Milo

March 18

“He answered nothing.” (Mark 15:3)

THERE is no spectacle in all the Bible so sublime as the silent Savior answering not a word to the men who were maligning Him, and whom He could have laid prostrate at His feet by one look of Divine power, or one word of fiery rebuke. But He let them say and do their worst, and He stood in THE POWER OF STILLNESS—God’s holy silent Lamb.
There is a stillness that lets God work for us, and holds our peace; the stillness that ceases from its contriving and its self-vindication, and its expedients of wisdom and forethought, and lets God provide and answer the cruel blow, in His own unfailing, faithful love.
How often we lose God’s interposition by taking up our own cause, and striking for our defense. God give to us this silent power, this conquered spirit! And after the heat and strife of earth are over, men will remember us as we remember the morning dew, the gentle light and sunshine, the evening breeze, the Lamb of Calvary, and the gentle, holy heavenly Dove.
—A. B. Simpson.

The day when Jesus stood alone
And felt the hearts of men like stone,
And knew He came but to atone—
That day “He held His peace.”

They witnessed falsely to His word,
They bound Him with a cruel cord,
And mockingly proclaimed Him Lord;
“But Jesus held His peace.”

They spat upon Him in the face,
They dragged Him on from place to place,
They heaped upon Him all disgrace;
“But Jesus held His peace.”

My friend, have you for far much less,
With rage, which you called righteousness,
Resented slights with great distress?
Your Saviour “held His peace.”
—L. S. P.

I remember once hearing Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota, so well known as “The Apostle of the Indians,” utter these beautiful words: “For thirty years I have tried to see the face of Christ in those with whom I differed.” When this spirit actuates us we shall be preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an easy-going tolerance, from passionate vindictiveness and everything that would mar or injure our testimony for Him who came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
—W. H. Griffith Thomas.

18 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)

Waiting on God in secret

‘But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.’ Matthew 6:6
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Matthew 6:5–18

Prayer is the ordinance in which we have most immediate access to God. It is the most spiritual part of worship, which is the reason why our carnal hearts are most averse to it. In conversing and hearing, it is more easy to keep up some attention without the actual exercise of grace. And therefore we find many ready enough to talk with Christians, or to hear sermons, who know but little of waiting upon God in secret. To keep up this communion, the soul must be habitually disposed to seek the Lord for his own sake. In prayer, if spiritually performed, we turn our backs upon creatures, and call home our thoughts to fix them immediate upon God in Christ, as seated on his throne of glory. It seems plain therefore that this exercise is especially suited to engage our hearts. Hence they that live much in prayer may be said to live much with God, and as frequency of visits gives acquaintance and freedom, they are most in the way of receiving special manifestations from him. On this account, I would remark that though it is very desirable to maintain a praying frame at all times and in all places, so as to be able to lift up our hearts to him in spontaneous and secret prayer—in our common occasions, and as we are walking in the streets—yet it is our wisdom to be punctual in observing set times of approaching him. There are some great ends in prayer, particularly the contemplation of his glory, which seem to require a retired and solemn attendance upon him.

FOR MEDITATION: Think of him as often as you can; make a point of praying to him in secret, remembering that when you are most alone, he is still with you. When you pray, endeavour simply to express your wants and feelings just as if you were speaking to me. Fine words and phrases, some people abound in; but true prayer is the genuine language of the heart, which the Lord understands and accepts, however brokenly expressed. The woman of Canaan only said, ‘Lord, help me!’ The publican’s prayer was almost as short, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner’; and both were heard.
John Newton to his niece, 23 October 1783

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 3 [2/4], LUKE 9:29

March 17th

The worker’s ruling passion

Wherefore we labour, that, … we may be accepted of Him. 2 Cor. 5:9.

“Wherefore we labour …” It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right. Once a week at least take stock before God, and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.
Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says—Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it into subjection and keep it under. (1 Cor. 9:27.)
I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?

March 17

“Be thou there till I bring thee word.” (Matt. 2:13)

“I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I will, dear Lord,
Though I wanted so badly to go;
I was eager to march with the ‘rank and file,’
Yes, I wanted to lead them, You know.
I planned to keep step to the music loud,
To cheer when the banner unfurled,
To stand in the midst of the fight straight and proud,
But I’ll stay where You’ve put me.

“I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I’ll work, dear Lord,
Though the field be narrow and small,
And the ground be fallow, and the stones lie thick,
And there seems to be no life at all.
The field is Thine own, only give me the seed,
I’ll sow it with never a fear;
I’ll till the dry soil while I wait for the rain,
And rejoice when the green blades appear;
I’ll work where You’ve put me.

“I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I will, dear Lord;
I’ll bear the day’s burden and heat,
Always trusting Thee fully; when even has come
I’ll lay heavy sheaves at Thy feet.
And then, when my earth work is ended and done,
In the light of eternity’s glow,
Life’s record all closed, I surely shall find
It was better to stay than to go;
I’ll stay where You’ve put me.”

“Oh restless heart, that beat against your prison bars of circumstances, yearning for a wider sphere of usefulness, leave God to order all your days. Patience and trust, in the dullness of the routine of life, will be the best preparation for a courageous bearing of the tug and strain of the larger opportunity which God may some time send you.”

17 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)

The dignity and privilege of prayer

‘And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.’ Luke 9:29
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 11:33–36

This change of our Lord’s appearance, when the beams of his glory shone through the veil of flesh which he assumed for our sakes, is called his transfiguration. Matthew and Mark say, He was transfigured before them [Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2]. Luke adds a farther circumstance which is worthy of our attention, that it took place while he was praying. If, as it is probable, this was the subject of his prayer, that his glory might be manifested to his disciples, he obtained an immediate and signal answer, and no wonder, for he is always heard. He never asked in vain. Here lies the safety and comfort of his people, that he has engaged to intercede for all that come unto God by him, and therefore, because he pleads their cause, they cannot be overpowered. But our Lord, when in the action of prayer while he was upon earth, may be considered not only as their Advocate, but their Exemplar and Pattern. He commanded them to pray, he taught them to pray, and he added force to his precept by his own example. And he gave them here a great encouragement to persevere in prayer and that they might hope that when they drew near to God in duty, he would draw near to them, for as he prayed, he was transfigured. In this view I shall propose one observation for our improvement at present, before I come to consider the transfiguration itself. Prayer is the great instituted means of impressing the soul with such a sense of the glory of God as transforms it into his resemblance and raises it to a kind of transfiguration. Or, the sweetest and most transforming impressions of divine things are usually afforded in a season of prayer. As it was with the Head, so it is with the members: while they are praying they are transfigured.

FOR MEDITATION: Many arguments may be offered to enforce this practice of prayer—from duty, as we are the Lord’s creatures; from necessity, as we depend upon him for our continual support—but this argument arising from the dignity and privilege should have an especial weight with all who have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 3 [1/4], LUKE 9:29