July 20

The holy Christian is stirred up by the Spirit of God to go from one aspect of worship to another, as a bee flies from flower to flower, to store up more grace.

The holy man does not seek God for an admirable reputation among Christians or for some sort of excitement. Instead, he is like the merchant who sails from port to port, not for sightseeing but for taking in costly pearls as he discovers them. And a Christian should be even more ashamed than the trader who returns home from his search empty, with no treasure.

Are you watching others grow rich in grace through their part in God's ordinances while you come away as a beggar? God sees a precious hunger in those who value Christ and His grace as the strongest need in their lives. "Ho, every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).

The Spirit of God alludes here to a custom in maritime towns-- when a ship came into port, her traders went about the village crying out the arrival of their goods: "All who want certain commodities, let them come to the waterside, where they can be bought for a price." Thus Christ calls everyone who sees his need of Him and of His graces to come to the ordinances, where these gifts can be had freely.

Holiness must be written upon the Christian's vocation as well as upon his religious services. The construction superintendent who observes the building code is as exact in framing the kitchen as he is the parlor; so by the law of Christianity we must be as precise in our wordly business as in the duties of worship. "Be ye holy in all manner of coversation" (1 Peter 1:15). We must not leave our religion, as some people leave their Bibles, on the pew at church.

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