ISAIAH I.
I.—Feed an ass once, and he will know the place again. Feed a sinner all his life, and you only make him more capable of rebellion (verses 2 and 3.)
II.—There are no wounds smart like those given by God’s rod (verses 6 and 8.)
III.—Sin manufactures dunces so stupid, that even God’s rod cannot mend them (verse 5.)
IV.—Religion without piety sickens God (v. 11, 14.) There are folk in church and chapel more hateful to God than those in the public-house.
V.—Sin is dirt (verse 16.)
VI.—God can bleach even crimson-dyed hands (v. 18.)
VII.—Those who are strong to sin shall burn in a fire hotter than their lusts, and more quenchless than their hatred to goodness (verses 28 and 31.)
VII. LEAPING AND PRAISING.
Acts iii, 8.
Little did the lame man’s friends think that this was the last time they should ever carry their dear one to the spot where he begged his bread. Perhaps you have offered your last prayer to-day for some one’s salvation. He may come home to say, “Carry me no more, but let me walk with you to heaven.”
No one could blame the poor fellow for being excited. He had never walked before, and the delight he felt made him use his new found strength. You see he has dropped his crutches. Anyone could light the fire with them now, he needed them not. Reader, do you still use spiritual crutches? Why not look for the fulfilment of the prophet’s words, “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart.”
He entered with them.
He could not have been persuaded to leave them; indeed, we read of him further on standing with the apostles when they were brought before the magistrates. It is a good sign when men stay with those who were made a blessing to them. If Methodism had with her to-day all she has lifted from poverty and degradation, she would need neither testimonials nor benefactors.
VIII. “THE LORD HATH NEED OF HIM.”
Mark xi, 3.
What! of an Ass? Yes, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world.” He gets renown to Himself by “using things which are despised.” Let us never despair of the most foolish of men, if he become the servant of Jesus. It is said of the great John Hunt, that when a young man, he gave no promise of the talents he shewed in the work of the Ministry. We have spoken with one who knew him before his conversion, who made us smile as he described his gait and style of life. Yet this ungainly ploughboy became a man whom to know was to admire. It was in Christ’s hands, though, he improved so greatly.
Does the Lord really need an Ass? Yes. The Scriptures foretold that Jesus should come “riding upon an ass.” Is it not beautiful to think of the poor despised Ass fulfilling so grand a prophecy? “The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth.” We may help that on. Will the young men and women who read this bear in mind that no one ever used this ass till Jesus did? Why should He not be the first to use you? “What!” say you. “Do you compare us to an ass?” Well, if we do, the Bible is before us. “Man be born like a wild ass’s colt.” And, if you have not remembered the claims God has upon you, the poor ass has the best of it, for the Lord says “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his Master’s crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Have you
noticed that unconverted men and women are pictured in Exodus xiii. 13, where you see a young ass with his neck broken? The Lord needs you that He may redeem you from your fate, and that you may be spared to bear his yoke.
Is not the best way to elevate men, to let the Lord have the use of them? However coarse and mean we are by nature, He can refine and elevate us. And any part of our life that is in danger of baseness may be lifted to beauty and blessing by putting it under the Christ. What a change came over this animal in one short day! An ass in the morning, but the
Throne of God
before the sun went down!
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