by J R Miller
April 1
They entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. - Luke 24:3
Suppose they had found the body there - what would have been the result?
That would have meant that Christ was still holden in the clasp of death. They were disappointed at not finding the body, but in this disappointment lay the glorious hope out of which all our Christian joys come today.
We get from this lesson of comfort, to give cheer to our own hearts when we stand by the graves of our Christian dead. The body of our loved one may be in the grave, but he, the friend we knew and loved, is not there; he is with the Lord.
In describing death, St. Paul speaks of it as "absent from the body, at home with the Lord." You go to the old house where your friend used to live. You find that he has moved away to a new house on the hill. You stand by the form of your dead. Your friend is not there; he has gone away. Where is he? He has left the old tattered tabernacle and dwells in the house not made with his hands.
April 2
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. - Luke 24:5-6
The empty tomb teaches wonderful lessons. As we stand by it, we are assured, first, that Jesus died. He was certainly dead, for Pilate had official inquiry made, and received assurance of the fact before he would grant leave for the burial.
If any doubt had existed concerning His death, there could be none after the soldier had thrust the spear into His side. Here are the pieces of fine linen, which gentle hands had wound, round the limbs. Here is the napkin which covered His face, lying, neatly folded, by itself. Look closely at the place, for He was here - He was dead.
It is very important that we get this truth well fixed in our minds, for on Christ's death our redemption depends. But He is not now in His grave. There is no dead form lying there where He lay yesterday. The grave is empty, and it whispers a blessed truth to the Christian.
Jesus rose; so shall all who sleep in Him rise from their graves when He comes again.
April 3
But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him. - Luke 24:16
There is a picture of a woman in great sorrow. She is sitting beside the sea, looking out upon the dark waters, which have swallowed down her heart's treasures. Close behind her is an angel with his harp, whose strings he is gently touching. But the woman is not aware of the angel's presence and is uncomforted by the music of the celestial harp.
So it ofttimes is with mourners when Jesus Himself comes to give them consolation. In their grief they are unaware of His presence and deaf to His words of love.
We go afar in quest of Christ, while all the time He is close beside us. "Sir Launfal wandered over all the earth in search of the Holy Grail; and when at last, after long years had flown, he returned aged and bent to his old home, lo! there under his own castle walls did he find the object of his search.
So often we will find close by us, in the Scriptures we already possess, in the circumstances in which we are placed, the help we are seeking and the truth we need."
April 4
They constrained Him, saying, Abide with us. - Luke 24:29
If they had not thus constrained Him, He would have passed on.
Think what the disciples would have missed in the blessed revealing at the table if He had not gone in with them. We do not know how many of the best things of divine love we miss continually because of the languidness of our praying.
We ask and receive not, because we ask with so little urgency. We seek and find not, because we seek so languidly and give up so soon. We knock, and the door is not opened to us, because we knock only lightly and indifferently, and then go away.
This incident suggested the words of the hymn with which we are so familiar:
"Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!"
April 5
They came, … bringing the spices, which they had prepared. - Luke 24:1
They supposed that His body still lay in the tomb, and they wished to honor it. It was a beautiful sentiment which sought thus to show love's tender regard for the departed. It was fitting to pile fragrant spices in the tomb, to fill the place with their sweet odors.
In like manner, friends lay in our own time. Sometimes, it is true, this manner of honouring the dead runs to excess. Yet the custom is too beautiful to be lost. Let us make them only fit expressions of regard and affection.
Then let us not forget to put flowers upon the pathways of our friends while they live. It is a poor affection that allows hearts to starve for want of kindness through the years, and then send flowers to be laid on the coffin. It is pleasant to remember that Mary broke her alabaster box to anoint Him beforehand for His burying.
April 6
That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. - John 21:7
We all have some friend whom we can identify anywhere by his acts.
Among a hundred voices we know the voice of the one who is dear to us. Even the step on the street or on the pavement outside we know from within, though we see not the face or the form, and our heart promptly says, "That is his step."
Are we so quick to recognize Christ by the blessings He brings to us? Every success in business ought to awe and impress us and lead us to say, "It is the Lord." Every time a blessing comes to us we ought to remember that there is an unseen One standing veiled close beside us, That it is Jesus Himself from whose hands the gift of love comes. Indeed, He is in every providence of our lives.
Some of these providences are dark and perplexing, yet always the strange Form, standing in the dim twilight, is the Lord. Do we always recognize Him? If we did, would it not ofttimes quiet our fears and bring peace to our hearts?
April 7
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. - Matthew 6:20
The first way to lay up treasures in heaven is to give ourselves to Christ.
