Daily Devotional for June 3

“These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.”
1 Chronicles 4:23

Potters were the very highest grade of workers, but “theking” needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service, although thematerial upon which they worked was nothing but clay. We, too, may be engaged in the mostmenial part of the Lord’s work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for“the king”; and therefore we will abide in our calling, hoping that,“although we have lien among the pots, yet shall we be as the wings of a dovecovered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” The text tells us of thosewho dwelt among plants and hedges, having rough, rustic, hedging andditching work to do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life, society,and refinement, but they kept their appointed places, for they also were doing theking’s work. The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of whim and caprice, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside. These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they dwelt “with the king” and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king there. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean, can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or jails, we may go with the king. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesus’ fellowship. It is when we are in his work that we may reckon upon his smile. Ye unknown workers who are occupied for your Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills ere now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell ye with the King for his work, and when he writes his chronicles your name shall be recorded.

“He humbled himself.”
Philippians 2:8

Jesus is the great teacher of lowliness of heart. We need daily tolearn of him. See the Master taking a towel and washing his disciples’ feet!Follower of Christ, wilt thou not humble thyself? See him as the Servant of servants, andsurely thou canst not be proud! Is not this sentence the compendium of his biography,“He humbled himself”? Was he not on earth always stripping off first one robeof honour and then another, till, naked, he was fastened to the cross, and there did henot empty out his inmost self, pouring out his life-blood, giving up for all of us, tillthey laid him penniless in a borrowed grave? How low was our dear Redeemer brought! Howthen can we be proud? Stand at the foot of the cross, and count the purple drops by whichyou have been cleansed; see the thorn-crown; mark his scourged shoulders, still gushingwith encrimsoned rills; see hands and feet given up to the rough iron, and his whole selfto mockery and scorn; see the bitterness, and the pangs, and the throes of inward grief,showing themselves in his outward frame; hear the thrilling shriek, “My God, my God,why hast thou forsaken me?” And if you do not lie prostrate on the ground beforethat cross, you have never seen it: if you are not humbled in the presence of Jesus, youdo not know him. You were so lost that nothing could save you but the sacrifice ofGod’s only begotten. Think of that, and as Jesus stooped for you, bow yourself inlowliness at his feet. A sense of Christ’s amazing love to us has a greater tendency to humble us than even a consciousness of our own guilt. May the Lord bring us in contemplation to Calvary, then our position will no longer be that of the pompous man of pride, but we shall take the humble place of one who loves much because much has been forgiven him. Pride cannot live beneath the cross. Let us sit there and learn our lesson, and then rise and carry it into practice.