Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: May 17th

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me." - Revelation 3:19-20.

As many as I love. Is this the voice which has just been giving expression to such intensity of holy disgust? "Well may we marvel at the modulations of which it is susceptible. Ah, if there had not been love somewhere in thy heart, thou wouldst not have threatened the Laodiceans with ignominious ejection, but wouldst have cast them forth without any words of condescending reproach. Thou sawest how that confusion and alarm were being borne by thy words to their hearts, and how they began to exclaim, " Whither shall we flee from his presence? Who shall stand before him? For the day of his wrath is come." Thy words were mighty to tear down the palace of delight in which they had enshrined themselves; to tear it down for some at least. Even among these Laodiceans were some who had no idea of parting with Christ; and who, as soon as they saw that they had been building for themselves an edifice that Christ approved not, looked upon it with detestation, and loathed themselves for their inconsiderateness; they were appalled at the thought that Christ had perhaps had enough of them and had cast them clean off forever. So powerfully indeed was this view impressed upon them by the discovery of their folly, that they were fast giving way to a conviction that hope and they had parted company eternally. But the Saviour draws them from the brink of despair with the cords of love. " As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent."

Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men: The love of Christ constraineth us. To those that are lukewarm, both the language of stern rebuke and the language of encouragement are necessary. Without experience of his indignation, they will derive no profit from the exhibition of his love. Too many churches, perhaps, derive no benefit from the preaching of Christ’s love; from week to week, and from year to year, they only sink deeper in their spiritual apathy. They need to be brought acquainted with Christ’s glance of fire, and to get their own indignation against themselves kindled by his indignation. There is nothing like the mingled indignation and love of the Saviour, for inspiring the soul with a genuine zeal to do his will. The indignation does not diminish the love, for it is the indignation of love, of wounded love. And when the heart has begun to burn with a steady zeal, then the indignation may withdraw into the past, and be looked at by memory, and the soul’s uninterrupted experience be of love.

Well for us, if we allow ourselves to hear the chastening rebuke of Christ contained in his word, and do not constrain him to clothe it in afflictive providences. Let us beware how we hide our conscience from the light of any portion of God’s truth. At the door of many how long does Jesus stand and knock, while they hear not. They read, from time to time, the very words which express his deep dissatisfaction with the iniquity which they are regarding in their hearts; read, hear, but never discern the voice of Christ addressed to themselves. When in a rougher fashion he at length knocks at their door, they become aware that such a forcible appeal has been made necessary by their strange and long-protracted spiritual deafness.

It is the office of conscience to rebuke. It does this, not as the enemy of the soul, but as the guardian of the soul’s highest interests. It has, however, participated in the general ruin of our nature; and seldom speaks as the sincere servant of truth. But Christ is formed in us the hope of glory. Our conscience puts on Christ. The great need of the Christian is, that Christ and his conscience should be identified; that the rebuke of his conscience may ever be the rebuke of Christ. To this end let him give utmost heed to such rebukes; and by cords of love enchain his whole nature to the new Christ-conscience coming forth from the sepulcher of his dead nature.

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