September 14—Morning—John 4:4
"And he had to go through Samaria." — John 4:4

And what was it, blessed Jesus, that compelled You to this necessity? Was it because there was a poor adulterous woman there who needed Your grace, and the time had come for her conversion? What a sweet thought! Let me cherish it this morning. Wasn't there the same necessity for the Father, setting You up from everlasting as the head of Your church and people? Could there have been a church without You? And when Your church had fallen by sin, what archangel could have rescued her but You? Then surely there was a necessity that You should take on the nature of Your people and come to seek and save that which was lost.

And as it is said of You concerning this poor woman, that "He had to go through Samaria," so it must also be said that Jesus had to go to Jerusalem to save Jerusalem's sinners by His blood. Oh yes, there was a blessed necessity upon You, Lamb of God, that You should do all this. "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" My soul, indulge this precious thought further, and see if there is not a necessity in Your Jesus for countless other occasions.

Is there not a blessed necessity that Jesus should give out of His fullness to His people? Is there not a necessity, when His blessed gospel is preached, that He should be present to give power and effectiveness to the word delivered? Might not every poor, waiting, needy sinner say there is a blessed necessity for Christ to be here? Surely He is bound by His promise that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them; and therefore He will come, He will bless His word, He will give out of His fullness; for He knows my need and the need of all His people present.

Indeed, is not the glory of our Jesus dependent upon the receiving of His poor and making them rich by His bounty? Go one step further, my soul, this morning, as it concerns yourself. Does not Jesus know now your state, your want, your circumstances, and that you are waiting for your morning sustenance before you can leave His gate? Then is there not a necessity that He, who was compelled to pass through Samaria, should come to you? Precious, precious Jesus! I wait for Your coming; I long to hear Your voice. You know what I need. And as Your glory and my salvation are both intertwined, do for me, Lord, as will best bring about this one end, and all will be well. Jesus will be glorified, and my soul made happy. Amen.

September 14—Evening—1 Peter 1:12
"Which things the angels desire to look into." — 1 Peter 1:12

My soul, what an argument arises from this view of the angels of light being inquisitive about man's redemption to stir you up to the same most blessed contemplation! If, in the understanding of those intelligent and exalted beings, the subject is so glorious, what ought it to be to you? If, as the words suggest, they fix their closest attention and are lost in admiration, wonder, love, and praise; how is it that you, who are so deeply interested in this blissful theme, forget it, as you do for hours together, and, even when you think of it, contemplate it so very coolly? Oh, for grace more and more to study Jesus and His love, Jesus and His grace, Jesus and His great salvation!

But among the wonders of redemption, is there not one point (and as it concerns you, my soul, it is indeed a marvelous one) that may well call forth the greatest astonishment of the holy angels as they behold it? I mean, as they see the glory of your Jesus advanced, not only when poor sinners praise Him for what He is in Himself and what He is to them, but when their emptiness, poverty, needs, and wretchedness provide the rich opportunity for the Lord Jesus to get glory in giving out of His fullness.

Here, surely, angels may well desire to look into the cause and be lost in contemplation. And, as it concerns you, my soul, how must the angels, "who are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation," how must they stand amazed when they see your Lord waiting to be gracious to you, even at the very time when you would exhaust every patience but His, "in wearing Him out with your iniquities?" And how must their angelic minds feel amazed that Jesus should get glory from such a poor, worthless worm as you are, in making the riches of His grace shine upon you, while thousands, no less undeserving, do not know Him and are unacquainted with His grace and mercy!

Oh, gracious Lord! How is it that You manifest Yourself to me in a way different from how You do to the world? You angels of light! You ministering spirits of my God! Join with me in praising my Lord's graciousness to such a sinner; for, surely, your high, intelligent minds cannot but be lost in admiration when beholding the abounding of grace exceeding even the abounding of sin, and, in my case, surpassing "as the heavens are higher than the earth."

by Robert Hawker