June 25

" J esus said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”"

Mark 2:17

Men are not sinners because they sin. They sin because they are sinners. Therefore the sin question must be settled first of all before there can be a new order of society which will answer to the mind of God. Nor are men divided by the Lord into classes of little sinners and great sinners, but, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); therefore all need the same salvation.

Religious forms and ceremonies are powerless to effect the salvation of the soul. The new robe of righteousness is offered in place of the filthy rags of self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6; Isaiah 61:10). No patching-up process will do. The new wine of the gospel received into the believing heart will give new power in the life. Between salvation by grace and attempted salvation by human effort there can be no compromise.

I need Thee, precious Jesus!

For I am full of sin;

My soul is dark and guilty,

My heart is dead within.

I need the cleansing fountain

Where I can always flee,

The blood of Christ most precious,

The sinner’s perfect plea.

I need Thee, blessed Jesus!

For I am very poor;

A stranger and a pilgrim,

I have no earthly store;

I need the love of Jesus

To cheer me on my way,

To guide my doubting footsteps,

To be my strength and stay.

I need Thee, blessed Jesus!

And hope to see Thee soon,

Encircled with the rainbow,

And seated on Thy throne:

There with Thy blood-bought children,

My joy shall ever be

To sing Thy praise, Lord Jesus,

To gaze, my Lord, on Thee!

—Frederick Whitfield