Morning, June 15
Go To Evening Reading
“And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
laugh with me.”
Genesis 21:6
It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws,
that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it
is beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner,
should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of
the Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature
was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness,
even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may
my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular,
surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found
Jesus, the promised seed, and he is mine forever. This day will I
lift up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low
estate, for “my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord;
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell,
and my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me.
I would surprise my family with my abundant peace; I would delight
my friends with my ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church
with my grateful confessions; and even impress the world with the
cheerfulness of my daily conversation. Bunyan tells us that Mercy
laughed in her sleep, and no wonder when she dreamed of Jesus; my
joy shall not stop short of hers while my Beloved is the theme of
my daily thoughts. The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul shall
dive therein, shall be swallowed up in the delights of his society.
Sarah looked on her Isaac, and laughed with excess of rapture, and
all her friends laughed with her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus,
and bid heaven and earth unite in thy joy unspeakable.