April 18

“But the priests the Levites . . . shall come near to me to minister unto me.” Ezekiel 44:15

One condition basic to all that can truly be called ministry to the Lord is that we draw near to him. He desires our worship; yet how hard we find it to drag ourselves into his presence! We shrink from the solitude, and even when we do detach ourselves physically from outside things, we find our thoughts wandering back to them. Many of us can enjoy working among people in the outer court, but how many of us give time to draw near to God in the Holy Place?

To come into his presence and wait upon him demands all the determination we possess, and even means that we may have to be violent with ourselves. But let me be very frank with you: it is impossible to stand afar off and yet minister to him. You cannot serve God from a distance, the outer court, quite rightly, you approach people; in the Holy Place you approach the Lord. Come nearer. It is your privilege.

April 17

“The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The Bible uses the name Christian, meaning; “Christ-man” or “Christ’s one,” but never does say “Jesus-man.” Jesus is a personal name whereas Christ is a name that is inclusive as was personal. The Christian is a part of Christ, member of the Body of which he is Head [1 Corinthians 12:12]. We rejoice to call our selves Christians.

The name Jesus applies essentially to the Son of man in his experience on earth. While Jesus lived here on earth, he revealed himself unique among all men in virtue and beauty.

None could approach him and none could united with him as Son of man. But the meaning of the name Jesus is also “savior.” He comes down to us to save us from our sins, and we can never unite with him in his saviorhood, by death and resurrection he has lifted us up to union with himself as the exalted Christ on the throne.

April 16

“He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32:8

In the centuries when China was strong, the was no opportunity for the progress of the gospel. Then came a period of a hundred yea when she was at her weakest. God in wisdom ordained this for the building of his Church. He was holding a door open for Chinese to find Christ. In relation to earthly nations and event the supreme question to ask ourselves is always how is the Church of God affected? This should be the direction of all our prayers with regard to world governments—not for or against one side or another, in politics or war, but for the will of God.

If all history is in relation to the Lord’s testimony, then we must know how to pray. It must be possible for British and German, Chinese and Japanese Christians to kneel together and pray together, and all say Amen. Our one appeal to God must be for a march of event that is of advantage to the testimony of his Son.

April 15

“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.” John 17:19

As the sinless Son of God, Jesus enjoyed a freedom far exceeding any we have on earth. There is much that we may not do or say because we are so full of defects and defilement, but that was never true of him. And yet, notwithstanding his faultlessness, he deliberately refrained from doing many things which for him would have been quite legitimate, from speaking many words which he might lawfully have spoken. And from taking many attitudes which he could justifiably have taken. These were some of the ways in which he “sanctified” himself, refraining from much that was lawful for his disciples’ sake.

What it means is that when holiness was in view, the Lord Jesus thought not merely of his own holiness but of ours. For our sakes he accepted limitations. The opposite of holiness is not sin but commonness. Commonness means: I do what is common practice to everyone. Holiness means: Others may do something but, in this instance at least, I may not. To sanctify ourselves is to accept restraint from God upon our spirits. As with the Lord Jesus, this may often be for the sake of others.