and complaint. And there is a generosity which is like the fountain that is the child of the hills. It is clear, and sweet, and musical, and flows on through every season! One is "of necessity"; the other is "willingly." And "God loveth a cheerful giver."
And prayer can be of the same two contrary orders. One prayer is mechanical, it is hard, formal, metallic. The other is spontaneous, forceful, and irresistible. Listen to the Pharisee - "Lord, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are." It is the click of the machine! Listen to the publican - "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" It is the voice of the deeps.
3. "Yet Another Day - A Prayer for Every Day of the Year" by John H.Jowett
April 18th.
My risen Lord, this is Thy day. May I grow in grace and in knowledge! May I enter more fully into the mystery of Thy life
and death! May I rise with Thee into newness of life!
4. "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" by C.H.Spurgeon.
I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Joshua 1:5
This word to Joshua is often quoted; it is the basis of that New Testament word, "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Beloved, a life of warfare is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the wisdom and prudence that we shall need. Have we to contend with cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valour, prowess and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we shall achieve our purpose; the Lord himself is with us.
It would be woe to us indeed if Jehovah could fail us; but, as this can never be, the winds of disquietude are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine faithfulness. On no one occasion will the Lord desert us. Happen what may, he will be at our side. Friends drop from us, their help is but an April shower; but God is faithful, Jesus is the same for ever, and the Holy Spirit abideth in us.
Come, my heart, be calm and hopeful to-day. Clouds may gather, but the Lord can blow them away. Since God will not fail me, my faith shall not fail; and, as he will not forsake me, neither will I forsake him. Oh for a restful faith!
5. "The Morning Message" by G.Campbell Morgan.
This is the will of God, even your sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
Let us cultivate our own life according to the will of God. The neglect or destruction of any side of our nature dishonours God and robs the commonwealth of a contribution it has a right to expect from us.
6. "An Evening Meditation" taken from "Searchlights from the Word" by G.Campbell Morgan.
I have much people in this city.
Acts 18:10
This word of the Lord to His servant gave him his warrant for a lengthy stay in the city of Corinth. It was without doubt at the time the principal city of Achaia. If Athens was the centre of learning, Corinth was the centre of politics, of wealth, of corruption. There were resident Romans, Greeks and Hebrews. It is probable that Paul was at this time chiefly drawn to Macedonia, and inclined to return there. It would seem from this very message of the Lord that he had some fear of opposition. The words remind us of that which we are ever in danger of forgetting, that all our work is directed by One Who knows the hearts of all men. Corinth did not seem fruitful soil; it was given over to carnality - that is, to materialism. But the Lord knew all that was going on in the souls of men resident there; the restlessness, the heartache, the unsatisfied desires. He knew that there were many there who would respond to the message of His Gospel. He saw them, while as yet they saw not Him, and therefore He charged His servant to remain there, and promised him His comradeship and protection. What a glorious service it is, to proclaim amid the multitudes the message, which, being heard and believed, will bring to Himself in experience and outward confession, those whom the Lord already knows. In whatever city we may be working it is surely true that the Lord has much people there.
Note: To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that the above material, all published before 1926 and freely available elsewhere on the internet in various formats, is in the public domain.