January 27

Morning

And of his fulness have all we received. — John 1:16

These words tell us that there is a fullness in Christ. There is a fullness of essential Deity, for “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.” There is a fullness of perfect manhood, for in Him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There is a fullness of atoning efficacy in His blood, for “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” There is a fullness of justifying righteousness in His life, for “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” There is a fullness of divine prevalence in His plea, for “He is able to save to the uttermost, all who come unto God by Him; seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.” There is a fullness of victory in His death, for through death He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the devil. There is a fullness of efficacy in His resurrection from the dead, for by it “we are begotten again unto a lively hope.” There is a fullness of triumph in His ascension, for “when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men.”

There is a fullness of blessings of every sort and shape; a fullness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve, and of grace to perfect. There is a fullness at all times; a fullness of comfort in affliction; a fullness of guidance in prosperity. A fullness of every divine attribute—of wisdom, of power, of love; a fullness which it were impossible to survey, much less to explore. “It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.” Oh, what a fullness must this be—of which all receive! Fullness, indeed, must there be when the stream is always flowing, and yet the well springs up as free, as rich, as full as ever. Come, believer, and get all your need supplied; ask largely, and you shall receive largely, for this “fullness” is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it—even in Jesus, Immanuel—God with us!

Evening

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. — Luke 2:19

There was an exercise on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being:

her memory—she kept all these things;

her affections—she kept them in her heart;

her intellect—she pondered them.

So that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard.

Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what He has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed and then let your fond affections hold Him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it is broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read—do not stop at the surface—dive into the depths! Do not be as the swallow which touches the brook with her wing but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord—let Him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarries for a night but constrain Him, saying, “Abide with us, for the day is far spent.” Hold Him, and do not let Him go!

The word “ponder,” means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? “He takes up the islands as a very little thing:” who shall take Him up? “He weighs the mountains in scales” in what scales shall we weigh Him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace Him in the arms of affection!