Milo

February 2

“In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft: in his quiver hath he hid me.” (Isa. 49:2.)

IN the shadow.” We must all go there sometimes. The glare of the daylight is too brilliant; our eyes become injured, and unable to discern the delicate shades of color, or appreciate neutral tints—the shadowed chamber of sickness, the shadowed house of mourning, the shadowed life from which the sunlight has gone.
But fear not! It is the shadow of God’s hand. He is leading thee. There are lessons that can be learned only there.
The photograph of His face can only be fixed in the dark chamber. But do not suppose that He has cast thee aside. Thou art still in His quiver; He has not flung thee away as a worthless thing.
He is only keeping thee close till the moment comes when He can send thee most swiftly and surely on some errand in which He will be glorified. Oh, shadowed, solitary ones, remember how closely the quiver is bound to the warrior, within easy reach of the hand, and guarded jealously.—Christ in Isaiah, Meyer.
In some spheres the shadow condition is the condition of greatest growth. The beautiful Indian corn never grows more rapidly than in the shadow of a warm summer night. The sun curls the leaves in the sultry noon light, but they quickly unfold, if a cloud slips over the sky. There is a service in the shadow that is not in the shine. The world of stellar beauty is never seen at its best till the shadows of night slip over the sky. There are beauties that bloom in the shade that will not bloom in the sun. There is much greenery in lands of fog and clouds and shadow. The florist has “evening glories” now, as well as “morning glories.” The “evening glory” will not shine in the noon’s splendor, but comes to its best as the shadows of evening deepen.

If all of life were sunshine,
  Our faces would be fain
To feel once more upon them
  The cooling plash of rain.

—Henry Van Dyke.

February 1

“This thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24.)

“Life’s disappointments are veiled love’s appointments.”—Rev. C. A. Fox.

MY child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from ME.
Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, “he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye” (Zech. 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isa. 43:4.) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.
I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the “enemy comes in like a flood,” that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.
Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.
Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.
Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil. 4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, “In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Deut. 1:32).
Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation (2 Thess. 2:16, 17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all-prayer.
This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.
—Laura A. Barter Snow.

“ ‘This is from Me’, the Saviour said,
  As bending low He kissed my brow,
‘For One who loves you thus has led.
  Just rest in Me, be patient now,
Your Father knows you have need of this,
  Tho’, why perchance you cannot see.—
Grieve not for things you’ve seemed to miss.
  The thing I send is best for thee.’

“Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
  ‘Dear Lord, forgive, I did not know,
’Twill not be hard since Thou dost tread,
  Each path before me here below.
And for my good this thing must be,
  His grace sufficient for each test.
So still I’ll sing, “Whatever be
  God’s way for me is always best.” ’ ”

5 FEBRUARY

Just wages

‘And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.’ Exodus 2:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 18:24–33

If you conscientiously endeavour to bring up your children for the Lord he will pay you your wages—you shall not lose your reward. Let us begin with the lowest first. Your children will love and reverence you. Even though you should not be so successful as you could wish, yet if you thus honour the Lord, he will honour you in your children’s eyes. You will generally see them preserved from those excesses which so often wound the hearts of parents. For though it is a true and common observation that grace does not run in the blood and good people have often wicked children, yet it will generally appear that when they break out very bad and profligate in youth, they have been spoiled and neglected in childhood. Who knows but you may be made instruments of the Lord to save your children’s soul—then with what joy will you meet at the great day. But if you will not bring them up for the Lord, you will bring them up for Satan—and what wages do you think you will receive (by God’s righteous judgement) from that hard master? You must expect they will despise your authority, fly in your face and wound your hearts by their disobedience. O what a heartbreaking hour will that be. Think what David felt for Absalom [2 Samuel 18:33].

FOR MEDITATION: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6).

