The Medical Missionary, vol. 13
September 1904
“Daily Bread for Christian Workers” The Medical Missionary 13, 9.
E. J. Waggoner
Thursday, September 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.
In order to understand any given problem, the first principles involved in it must be grasped; in order to get at the truth of any matter of report, we must trace it back to the beginning; and in like manner we must begin at the beginning if we would know the history and mystery of all things that engage our attention in the world. That beginning is the Word of God. In the light of the Word, and in that alone, all history and science may be understandingly studied. Unto this Word we do well that we take need. MEDM September 1904, page 283.1
Friday, September 2. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. MEDM September 1904, page 283.2
We should do well often to stop with the first four words of this verse, and meditate upon them: “In the beginning God.” That is the sum of everything. All faith is contained in those words; for “he that cometh to God must believe that he is.” To worship God continually with all the heart, as the self-existent One, is the sum of all religion. The fulness of the Gospel message, which prepares those who accept it for the coming of Christ, is “Fear God, and give glory to him: ... and worship him that made the heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” MEDM September 1904, page 283.3
Sabbath, September 3. He is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is... the beginning. Colossians 1:17, 18. MEDM September 1904, page 283.4
This the complement of the first words in the Bible: “In the beginning God.” The reader will understand that since Christ said, “I and my Father are one;” and, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” we do not have to discriminate when reading, and think, “This refers to the Father,” and “This refers to the Son.” Without explanation we may say, “He is the beginning.” He was in the beginning, as he was the beginning. And what he was, he is. He is the beginning. Everything that exists now has him for its beginning. There is not a plant, a beast, or a bird, or a man, that does not come as really from the hand of God as did everything referred to in Genesis 1. All things begin and continue in him. The beginning of all true scientific research is God; and whenever we trace anything back to its ultimate elements we find God. MEDM September 1904, page 283.5
Sunday, September 4. These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Revelation 3:14. MEDM September 1904, page 283.6
Not the first created being, but the beginning of all creation. “For in him were all things created,” and “he is before all things.” He is the Creator, not one created. He is the Amen. “Amen” means, “so let it be;” it is and shall be so. In the work of creation God said, “Let such and such a thing be,” “and it was so;” and “it was so” in Him who is the Amen. This shows us how any and every moment may be a new creation for us; for He who is the Amen is the beginning: and whenever we receive him as our beginning, we are new creatures. MEDM September 1904, page 283.7
Monday, September 5. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. MEDM September 1904, page 283.8
The Greek word rendered “among” is “en,” the primary and common meaning of which is “in.” While the rendering “among” in this place can not be condemned, the rendering “in” can not by any means be excluded, and is much to be preferred as better expressing the meaning. Christ dwells among us, only because he dwells in us-in humanity. He dwells in every man, “full of grace and truth;” and the just condemnation of sinners is simply this, that they “hold down the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18). But those who know his name as “God with us,” must trust in him and “show forth his goodness from day to day.” MEDM September 1904, page 283.9
Tuesday, September 6. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for [or upon] grace John 1:16. MEDM September 1904, page 283.10
Here we have at once the incentive to righteousness, and the means for its accomplishment. We have not to ask God to do some new thing for us, and then wonder if he will do it, but we have simply to accept and rest in what has already been done. His divine power has already given to every one of us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness;” and we have but to allow the word to run in ue unhindered, in order that it may be glorified in our salvation. MEDM September 1904, page 284.1
Wednesday, September 7. In him [the Word] was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4. MEDM September 1904, page 284.2
“That which was from the beginning” was the word of life. (1 John 1:1.) He is the light of the world, because he is the life of the world. Since his life is light, we may know that wherever there is any light, there is his life. That this life is real light, by which we see, is demonstrated in John 9. Jesus saw a man who was born blind, and, saying, “As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world,” he immediately caused the man to see. The light which is so pleasant to our eyes, and so essential to our life, is the life of the Lord; so near is he to every one of us. MEDM September 1904, page 284.3
Thursday, September 8. The entrance of thy word giveth light. Psalm 119:105. MEDM September 1904, page 284.4
That which was from the beginning was the Word of life, and the life was the light of men; therefore, whenever the word of God is received, there is light within. People sometimes speak of having received light on the Word, or some portion of it, so that they understand it; but that is a mistake. If they received light, it was from the word, and not on it; for God’s word is the only light to our feet and lamp to our path. How necessary, then, that we hide the word within us. By so doing we shall not only have light, but shall be light. MEDM September 1904, page 284.5
Friday, September 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9. MEDM September 1904, page 284.6
Christ is the light of the world. No man has any light whatever that is not the light of His life and there is no man that has not in coming into the world received his portion of that light. God is no respecter of persons, and he has given all people an equal chance for life and salvation. There are many who walk in darkness, and who will be destroyed for lack of knowledge of the light of life; but it is only because they have covered up the light that is in them. MEDM September 1904, page 284.7
Sabbath, September 10. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5. MEDM September 1904, page 284.8
This is the message for all time, which is to be given to the world. It is the same as that given in Isaiah 40: “Behold your God!” How shall we behold him?-By opening our eyes. And then when our eyes are opened, we must remember that we are sent to the people as was Paul, “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. The light is come, and it shines for all, “whosoever will” may enjoy it. MEDM September 1904, page 284.9
Sunday, September 11. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness overcame it not. John 1:5, R.V., margin. MEDM September 1904, page 284.10
