The Twenty Eighth Day of October.
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SINS OF IGNORANCE.
"And it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance." - KJV
"They shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake." - ESV - Numbers 15:25.
Because of our ignorance we are not fully aware of our sins of ignorance.
Yet we may be sure they are many, in the form both of commission and omission. We may be doing in all sincerity, as a service to God,
that which He has never commanded, and can never accept.
The Lord knows these sins of ignorance every one. This may well alarm us, since in justice He will require these trespasses at our
hand; but on the other hand, faith spies comfort in this fact, for the Lord will see to it that stains unseen by us shall yet be washed
away. He sees the sin that He may cease to see it by casting it behind His back.
Our great comfort is that Jesus, the true priest, has made atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel. That
atonement secures the pardon of unknown sins. His precious blood cleanses us from all sin. Whether our eyes have seen it and wept over it,
or not, God has seen it, Christ has atoned for it, the Spirit bears witness to the pardon of it, and so we have a three-fold peace.
O my Father, I praise thy divine knowledge, which not only perceives my iniquities, but provides an atonement which delivers me from
the guilt of them, even before I know that I am guilty.
The Twenty Ninth Day of October
MAINTAIN THE DIFFERENCE.
"And I will put a division between my people and thy people:
tomorrow shall this sign be." - KJV
"Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen." - ESV - Exodus 8:23.
Pharoah has a people, and the Lord has a people. These may dwell together, and seem to fare alike, but there is a division between
them, and the Lord will make it apparent. Not for ever shall one event happen alike to all, but there shall be great difference between the
men of the world and the people of Jehovah's choice.
This may happen in the time of judgments, when the Lord becomes the sanctuary of His saints. It is very conspicuous in the conversion
of believers when their sin is put away, while unbelievers remain under condemnation. From that moment they become a distinct race, come
under a new discipline, and enjoy new blessings. Their homes, henceforth, are free from the grievous swarms of evils which defile and
torment the Egyptians. They are kept from the pollution of lust, the bite of care, the corruption of falsehood, and the cruel torment of
hatred, which devour many families.
Rest assured, tried believer, that though you have your troubles you are saved from swarms of worse ones, which infest the homes and
hearts of the servants of the world's Prince. The Lord has put a division; see to it that you keep up the division in spirit, aim,
character and company.
The Thirtieth Day of October.
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THOROUGH CLEANSING.
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all
your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." - KJV
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you." - ESV - Ezekiel 36:25.
What an exceeding joy is this! He who has purified us with the blood of Jesus will also cleanse us by the water of the Holy Spirit.
God hath said it, and so it must be, "Ye shall be clean." Lord, we feel and mourn our uncleanness, and it is cheering to be assured by
thine own mouth that we shall be clean. Oh that thou wouldst make a speedy work of it!
He will deliver us from our worst sins. The uprisings of unbelief, and the deceitful lusts which war against the soul, the vile
thoughts of pride, and the suggestions of Satan to blaspheme the sacred name - all these shall be so purged away as never to return.
He will also cleanse us from all our idols, whether of gold or of clay: our impure loves, and our excessive love of that which in
itself is pure. That which we have idolized shall either be broken from us, or we shall be broken off from it.
It is God who speaks of what He Himself will do. Therefore is this word established and sure, and we may boldly look for that which it
guarantees to us. Cleansing is a covenant blessing, and the covenant is ordered in all things and sure.
The Thirty First Day of October
IMMORTAL TILL WORK DONE.
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." - KJV
"I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord." - ESV - Psalm 118:17.
A fair assurance this! It was no doubt based upon a promise, inwardly whispered in the Psalmist's heart, which he seized upon and
enjoyed. Is my case like that of David? Am I depressed because the enemy affronts me? Are there multitudes against me, and few on my side?
Does unbelief bid me lie down and die in despair - a defeated, dishonored man? Do my enemies begin to dig my grave?
What then? Shall I yield to the whisper of fear, and give up the battle, and with it give up all hope? Far from it. There is life in
me yet: "I shall not die." Vigor will return and remove my weakness: "I shall live." The Lord lives, and I shall live also. My mouth shall
again be opened: "I shall declare the works of Jehovah." Yes, and I shall speak of the present trouble as another instance of the
wonder-working faithfulness and love of the Lord my God. Those who would gladly measure me for my coffin had better wait a bit; for "the
Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death." Glory be to His name for ever! I am immortal till my work is done.
Till the Lord wills it no vault can close upon me.
GLORY BE TO HIM WHO WILL GUIDE ME HERE, AND
RECEIVE ME HEREAFTER. AMEN.
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