June 18

Morning

For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. — Isa 54:5 BSB

Jesus, the Redeemer, is fully ours and ours forever. All His roles—King, Priest, and Prophet—are held on our behalf. Every time we learn a new title for our Redeemer, we should claim it as our own, just as much as any other. The shepherd’s staff, the father’s rod, the captain’s sword, the priest’s mitre, the prince’s scepter, and the prophet’s mantle—all belong to us. Jesus has no honor or authority that He will not use for our blessing and no power that He will not exercise for our protection. His divine nature is an inexhaustible treasure for us. His humanity, too, is ours in all its perfection. Our gracious Lord imparts to us the spotless virtue of His flawless character, the merit of His faithful life, and the reward He earned through His perfect obedience and tireless service. He makes the unsullied garment of His life our beautiful covering, His glittering virtues our jewels, and the surpassing meekness of His death our glory. He leaves us His manger, where we learn how God humbled Himself to dwell with us, and His cross, where we learn how humanity can reach up to God.

Everything Jesus thought, felt, did, spoke, and prayed—every miracle He performed, every step He took—was for us. He walked the path of sorrow on our behalf and has given us the full reward of His labor as our heavenly inheritance. He is still just as much ours today as He ever was, and He is not ashamed to call Himself “our Lord Jesus Christ,” though He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ in every way and at all times is our Christ, forever and ever, to be enjoyed richly. O my soul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, call Him this morning, “my Redeemer.”

Evening

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved. — Song 5:1 BSB

The heart of the believer is Christ’s garden. He purchased it with His precious blood, and He enters it to claim it as His own.

A garden implies separation. It is not an open field or a wilderness—it is enclosed, walled off, or hedged in. How we wish we could see the wall between the Christian and the world made broader and stronger. It is sad to hear Christians say, “There’s no harm in this” or “There’s no harm in that,” trying to get as close to the world as they can. Grace is at a low ebb in any soul that raises such questions, seeking how far it can go in worldly conformity.

A garden is also a place of beauty, far surpassing the wild, uncultivated fields. The true Christian life should be more excellent than the life of the most moral person, because Christ’s garden should produce the finest flowers in all the world. Even our best efforts are poor compared to what Christ deserves, so let us not offer Him withered or stunted plants. The rarest, richest, and choicest lilies and roses should bloom in Christ’s garden.

A garden is also a place of growth. The saints should not remain undeveloped, always mere buds and blossoms. We must grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Growth should be swift where Jesus is the Gardener and the Holy Spirit is the dew from heaven.

A garden is also a place of solitude. The Lord Jesus wants us to reserve our hearts as a place where He can reveal Himself in a way that the world cannot see. O that Christians would spend more time in solitude, keeping their hearts more closely for Christ! Too often, like Martha, we trouble ourselves with many things, leaving no room for Christ, unlike Mary, who sat at His feet.

May the Lord send the sweet showers of His grace to water His garden today!