August 18

This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 3:23.

THIS commandment is little thought of, and it is often despised by the many who talk much of their obedience: but it stands as a prominent command of the gospel; it stands at the entrance of the Christian life; and, until this command be complied with, we are neither in a disposition nor in a state properly to comply with any other, for we are not united to Christ, who is the head of influence as well as of empire. The Saviour, therefore, said, when the Jews asked what they must do that they might work the works of God, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

The elder brother said to the father, “I have never transgressed thy command at any time,” while at that moment he was filled with the most hostile disposition towards his father’s pleasure. Well, says the father, since you talk so much of your obedience, since you say you always obey your father, obey now, and go in and share with the family in the joy which arises from the recovery of my poor son and your brother: “For this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found.” He would not go in: he would have died,-yea, he would rather have perilled the salvation of his soul than have gone in.

There is an awful amount of enmity in the heart of the proud Pharisee against God’s sovereign method of salvation, and it is that which keeps him from submitting himself to the righteousness which is of God by faith. But, says the apostle, it is “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him. that justifieth the ungodly.” If we flee for refuge to the hope set before us, it shall be a security from all condemnation; and the question, therefore, is, How we feel disposed towards this command?-a command that requires self-annihilation,-a command that requires that we look to Jesus, and to say, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.”