DAILY READINGS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

March 8. Secret Discipleship

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." John 3:1-2 

It was better to come by night, than not to come at all — though we usually think that it showed timidity on the part of Nicodemus. We must remember, however, that Jesus did not rebuke him, nor did He refuse to accept even his secret discipleship. He seems to have received him with loving welcome, and to have taught him in the quiet way Nicodemus chose to come.

We must remember, too that the times then, were not as they are now. Christ had not yet died, nor had the Christian Church been established. Certainly, secret discipleship is not justifiable now, whatever excuse Nicodemus may have had for it in his time. We know too, that it was not satisfactory even in his case. We know that the time came, when he could no longer remain a secret friend. When Jesus was dead on His cross, and when His body, as that of a crucified malefactor, was about to be buried in dishonor among criminals — it is remarkable that the two men who came forward and rescued it from such ignominy and gave it honorable sepulcher — had both until that day been secret disciples. The death of Christ so touched their hearts and aroused their timid, hesitating love — that they could not longer continue secret disciples. The true love of their hearts could not be repressed — and they came forward and risked and dared all for Him, whom they had never before had courage openly to confess.

Secret discipleship is not satisfactory. It does not get the hearty approval of one's own conscience. It does not bring full rich peace to the heart. It yields but a crippled and hampered Christian life at the best. If we love Christ — we should come out boldly and confess Him at a time when our confession will honor Him, and bring blessing to ourselves. We have a glorious promise that those who confess Him here — He will confess at the day of judgment before angels and men.

 What Is Actual Sin? (Pasche, F.E.)

"Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matt. 15:19

Our nature even at rest is sinful. But it is never at rest. It has thoughts and desires, suggestions and purposes; and these motions and acts of the soul are sin.

Actual sin is everything whereby evil is committed or good omitted, against God’s Law. When you slander your neighbor, you commit evil and sin; if you do not defend him when slandered, you omit good and therefore sin. “ To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Many people say that they harm no one. But the question will also be asked of them, “What good have you done ?” The fig-tree had harmed no one, yet it was cursed by Christ because it had done no good. Not only every tree bearing no fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, but also every tree that bringeth forth no good fruit.

There are sins of the heart, of the eye, of the tongue, and sips of action.

Do not try to persuade yourself that your sin is only a little sin. There are no little sins. Every sin is a great sin. Even when the believer sins involuntarily, it is a grievous sin in the sight of God; but as his faith clings to God’s forgiving grace, his sin is at once forgiven by the all-sufficient merits of Christ. But if he sins volun­ tarily, however, with a set purpose, against the warning of his con­ science, he falls from faith, and his sin is unforgiven, whether great or small. All our little omissions are great sins. And to the un­ believer every sin is an unforgiven sin. Even his seeming virtues are sins because he does not believe and trust in God and does not love and fear Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Do not despise sins because they seem small. How difficult is it for you to renounce the one which is your darling sin! Take heed of this one sin, especially if it is a secret sin! Every sin entails guilt.

Prayer.

O Lord, almighty God and heavenly. Father, I pray Thee, as Thy dear child, graciously preserve me to my last breath in Thy saving Word and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit that I may know what is good or evil. All sin that I have knowingly committed, also my secret faults, I ask Thee in mercy to forget. Also help me, dear Father, by Thy grace, to begin a new life well- pleasing to Thee and to the benefit of my soul. I commend myself to Thy divine protection and fatherly blessing. Give me peace through Jesus Christ, my only Helper, and comfort me by the true Comforter, the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Holy Ghost, with power divine, 

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine; 

Long hath sin, without control, 

Held dominion o’er my soul.

 DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890).

March 7. The First Miracle

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory" John 2:10

The glory was there before; it had been slumbering in His lowly, human life all along those quiet years of toil and service at Nazareth; but it was now manifested for the first time. This was the first shining out of the Divine splendor before men. We should notice also that it was in a simple act of thoughtful kindness to a perplexed household, that this glory was first manifested. Christ did not wait for some great occasion — but threw the earliest gleams of His divine manifestation upon this homely scene. It should be further noticed that it was in the midst of gladness and festivity, that these first beams of glory shone forth. Thus we see that the glory of Christ — was the radiance of love.

We follow on and we find the same glory burning out more and more brightly, until at last He goes to His cross, manifesting forth in one great act — the amazing splendor of the love of God for the world. No wonder His disciples believed on Him, when they saw this miracle at Cana. It was a gleam of divinity which flashed forth from His lowly form and wrought the marvelous sign.

We should note, too, before leaving the story of this first miracle, that this transformation of water into wine, was a fitting symbol of the whole work of Christ in this world. We have but to look about us and back along the Christian centuries — to see the same glory blazing everywhere, the same transformation perpetually going on. Wherever the gospel goes — wonderful change is wrought. The desert is made to blossom like a garden. The worst lives are touched and transfigured into spiritual beauty. Who that looks upon the perpetual miracle of Christianity in the world — can refuse to believe on Christ? No mere empty creed could produce such results. There is a life in Christianity which quickens and transforms whatever it touches!

 “March 7

 

“There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh

all in all.” —I COR. 12:6.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I

the Lord do all these things” ISA. 45:7.

 

"All is of God that is, and is to be;

And God is good." Let this suffice us still,

Resting in childlike trust upon His will,

Who moves to His great ends, unthwarted by the ill.

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.

 

            This, then, is of faith, that everything, the very least, or what seems to

us great, every change of the seasons, everything which touches us in mind,

body, or estate, whether brought about through this outward senseless

nature, or by the will of man, good or bad, is overruled to each of us by

the all-holy and all-loving will of God. Whatever befalls us, however it

befalls us, we must receive as the will of God. If it befalls us through

man's negligence, or ill-will, or anger, still it is, in every the least

circumstance, to us the will of God. For if the least thing could happen to

us without God's “permission, it would be something out of God's control.

God's providence or His love would not be what they are. Almighty God

Himself would not be the same God; not the God whom we believe, adore, and

love.

 ~  E. B. PUSEY.

 

Excerpt From

Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Mary Wilder Tileston