God is My Inheritance
Wednesday, June 22
"The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; You have been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." (Psalm 16:5)
This is what everyone receives who gives up himself. How can it be called "giving up," when infinitely more is received in return? To Abraham God said: "I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15:1)
Now "If you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)
That is, you are "heirs of God,"--not of His possessions, but of himself. Think what it means to have God for your portion,--to inherit His life and character,--until the greatness of the thought fills your soul.
A Goodly Heritage
Thursday, June 23
"The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." (Psalm 16:6)
Here we have the idea of our inheritance surveyed, and our portion allotted us. The lines have been run, and there is nothing to hinder us from taking possession of our "goodly heritage."
How extensive is it? It includes all creation; for "in Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17)
This is why the Christian will not contend for his rights; there is nothing to fight for, because he has all things in God, and no one can deprive Him of God.
Immovable
Friday, June 24
"I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psalm 16:8)
Who has power to "set the Lord" always before him? Can anybody move the Lord about at will? Can one bring the Lord down from above, and set Him at his right hand? Certainly not: but one can recognize the abiding presence, and be established by it, as no one can who does not know that the Lord is in the place.
Be sure that if God is at your right hand, He will take hold of it: that is the reason why you will not fall. No matter where we are, even though it be "in the uttermost parts of the sea," (Psalm 139:9) even there shall His right hand hold us.
Unshaken as the sacred hills,
And fixed as mountains stand,
Firm as a rock the soul shall rest.
That trusts the Almighty hand.
--Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David (1719), Psalm 125: "The Saint's Trial and Safety."
The Path of Life and Joy
Sabbath, June 25
"You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)
If God is always before us, even at our right hand, and there is "fullness of joy" in His presence, surely we ought always to be full of joy. And so we should, if we only in our minds set Him always before us. Our joy is full when we have "fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)
This joy comes from seeing and knowing the Word of life. This is the path of life, for the living Word is both the water and the life. When God shows us the path of life, it is only that we may walk in it; and if we walk in the path of life we must surely live.--Medical Missionary, Daily Bread, June 1904--Psalm 16:5,6,8,11.