We then shall have an inheritance laid up there, reserved for us, to be given to us when we get home. Another way is to live a life of love. If we serve those who need in the name of Christ, we shall receive a reward. Thus we lay up treasure in heaven in every act of self-denial, in every service of love. If we have our treasure in heaven we need not be anxious.
Jesus says that God cares for the birds, and He will much more surely care for His children. He bids us live by the day, not vexing ourselves about tomorrow's needs, for when to-morrow comes it will bring its own supply and its own blessing.
Some people take a great deal of trouble in looking after other people's lives. Jesus tells us that we really have nothing to do with the faults and mistakes of others. We do not have to answer for them. The only person we should judge is ourself. If we keep our own life right, we shall have quite enough to do.
April 8
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons. - Acts 1:7
The disciples were anxious to know about the future, to have a sort of programme or chart of the coming years. They were somewhat inclined to speculation.
Jesus taught them that they had nothing to do with the times and seasons, which were in the Father's authority. They did not need to trouble themselves about these things.
The lesson is important for all of us. There are things it is better we should not know beforehand. Indeed, it is a merciful provision that we cannot see into the future. If we could see the sorrows, struggles, defeats, and trials that we shall have to meet before we get home, our bright days would be saddened by anticipation of these things.
As it is, we go on, unconscious of shadows that lie before us, living as if all are clear and bright, trusting God for the future. Then when we come to the hard points, God gives us grace to meet them. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
April 9
They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. - Acts 2:4
It was a stupendous event that occurred on the day of Pentecost. It was the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in every human heart that will receive Him.
It was not a wind that made the sound the disciples heard - it was the breath of God breathing upon the little company. It was not fire which sat upon their heads, but an appearance, "like as fire," which really was the flame of the divine Spirit, touching and consecrating the believers in Christ.
The explanation of the wonderful scene is given in the words, "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost." The breath of God meant life, and the fire of God meant cleansing, quickening, and transformation.
What took place that day may become true of every one of us today - we may be filled with the Holy Spirit. If we are, we shall speak the speech of love, of grace, of peace. It is the duty of every Christian to be filled with the divine Spirit. Then we shall have power, and our lives will begin to be blessings in the world.
April 10
Such as I have give I thee. - Acts 3:6
The lame man, in asking alms, thought only of receiving bits of money. It seemed kindness to give him what he asked. There were no hospitals or homes in those days for the crippled, and the only way for them to live, if poor, was to beg.
Christianity teaches us that we should be kind to all in distress. Peter and John did not fail in this duty. First, they treated him in a Christian way.
A Russian writer tells of meeting a beggar on day. He felt in all his pockets and then said, "I am sorry, brother, that I have nothing to give you." The beggar thanked him and said he had done more for him than if he had given him silver: he had called him "brother."
These apostles treated the lame man as a brother. Then, instead of giving him silver and gold, they healed him. Was not that better than any alms they could have given? Money would have supported him a little longer in his beggary - what they did made it unnecessary for him to sit at the gate begging any longer.
April 11
We cannot but speak the things, which we have seen and heard. - Acts 4:20
One of the Beatitudes is, "Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you." The first Christians very soon had opportunity to receive this blessing. Their behaviour in persecution has its lessons for us. One is that we should give to Christ the honor of all that we do.
Another lesson is, that we should always take our commands from Christ and from no other. The apostles were bidden to speak no more in Christ's name. Their answer was heroic: "We cannot but speak."
We may find it hard sometimes to obey Christ - it is easier to keep silent than to speak for Him. But we have no choice if we would remain loyal to Him.
We have also here a lesson in prayer. The apostles did not pray to be delivered from suffering. They prayed that they might have power to speak the word with boldness. We should not pray to be kept from suffering, but that we may be brave and loyal in His service.
April 12
Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. - Acts 4:35
The law of Christian love is the law of Christian life. He who loves Christ will love his brother also. This law of love ruled in the first Christian society.
"The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul." They were bound together as members of one family. This was not merely in sentiment, but it took a very practical form, for "not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own."
This does not mean that all property rights were surrendered, but that if one had need the other had plenty shared what he had with him. Any case of distress of which we become aware makes its appeal to us and we must consider it. A little child was overheard saying in her evening prayer: "Lord, I saw a poor little girl to-day. Her feet were almost on the ground. She looked cold and hungry. But, Lord, it isn't any of my business - is it?"
But it is our business when we find any one suffering or in distress. We are to bear each other's burdens.
April 13
That at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. - Acts 5:15
The incident of Peter's shadow illustrates the power of unconscious influence.
