Daily Bible Notes: January, 12th
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
Ye are Christ’s.
1 Corinthians 3:23
Ye are Christ’s. You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ’s." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ’s, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ’s. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ’s. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ’s, and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ’s." When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ’s.
Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour’s, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ’s!"
Evening
I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
Job 36:2
We ought not to court publicity for our virtue, or notoriety for our zeal; but, at the same time, it is a sin to be always seeking to hide that which God has bestowed upon us for the good of others. A Christian is not to be a village in a valley, but "a city set upon a hill;" he is not to be a candle under a bushel, but a candle in a candlestick, giving light to all. Retirement may be lovely in its season, and to hide one’s self is doubtless modest, but the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back of truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin against others and an offence against God. If you are of a nervous temperament and of retiring disposition, take care that you do not too much indulge this trembling propensity, lest you should be useless to the church. Seek in the name of Him who was not ashamed of you to do some little violence to your feelings, and tell to others what Christ has told to you. If thou canst not speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. If the pulpit must not be thy tribune, if the press may not carry on its wings thy words, yet say with Peter and John, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee." By Sychar’s well talk to the Samaritan woman, if thou canst not on the mountain preach a sermon; utter the praises of Jesus in the house, if not in the temple; in the field, if not upon the exchange; in the midst of thine own household, if thou canst not in the midst of the great family of man. From the hidden springs within let sweetly flowing rivulets of testimony flow forth, giving drink to every passer-by. Hide not thy talent; trade with it; and thou shalt bring in good interest to thy Lord and Master.
To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, cheering to saints, useful to sinners, and honouring to the Saviour. Dumb children are an affliction to their parents. Lord, unloose all Thy children’s tongue.
2. "My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year" by J.H.Jowett
1 John 2:13-17
13 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Don't love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's.
17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.
TWO OPPOSITES
"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
No man can love two opposites any more than he can walk in contrary directions at the same time. No man can at once be mean and magnanimous, chivalrous and selfish. We cannot at the same moment dress appropriately for the arctic regions and the tropics. And we cannot wear the habits of the world and the garments of salvation. When we try to do it the result is a wretched and miserable compromise. I have seen a shopkeeper on the Sabbath day put up one shutter, out of presumed respect for the Holy Lord, and behind the shutter continue all the business of the world! That one shutter is typical of all the religion that is left when a man "loves the world" and delights in its prizes and crowns. His religion is a bit of idle ritual which is an offence unto God!
So I must make my choice. Shall I travel north or south? Which of the two opposites shall I love - God or the world? Whichever love I choose will drive out and quench the other. And thus if I choose the love of God it will destroy every worldly passion, and the river of my affections and desires will be like "the river of water of life, clear as crystal."
3. "Yet Another Day - A Prayer for Every Day of the Year" by John H.Jowett
January 12nd.
My Father in Heaven, I would remember those whom in prayer I am inclined to forget. I pray for those whom I dislike.
Defend me against my own feelings! Change my inclinations! Give me a heart of pity! Give me the purity of heart which finds Thine image everywhere!
4. "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" by C.H.Spurgeon.
For the Lord will not cast off for ever.
Lamentations 3:31
He may cast away for a season, but not for ever. A woman may leave off her ornaments for a few days, but she will not forget them, nor throw them upon the dunghill. It is not like the Lord to cast off those whom he loves: for, "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Some talk of our being in grace and out of it, as if we were like rabbits that run in and out of their burrows: but, indeed, it is not so. The Lord's love is a far more serious and abiding matter than this.
He chose us from eternity, and he will love us throughout eternity. He loved us so as to die for us, and we may therefore be sure that his love will never die. His honour is so wrapt up in the salvation of the believer, that he can no more cast him off than he can cast off his own robes of office as King of glory. No, no! The Lord Jesus, as a Head, never casts off his members; as a Husband, he never casts off his bride.
Did you think you were cast off? Why did you think so evil of the Lord who has betrothed you to himself? Cast off such thoughts, and never let them lodge in your soul again." The Lord hath not cast away his people which he foreknew " (Romans 11:2). "He hateth putting away" (Malachi 2:16).
5. "The Morning Message" by G.Campbell Morgan.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:28
When the work presses, and the battle thickens, and the day seems long in coming, it is good for the heart to remember that the present conflict is with defeated foes, and that there is no room for question as to the final issue; for the Man of Nazareth is not only seated in the place of authority, but He carries forward the work of active administration.
6. "An Evening Meditation" taken from "Searchlights from the Word" by G.Campbell Morgan.
Behold, My mother and My brethren.
Matthew 12:49
Jesus said this with His hands out-stretched towards His disciples. By the act and the words He most definitely and distinctly put those disciples into contrast with His mother and brethren after the flesh. These latter were at the time seeking Him, perchance with all kindliness of intention, to persuade Him to abandon His work, and to return home with them. Such action showed how far they were away from Him in all the deepest things. He was in the world to do one thing, and one thing only, and that was the will of His Father. Those who were one with Him in that purpose and were content to abide with Him, were nearer to Him in the real things of life than even those who were related to Him after the flesh. His next of kin are always those who are one with Him in spiritual devotion to the will of God. This is an instance of great value in its revelation of our Lord's conception of the essential spiritual nature of man. He never undervalued the body, but He never treated it as secondary and subservient. It also clearly reveals His conception of what constitutes health and strength in spiritual life. It is simply the doing of the will of God. This, however, is what none can do, save as He makes us one with Him, by communicating His very nature to us. This is the deeper note of His exclamation. He did not exclude His mother and brethren after the flesh, from their relationship; but He did clearly indicate that only upon its basis could they be really one with Him.
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.