Milo

July 6

“Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee.” (2 Chron. 20:12.)

A LIFE was lost in Israel because a pair of human hands were laid unbidden upon the ark of God. They were placed upon it with the best intent, to steady it when trembling and shaking as the oxen drew it along the rough way; but they touched God’s work presumptuously, and they fell paralyzed and lifeless. Much of the life of faith consists in letting things alone.
If we wholly trust an interest to God, we must keep our hands off it; and He will guard it for us better than we can help Him. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
Things may seem to be going all wrong, but He knows as well as we; and He will arise in the right moment if we are really trusting Him so fully as to let Him work in His own way and time. There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will.
—A. B. Simpson.
“Being perplexed, I say,
‘Lord, make it right!
Night is as day to Thee,
Darkness as light.
I am afraid to touch
Things that involve so much;
My trembling hand may shake,
My skilless hand may break;
Thine can make no mistake.’

“Being in doubt I say,
  ‘Lord, make it plain;
Which is the true, safe way?
  Which would be gain?
I am not wise to know,
Nor sure of foot to go;
What is so clear to Thee,
Lord, make it clear to me!’ ”

It is such a comfort to drop the tangles of life into God’s hands and leave them there.

6 JULY

A murderous heart

‘And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.’ Genesis 4:8
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Genesis 4:8–16

We have here the first effort of Satan to manifest his enmity against the servants of God. It is a specimen, or sample, of the religious history of mankind from the beginning to this day. We have the murder of Abel, the cry of his blood, the judgement of Cain.
The murder. Cain talked with Abel. The subject of the converse is not recorded. If we may conjecture from what we hear with our own ears, it is not improbable that Abel was reproached as a hypocrite, despised as an enthusiast and a bigot, and that Abel’s humble joy in the Lord’s acceptance and his steadfastness in preferring sacrifices with blood, together with the free and faithful advice he gave his brother to acquaint himself with God and be at peace, provoked Cain to slay him. Something like this may perhaps be inferred from the Apostle’s account of the cause (1 John 3:12). Now from hence we may observe for our own instruction the desperate wickedness of the heart. The carnal mind of Cain was enmity against God. He thought himself injured and affronted because Abel was preferred. His Maker was out of his reach and therefore he wreaked his displeasure against his faithful servant. Thus it is with all persecutors in whatever degree they are permitted to act. For thy sake we are killed [Romans 8:36]. If a person does not show any sign of the fear, love and image of God, he shall pass unnoticed; but if he does, he will be sure to meet with opposition.

FOR MEDITATION: We have likewise to encounter with the spirit of the world that knows not God, and cannot well bear with those who serve him according to the gospel. Through mercy we are exempted from those heavy sufferings by stripes, imprisonment and death, which many believers have been called to. Yet in one way or other, we experience what the Apostle says, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Unkindness and opposition we shall be sure to meet with, and often from our dearest friends (Matthew 10:35–36).
John Newton to William Wilberforce (the MP’s uncle), 4 July 1771

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 12 [1/4], GENESIS 4:8

July 5th

Don’t calculate without God

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5.

Don’t calculate without God.
God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the things we have calculated on without taking Him into account. We get into circumstances which were not chosen by God, and suddenly we find we have been calculating without God; He has not entered in as a living factor. The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in all our calculations.
In our religion it is customary to put God first, but we are apt to think it is an impertinence to put Him first in the practical issues of our lives. If we imagine we have to put on our Sunday moods before we come near to God, we will never come near Him. We must come as we are.
Don’t calculate with the evil in view.
Does God really mean us to take no account of the evil? “Love … taketh no account of the evil.” Love is not ignorant of the existence of the evil, but it does not take it in as a calculating factor. Apart from God, we do reckon with evil; we calculate with it in view and work all reasonings from that standpoint.
Don’t calculate with the rainy day in view.
You cannot lay up for a rainy day if you are trusting Jesus Christ. Jesus said—“Let not your heart be troubled.” God will not keep your heart from being troubled. It is a command—“Let not …” Haul yourself up a hundred and one times a day in order to do it, until you get into the habit of putting God first and calculating with Him in view.

July 5

“I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness … And I will give her her vineyards from thence.”
(Hosea 2:14, 15.)

A STRANGE place to find vineyards—in the wilderness! And can it be that the riches which a soul needs can be obtained in the wilderness, which stands for a lonely place, out of which you can seldom find your way? It would seem so, and not only that, but the “Valley of Achor,” which means bitterness, is called a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth!
Yes, God knows our need of the wilderness experience. He knows where and how to bring out that which is enduring. The soul has been idolatrous, rebellious; has forgotten God, and with a perfect self-will has said, “I will follow after my lovers.” But she did not overtake them. And, when she was hopeless and forsaken, God said, “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.” What a loving God is ours!—Crumbs.
We never know where God hides His pools. We see a rock, and we cannot guess it is the home of the spring. We see a flinty place, and we cannot tell it is the hiding place of a fountain. God leads me into the hard places, and then I find I have gone into the dwelling place of eternal springs.—Selected.

5 JULY

Heart failure

‘And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.’ Genesis 4:3–5
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Acts 5:1–11

You see, Cain’s religion was a bargain. He thought it no small matter that he would submit to bring a little of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. He expected to be highly commended and rewarded for it. And when he found that the Lord did not think so well of him as he did of himself, he was wroth, as if some great injury had been done. He disdained that Abel should be preferred to him, and upon this account he hated him and at length embraced his hands in his blood. You see then, under the appearance of Cain’s religion there was hid disobedience and pride in the sight of God, and hatred and malice against his brother. What wonder then, that it should be said of the Lord, who searcheth the heart, that to Cain and his offering he had not respect. This is the very picture of the spirit of self-righteousness in all ages—thus it acts towards God, opposing his will and yet expecting his favour—and thus it acts towards man, who dare not offer a service or allow themselves in a hope, but through the blood and mediation of Jesus. Be assured that the principles of Cain and Abel divide this assembly. If you are of Cain’s religion you have Cain’s spirit—you never found comfort in your way, and you are angry with those who hold to it in another way. Therefore you despise, perhaps revile, and probably if all restraints were taken away, you would think to do God service by putting those to death whom he loves.
But happy are you who are seeking salvation in Abel’s way, by blood—the blood of Jesus. It cleanseth from all sin [1 John 1:7]. He is able to save to the uttermost [Hebrews 7:25]. Believe and you shall be saved [Luke 8:12].
FOR MEDITATION:
The sacrifice the Lord ordained
Yet rage and envy filled his mind,
In type of the Redeemer’s blood,
When, with a sullen, downcast look,
Self-righteous reasoning Cain disdained,
He saw his brother favour find,
And thought his own first-fruits as good.
Who GOD’S appointed method took.

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 11 [4/4], GENESIS 4:3–5