It was not the shadow that had healing power, but the people's faith that in this way God would work cures. Every one carries about him an invisible shadow which affects the lives on which it falls. If our lives are true and good, our influence is good. But if our lives are not good, we still have influence, and in this case it is baleful.
There is a legend of a good man for whom was asked some new power. He chose that he might do a great deal of good and might not be aware of it. So it was ordered that when his shadow fell behind him, where he could not see it, it should have healing power, but when it fell before him, so that he could see it, it should have no such effect.
If we would have our influence full of healing, a blessing to others, we must be humble and lowly, earnest believers in Christ, full of the Spirit of God.
April 14
They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. - Acts 7:59
Stephen's speech was only a fragment. The members of the court listened quietly until he came to speak of the temple. Stephen saw the outbreak coming and hastened to his charges against the rulers. In contrast with the rage of the judges, Stephen's calmness was remarkable. He looked up into heaven with steady gaze, and had a wonderful vision. The heavens were opened, and he saw Jesus. He was standing, having risen up to deliver and help His servant on the earth.
Heaven is not far from earth, and Christ is nigh when we are in trouble.
The court became a wild mob, and Stephen was dragged out and stoned. As the stones were hurled at him, he sank upon his knees and prayed. He called upon Jesus to receive his spirit. For a Christian, dying is only the spirit passing into the hands of Christ. After that he prayed for his murderers. Then he fell asleep. One man who saw all this never forgot it - Saul.
April 15
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? - Acts 9:6
The story of Paul's conversion is wonderful. He was the fiercest of the persecutors.
When he set out for Damascus he was "breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples." Yet the picture of Stephen's murder never faded from his vision, and at last did much to bring him to Christ's feet.
"Saint, did I say? With your remembered faces,
Dear men and women, whom I sought and slew.
Ah! When we mingle in the heavenly places,
How will I weep to Stephen and to you!
"Oh for the strain that rang to our reviling
Still, when the bruised limbs sank upon the sod!
Oh for the eyes that looked their last in smiling,
Last on this world here, but their first on God!"
It is earnestness like Paul's that the Church needs to-day.
April 16
Peter passed throughout all quarters. - Acts 9:32
It is a great thing to be an encourager of others.
Peter went about helping the new believers. There are always young Christians without experience who need just such aid. A brave word from one who is older gives them courage to go on. Peter "found" ?neas.
That means that he heard of his pitiful condition and sought him out. We should not wait till people ask for comfort and help. Peter kept himself in the background and said to the man, "Jesus Christ healeth thee." If we were to do all our Christian work in this way it would have far more power.
Dorcas had won a place in people's hearts by her kindness. She was "full of good works and alms-deeds which she did," She did not merely mean to do them - she "did" them.
In restoring her, Peter first bade her arise, and then gave her his hand to help her rise. This is important in all our helping of others. We must give our hand as well as speak the word of power.
April 17
The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king. - 2 Samuel 2:4
David had been a long time in preparation for his place.
When only a boy he was anointed, but he was not fit then to be a king. He was taken to Saul's court, where he learned much about the ways of kings. The envy of Saul seemed a bitter thing to break into such a happy career as David's. But this too had its place in his training. It taught him patience and self-control. It forced him out among the people, away from luxury and refinement, into caves and mountains, where he learned how the common people lived, and was taught sympathy with men in their hardships and trials.
He was a better king afterward, because of his long years of persecution and exile. In these and in other ways was David made ready for his duties as king.
We must not think it strange if we are called to endure trials, temptations, hardships, and suffering in our earlier years, for it is in this way that God would train us for noble character and for larger usefulness.
April 18
The king said, … Where is he? … Then king David sent, and fetched him. - 2 Samuel 9:4-5
This showed David's disinterestedness. This poor lame man could not be of any use to him. It was the pure friendship of David's heart for Jonathan that hungered to show kindness to some one who had belonged to Jonathan.
Friendship is true just in proportion as it is disinterested. If we care for a person and do things for him only for what we expect or hope to get in return, let us not desecrate the sacred name of friendship by applying it to our regard. We must love our friends for their sake, not for our own.
There is really very much disinterested love in this world. We see it in many homes where an invalid wife, child, brother or sister, is loved and cared for by the whole household with almost divine tenderness.
The misfortune that mars the beauty and makes the loved one a burden, not a help, only makes the love the stronger, truer, gentler. All friendship must have the same disinterestedness.
April 19
Absalom rose up early. … Thy matters are…right; but there is no man deputed… to hear thee. - 2 Samuel 15:2-3
Absalom perverted good things to base and ignoble uses. For example, early rising is a good thing, when one rises to begin a day of beautiful living. Absalom rose early to ply his arts of treachery.
