Morning, March 15
Go To Evening Reading
“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 2:1
Christ has grace without measure in himself, but he hath not retained
it for himself. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so
hath Christ emptied out his grace for his people. “Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” He seems only to have in order to dispense to us. He stands like
the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply
the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like
a tree, he bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered
by those who need. Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse,
to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore,
is ever to be had from him freely and without price; nor is there
one form of the work of grace which he has not bestowed upon his people.
As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally
to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of
every saint united to the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet communion
between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same
grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but
the same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the
meanest saint has an unction of the same costly moisture as that which
fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of grace flows
from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem
itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch.
As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize
it as coming from him, we shall behold him in communion with us, and
enjoy the felicity of communion with him. Let us make daily use of
our riches, and ever repair to him as to our own Lord in covenant,
taking from him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as
men take money from their own purse.