April 18
The Pursuit, Peace, and Security of Believers
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Psalms 119:105.
It is impossible for us duly to estimate the numerous advantages associated with the service of God. Religion does for its possessor what nothing else can do. The passage before us gives a delightful view of its beneficial effects. Three things are here remarked of believers.
THE DISPOSITION THEY CHERISH. They love God's law. Let us inquire how they evince this love.
By searching its hidden glories. We must search the Scriptures, as we would dig in a mine in quest of the precious metal; or as we would seek some valuable article that we had lost.
By meditating on its important truths. If the Word of God is the food of the soul, spiritual meditation is that by which we digest it, and derive nourishment from it, as it is mixed with faith.
By practising his Divine precepts. It is not the bare knowledge of truth that can save the soul, but the inward experience of it, which will uniformly be attended with a practical regard to its holy dictates.
THE TRANQUILLITY THEY ENJOY. "Great peace have they."
They have great peace in possession. Conscience is pacified, and the mind is composed, because they are reconciled to God. The streams of peace may flow gently within, while the storms of sorrow are raging without.
They have greater peace in prospect. Here, though their sky has many a gleam of brightness, yet the gathering clouds sometimes almost overcast it in the shadows of darkness; but there the firmament shall be all light, and not a cloud or mist be seen; for there shall be no night there.
THE SAFETY THEY OBTAIN. "Nothing shall offend them," or be a snare or stumbling-block to them. Nothing that God does, or that man can do, shall really injure them; but all things shall work together for their good. Such are the advantages connected with true piety: may it be our happiness to realize them!
10*