Sympathy is a good thing. One can do no Christlier work than to go among those who are overwrought, speaking cheering, strengthening words. To take by the hand one who has fallen in some misfortune, and be a brother to him, helping him to rise; is a noble thing to do.
But Absalom only pretended to be the people's friend that he might get their confidence and then use them in his wicked plot to seize his father's throne. He lost no opportunity, when any one was dissatisfied, to pity him, and hint how different it would be if only he were king.
There is no baser treachery than this, and we all need to be on our guard continually, lest, by half-conscious disparagement, we destroy the influence of others and do them irreparable injury.
April 20
He … charged him to build an house for the Lord. - 1 Chronicles 22:6
David was an old man about to die. He had to leave unfinished the great work on which he had set his heart.
So Moses died on the pledge of the Promised Land. Raphael's wonderful painting of the Transfiguration is an unfinished work. Buckle, the historian, dying in the midst of his years, cried out, "My book! - My book!" He had planned a great history of civilization, of which two volumes only were finished. Disraeli, though full of years and of honors, was heard to utter as his last words, "I am overwhelmed!" He was thinking of the great purposes of his life not yet achieved.
So David was not permitted to see his life-span accomplished.
It is a great comfort to a good father to have a son to whom he can commit his unfinished work, with confidence that the trust will be faithfully executed. It ought to be the highest ambition of the sons of a good father to continue his influence and his work, to build up the house he has planned.
April 21
Thou hast showed unto Thy servant David my father great mercy. - 1 Kings 3:6
Solomon felt an obligation to be worthy because of the blessing God had shown to his father. We often talk of the responsibility of parents for their children, but we should think also of the responsibility of children for their parents.
Before David died he gave Solomon some advice: "Be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man, … that the Lord may establish His word which He spake concerning me." The fulfillment of God's promises to David would depend upon Solomon's faithfulness. What David had done was but the beginning; it was Solomon's mission to take up and continue his work.
An honoured parentage is a good heritage. It puts one under tremendous responsibility, too, for its blessings are a sacred trust, which must be kept unsullied, and accounted for. To be unfaithful in such circumstances is not only to leave our work undone, but to mar, possibly destroy, the good work of others, which had been put into our hands to finish.
April 22
When Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire. - 1 Kings 9:1
There is a measure of moral safety in work.
While Solomon was busy he was in less danger of being led away from God. At length, however, his magnificent projects were all completed, and he was ready to enjoy the ease and the fame, which he had earned in his years of wonderful activity.
Instead, however, of being a time of security, this was his time of greatest danger. There is peril in popularity. It brings flattery, which ofttimes becomes almost adoration. One who is so honoured does not always remain humble and lowly. Then Solomon's leisure brought danger. So Solomon was now in a perilous condition. He was not conscious, however, of his danger, and this made it all the worse.
Life is full of unsuspected perils, and our safety lies in committing the keeping of our souls to God, who sees every hidden peril. Then, if we would help toward our own security, we must keep hand and heart full of the Master's work.
April 23
For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth. - Proverbs 3:12
We are apt to put it just the other way.
"My father does not love me, or he would not be so severe with me," a boy says. Then he points to another boy whose father lets his son do as he pleases, and never restrains or corrects him. "That father loves his boy, and is always kind to him," he says.
So it may seem just at the time. But to be left without discipline, to have no chastening, no correction, no restraining or withholding, is not proof of love. A father who does this with his son is letting him go to destruction unhindered. The one who corrects and chastens is intent on saving his son. Chastening is, therefore, a proof of love. God chastens us because He wants to save us and make something of us.
It should be a comfort to us to know, when we have trials or afflictions, that instead of being a proof that God does not love us, it is just the reverse - a new assurance of our heavenly Father's tender affection and deep interest in us.
April 24
He saith unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you fishers of men. - Matthew 4:19
We must be ready to break any ties which Christ bids us to break, in order to become one with Him. We must become His disciples before we can become workers.
The first thing always is personal attachment to Christ, the disengaging of ourselves from all other masters, and the devoting of ourselves altogether to Him.
When we have entered His company we receive from His hand a work to do. The world is like a deep, black sea, its black waters of sin being full of lost souls. The work of Christ and His followers is to draw these lost ones out of the dark floods and save them.
Sometimes the waters in which these lost ones lie are very foul, but we ought not to shrink from our work on this account. Christ Himself went down into the blackest waters of sin to find and save the lost. Once He drew out a "woman that was a sinner"; another time it was a publican; and again, it was a thief dying on a cross.