My dear Eliza is still spared to me, and in her attention and affection I find the best substitute (in the removal of my dear wife) that the nature of the case can possibly admit. But it is to thy mercy and blessing that I owe her attention and kindness. Accept my praise. Above all I thank thee for the causes and tokens I have to believe that thou hast called her by thy grace. Lord, keep her as the pupil of thine eye, hide her under the shadow of thy wings, reward her for her attention to me in my old age, and after a short separation, at thine appointed time, may we meet in thy presence above to part no more.
Diary, 2 February 1801 [re his adopted daughter]

SERMON: EXODUS 2:9 [3/3]

4 FEBRUARY

Watch over your children

‘And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.’ Exodus 2:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Hebrews 12:4–12

Parents, being evil, know how to give good gifts to their children—the good things of this life—to feed, clothe them, and so on,—but to nurse and bring them up for the Lord signifies more:
(i) to endeavour to instil into them religious principles. I mean more by this than to teach them a catechism by rote as you would teach a parrot. They should be conversed with and every occasion laid hold of to explain and make them know that God sees and hears them, and that this God is only to be known and worshipped in Jesus.
(ii) to watch over and govern their temper—this is vastly needful, to take them while they are young—yet how sadly are they hurt by a fond and blind indulgence to their faults and humours. And if any correction or restraint is attempted, it is often in anger and heat, so that the end is not answered. It is but like Satan casting out Satan. If you do not bring in the authority of God and act in a spirit of meekness and steadiness, you may make them fear you, but you will do but little good.
(iii) to take care in particular that they attend on the worship of God on the Lord’s Day, and are not suffered to break the Sabbath. I am afraid many parents have much to answer for in this point. But almost all the evils and abominations to which youth are in time addicted enter at this door.
(iv) to set them a good example. Without this indeed the rest will ordinarily do little. But alas, for many poor children are forced to blush every day for the behaviour of their parents. If you love them, be careful of laying stumbling blocks in their way.

FOR MEDITATION: My dear child [Betsy], … When you read our Saviour’s discourses, recorded by the evangelists, attend as if you saw him with your own eyes, standing before you; and when you try to pray, assure yourself before you begin, that he is actually in the room with you, and that his ear is open to every word you say.… You are not speaking into the air, or to One who is a great way off; but to One who is very near you—to your best Friend.

SERMON: EXODUS 2:9 [2/3]

3 FEBRUARY

Nurture the rising generation

‘And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.’ Exodus 2:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 John 1–13

Though these words were first spoken on a particular occasion by Pharaoh’s daughter to the mother of Moses, yet they express the sense of God’s revealed will and command to all parents. And the subject is one of those which his ministers ought at times to press upon their hearers. And it is a point of much importance. The hopes of the church and nation depend upon the rising generation. The people of God are fewer, and dropping away daily. How little success the preaching of the gospel has upon those who are grown old and hardened in sin, experience shows. Surely except the Lord of hosts has a remnant among those who are growing up, we shall soon be as Sodom and be made like unto Gomorrah. And yet perhaps there is nothing in which believers are so generally negligent as in this. And though some of the chief arguments I would use can only be fully understood by believers, yet I will speak as much at large as I can, for it is a common concern, which all ought to lay to heart.
Children are the gift of God—when his hand is seen, and his glory regarded in them, they are blessings. You that have children, there was a voice with the providence; the voice said to you, take this child and nurse it for me. Bring it up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

FOR MEDITATION: Lord, do thou strengthen my hands, and water my poor endeavours, and grant that some of these little ones may look back with thankfulness to thee for these opportunities, when I am laid low in the dust.
Journal of children’s meetings at Olney, 28 March 1765

We, when companions together in youth, enjoyed the same scenes of childhood under the kind instruction of Good Mr Newton and have united in singing those sweet hymns in Dr Watts’s little book in the Great House Meeting as we used to call it. Those reflections were a source of comfort to her—your dear mother.31

[by a former member of the children’s meetings, c.1842]

SERMON: EXODUS 2:9 [1/3]