October 14

Morning

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. — Phil 3:8

Saving knowledge of Christ, will be a personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person’s acquaintance with Him. No, I must know Him myself; I must know Him on my own account.

Saving knowledge of Christ, will be an intelligent knowledge. I must know Him, not as the visionary dreams of Him but as the Word reveals Him. I must know His natures, divine and human. I must know His offices—His attributes—His works—His shame—His glory. I must meditate upon Him until I am “able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love; and know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge!”

Saving knowledge of Christ, will be an affectionate knowledge of Him. Indeed, if I know Him at all, I must love Him. An ounce of heart knowledge—is worth a ton of head learning!

Saving knowledge of Christ, will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Savior, my mind will be full to the brim—I shall feel that I have that which my spirit panted after. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again!”

Saving knowledge of Christ, will be an exciting knowledge. The more I know of my Beloved, the more I shall want to know. The higher I climb—the loftier will be the summits which invite my eager footsteps. I shall want the more—as I get the more. Like the miser’s treasure, my gold will make me covet more.

To conclude, saving knowledge of Christ Jesus will be a most happy one. In fact, it will be so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows! And it will, while I enjoy it, lift me above troubles—for it will fling about me the immortality of the ever-living Savior, and gird me with the golden belt of His eternal joy. Come, my soul, sit at Jesus’ feet and learn of Him all this day!

Evening

And be not conformed to this world. — Rom 12:2

Reader, would you wish to leave this world in the darkness of a desponding death bed, and enter eternity as a shipwrecked mariner? Then be worldly! Join up with Mammonites, and refuse to go outside the camp bearing Christ’s reproach.

But would you have a heaven below—as well as a heaven above? Would you comprehend with all saints, what are the heights and depths, and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge? Would you receive an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord? Then come out from among them, and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing!

Would you attain the full assurance of faith? You cannot gain it while you commune with sinners. Would you flame with vehement love? Your love will be damped, by the drenchings of godless society. You cannot become a great Christian—you may be a babe in grace but you never can be a perfect man in Christ Jesus—while you yield yourself to the worldly maxims and lifestyles of the world. It is bad for an heir of heaven to be a great friend with the heirs of hell. It has a bad look when a courtier is too intimate with his king’s enemies.

Even small inconsistencies are dangerous. Little thorns make great blisters. Little moths destroy fine garments. Little frivolities and little rogueries will rob a Christian of a thousand joys. O professor, too little separated from sinners—you know not what you lose by your conformity to the world. It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep—where you ought to run. Then, for your own comfort’s sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you are a Christian—be a Christian and be a marked and distinct one!