April 25
A prophet hath no honor in his own country. - John 4:44
Those who live in familiar relations with the great or the good are least likely to recognize the elements of greatness or goodness in them. Many of the men whose names shine in the galaxy of fame, and whose work lives in the world with undying influence, had little honor from those among whom they walked, and perhaps would have little honor to-day if they were to return and live among us.
We ofttimes fail to recognize the true worth of our best friends while they stay with us.
It is not until she is gone out of the home that a mother's real value is appreciated. The same is true of each member of a household and of each friend upon whom we lean much and whose life is a great deal to us. Jesus walked among the people, taught, wrought miracles, and lived out His sweet, beautiful life of love, but they failed to see the Messiah in Him.
"He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not."
April 26
My Father worketh even until now, and I work. - John 5:17
God keeps no Sabbath. He never ceases to be active. The worlds do not stop in their orbits to rest when the holy day begins. The grass does not stop growing, the flowers do not cease to bloom, the wheat does not pause in its ripening when the day of rest comes.
There is no Sabbath-keeping in God's providence. His care for His children does not intermit when the Sabbath dawns upon the world. The people found fault with Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath.
This was His answer: "My Father worketh even until now - has never ceased to work in blessing and helping His creatures." Then He added, "And I work."
This was in answer to the charge that He had broken the Sabbath in healing the man. We also get here a hint of the kind of works that are right for us to do on the Lord's Day. There is not a shadow of defence here for ordinary secular work on the Lord's Day, but works of mercy, of religion, we may do on the day of rest.
April 27
The Father… hath given all judgement unto the Son. - John 5:22
It is a precious comfort to us, as we think of the Judgement Day, to know that the Judge on the throne will be the same Jesus who died for us, who wears still and shall then wear our nature. We need not fear Him who once died for love of us.
If we are His friends now and here, confessing Him before all men, He will be our Friend then, and will confess us before His Father and the angels.
We must remember that He who is to be our Judge makes common cause with the lowliest of His people, and will say to them, "I was an hungered and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was sick, and ye visited Me"; or, "I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was sick, and ye visited Me not."
We need to watch how we treat the lowliest of our fellow-men.
"Hush, I pray you!
What if this friend should happen to be - God?"
April 28
Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to them that were set down. - John 6:11
We ought to pray continually that Christ's touch may be upon us and upon the things we are doing.
It is instructive to think of the responsibility of the disciples that day. If they had merely fed themselves with what Jesus gave into their hands, the hungry thousands would not have been fed.
It is just as important that we, into whose hands Christ gives the blessings of the gospel, shall pass them on to those who are round us. If we only feed ourselves, take the comfort and the grace for our own lives, and do not pass on the broken bread, we have disappointed Christ and have failed in our duty as His helpers and co-workers.
Or if the disciples had begun feeding the people with what they had, without bringing it to the Master, it would not have gone far. We must bring our paltry resources to Christ, and put them into His hands. When we have done this, no one can tell the measure of good which may be wrought.
April 29
Work… for the meat, which abideth unto eternal life. - John 6:27
Bunyan gives a picture of a man with a muck-rake, working hard, scraping up the rubbish under his feet, not seeing the crown that hangs in the air above his head.
It is a picture of many people in this world. They are toiling and wearing out their life in gathering rubbish out of the dust, not thinking of the divine gifts, the spiritual things, that are in Christ, and which they might have with half the toil and care.
"Bubbles we buy with a whole soul's tasking;
‘Tis heaven alone that is given away,
‘Tis only God may be had for the asking."
We ought not to spend our life in picking up things we cannot carry beyond the grave. If we are wise, we shall seek rather to gather treasures we can take with us into eternity. When we take Christ into our heart, we eat the meat, which abideth unto eternal life.
April 30
The bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. - John 6:33
Nothing that grows out of the soil will feed our souls.
We were made for God, and must feed our immortal nature on heavenly bread. There is a story of a pilgrim, crossing the desert and famishing for bread, who came upon a bag of pearls lying in the sand. He hoped the bag contained food, and eagerly opened it. But he flung it from him in bitter disappointment, saying, "It is only pearls, and I am starving for bread."
What pearls are to a starving man - a bitter mockery - the riches and honors of this world are to a human spirit in its times of sore need, as when the sense of sin overwhelms the soul, when a great sorrow has come into the life. Nothing but bread will satisfy hunger. Nothing but Christ will meet the needs and cravings of a soul in its times of distress.
"Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distress'd?
‘Come to Me,' saith One, ‘and coming, be at rest.'"
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