Sitting at the Feet of Jesus.

IF we would be teachers of others, we must be learners ourselves. If we cease to keep our place at the feet of Jesus in prayer and meditation on His blessed word, we soon begin to think that we know something; but while sitting there we find and feel our own poverty and ignorance; yet what we do learn there, we learn to profit, and are encouraged to expect, and stirred up to ask, that more and more may be unfolded to us, by the Spirit, of the truth as it is in Jesus: our meditations of Him become sweet to the soul, and as we handle Him by faith our fingers drop with sweet-smelling myrrh (Song 5). This is needful, not for public teachers only, but for the present peace, the soul’s health, the real happiness, the joyful liberty of the most retiring and unobserved of God’s children. It is only in the measure that we are receivers, through the Spirit, of the fullness that is in Jesus, that we shall have anything profitable to say for Him in our private intercourse with men, whether converted or unconverted. Let not past failure discourage us. He giveth more grace. He upbraideth not, If in our own little measure we find it “more blessed to give than to receive,” what must be the joy of His heart to let His fullness flow into the channels which His grace opens in the contrite hearts of His redeemed―His brethren (John 20); hearts which long to know more of Him―which thirst for closer, and yet closer communion with Him in whose presence, now realized by faith, is fullness of joy (1 John 1:3, 43That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:3‑4)).