August 22—Morning—John 6:24

"Seeking for Jesus."—John 6:24.

This, my soul, should be your constant occupation, wherever you are, however engaged; whether going in or out; rising up or lying down; in public or private, in the church or marketplace; the closet, the family, the garden, the field, the house: the question ever arising in the heart should be—where is Jesus? Blessed Spirit, glorifier of my Lord, will you constantly stir this seeking for Jesus in my heart? Will you, Lord, give me every moment a sense of need, then a view of his fullness, suitability, readiness to impart; then bring Him, whom my soul loves, and me together; and then open a channel of communication by leading me forth in desire, and giving me faith to receive from the infinite fullness of my Lord, and grace upon grace?

Lord Jesus, I desire the grace to seek you as for hidden treasure. I would seek you, and you only, O my God! I would separate myself from all other things. It is Jesus my soul chooses, my soul needs. I would trust in nothing else. No duties, no works; neither prayers nor repentance; no, not even faith itself, considered as an act of my soul, shall be my comfort, but Jesus alone I would make my centre; and every thought, every affection, and every desire, like so many streams converging, should all pour themselves, like rivers, into the ocean of your bosom! And as a stream nearing the sea is propelled to merge into it, so the nearer my soul draws to the hour of seeing you, let my desires for you be more forceful and fervent.

Oh Lamb of God, grant that I may seek after you throughout life, pressing on from one ordinance to another; and when ordinances cease, and all outward comforts fail, then, Lord, may I gather up (as the dying patriarch did his feet in the bed) all my strength, and pour my whole soul into your arms, crying out, "I have waited for your salvation, O Lord."

August 22—Evening—Revelation 12:1

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."—Revelation 12:1.

My soul, just as the beloved apostle was invited to witness those precious visions that the Lord graciously revealed to him for the benefit of the church, so this evening, attend to his ministry and learn from this great wonder that John saw. Surely, the woman mentioned here represents the church, the Lamb's bride, clothed in her husband's righteousness; with the moon, symbolising the world’s reflection, under her feet; and the crown adorning her head symbolising how the church is made glorious by the ministry of the twelve apostles in the gospel of salvation. For what could be more fitting for the church to be crowned with than the blessed truths contained in their writings?

Now, my soul, as every representation of the church not only illustrates the whole body at large but also every individual member of that body, ask yourself: Has this wonder that John saw been worked in you? Are you clothed with the sun, even with Jesus, the sun of righteousness, in his garment of salvation? Have you risen, not in empty speculations or in any imagined achievements of your own, but in heavenly-mindedness after Jesus and devout communion with him, so that the earth, with all its fleeting beauties, is beneath your feet? Do you have such an appreciation of the blessedness and preciousness of the word of God, the gospel of your salvation, that it is dearer to you than gold, yes, than all the crowns of the earth?

Pause while these questions cross your mind; and surely, if the Lord, by the sovereignty of his grace, has worked such blessed effects in you, a great wonder has indeed been worked on earth, like that which John saw in heaven, and you may well stand amazed at the greatness and the distinguishing nature of salvation. "Lord, what am I, and what is my family?"

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Source:The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portion by Robert Hawker (today's blog post lightly modernized by Monergism)