The word “comprehend,” which used in the old version of this text, used now only metaphorically, concerning the mind, which seizes a statement and makes it its own. Hence, it no longer conveys the meaning of the Greek word which John used, which is that of enclosing, shutting in, as in Isaiah 40:12. We must, therefore, employ apprehension, seize, or overcome, to express the meaning of the text. The darkness can not shut the light in. Light triumphs over darkness. Light is life, and life can not be conquered by death. Truth is sure to triumph over error. The man who holds fast to the light of God’s word need not trouble himself about consequences. MEDM September 1904, page 284.11
Monday, September 12. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6. MEDM September 1904, page 284.12
In the beginning, darkness was over the whole earth; God sent his word into the midst of the darkness, and thus causes the light to shine forth from it. The light shone out of the darkness. Even so our hearts are full of the darkness of sin; but God sends the light of the Word of life in, and the light then, if cherished will shine out. The light shines in for the purpose of giving light. To whom?-To others; for “no man liveth to himself.” God lightens our darkness, but only that we may be a light to others who sit in darkness. MEDM September 1904, page 284.13
Tuesday, September 13. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Colossians 3:16. MEDM September 1904, page 284.14
Mark the words: Let the word of Christ dwell in you. God puts it there; we are to allow it to remain there. “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldst say, who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” Deuteronomy 30:11-14. “And I know that his commandment is life eternal.” John 12:50. MEDM September 1904, page 284.15
Wednesday, September 14. Surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. Isaiah 40:7, 8. MEDM September 1904, page 285.1
Jesus who spoke not his own words, but the word of God, because he was the word of God, said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my word shall not pass away.” It can not pass away, because God is the Word. The Word was before all things, and by it and from it all things were created; so when all visible things wither and vanish away, the Word will still remain: and he who has built upon it will be able to stand forever. We are to be so firmly rooted and grounded in the Word that it will grow up into us, and permeate our being, creating us anew; and thus, the foundation and the superstructure being all one, we can no more be swept away than can the Rock of Ages. MEDM September 1904, page 285.2
Thursday, Sept. 15. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:25. MEDM September 1904, page 285.3
What word is it that is preached unto us in the Gospel?-The Word that was in the beginning; the Word that made heaven and earth, and all things in them; and that Word that upholds all things, and that endures forever. Whoever receives that Word must become a new creation, as surely as the heavens and earth sprang into existence at the sound of that Word in the beginning. MEDM September 1904, page 285.4
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord.
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word.”
MEDM September 1904, page 285.5
Friday. Sept. 16. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth. James 1:18. MEDM September 1904, page 285.6
The child does nothing in order to be born; but does many things because it has been born. Even so we can do nothing that will cause us to be born of God; but having been born of God, we must necessarily show forth the works of God. “As many as received him, to them gave gave he the right to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” MEDM September 1904, page 285.7
Sabbath, Sept. 17. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23. MEDM September 1904, page 285.8
That which was created in the beginning has been marred, corrupted, and ruined, and must be made new again, in order that God’s work shall not be lost. The Gospel announces the new creation and how it is effected. Therefore, the Gospel reveals the Word that created in the beginning; for only that which created can re-create. This Word is the seed whence every plant on earth grew (Genesis 1:11), and it is that also which became flesh, making a perfect man. Therefore, when this incorruptible Word abides in us, there will be for us a continual new birth or new creation. MEDM September 1904, page 285.9
Sunday, Sept. 18. When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. MEDM September 1904, page 285.10
It is the Word of righteousness that works righteousness. Only the Word of God can really work that is, it alone can do work that will abide. Our ability to do effective work depends on the Word of God abiding in us; and then it is not we that work, but the Word of God. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness,” because believing is receiving. MEDM September 1904, page 285.11
Monday, Sept. 19. I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. MEDM September 1904, page 285.12
Human knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. It can not be repeated too often that there is no power but that of the Word of God. No real work is done except by that word. Where the Word of God is not regarded, all that seems to he accomplished will sooner or later be found to be nothing. The house that is built upon the rock of God’s word stands, because it is the foundation-the living Word-that makes the building, and the two become one. MEDM September 1904, page 285.13
Tuesday, Sept. 20. The word of God is living and active. Hebrews 4:12. MEDM September 1904, page 285.14
What, then, must be the condition of one who is built upon the Word, and built up by it, and in whom the Word dwells, so that he is transformed and born again by it, becoming wholly of the nature of the Word?-Simply this, that he will be living and active. He must live, and he must work; and his work will abide. No one born of the Word can be an idler; he will work from the love of work. Instead of having to drive himself to work, he will always be fresh and eager for it. MEDM September 1904, page 285.15
Wednesday, Sept. 21. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:2. MEDM September 1904, page 286.1
Milk is the life of the newborn babe; it turns to it as naturally as it breathes, and grows by it. Nothing else can fully supply its place. Even so the newly-born child of God must earnestly desire the pure milk of the Word, and must feed freely upon it, or else he will not, grow. “l have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you.” That is what gives strength. MEDM September 1904, page 286.2
Thursday, Sept. 22. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But solid food is for full-grown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13, 14. MEDM September 1904, page 286.3
Milk is good and absolutely necessary for babes; but it is not the nourishment for full-grown men. By feeding on milk, babes develop teeth as they grow; and the appearance of teeth is an indication that now they must take solid food, instead of milk. There are many Christians who never get beyond infancy. They want everything made so easy for them that they can swallow it without chewing, that is, without thought. For that reason they never grow strong. Unless we exercise all our faculties, we shall lose the use of them, and then, instead of being active factors in the world’s work, we are burdens to be carried. MEDM September 1904, page 286.4
Friday, Sept. 23. Wherefore let us leave the word of the beginning of Christ, and press on unto perfection. Hebrews 6:1. MEDM September 1904, page 286.5
This does not mean that we are to forget or ignore any portion of the Word, or anything that pertains to Christ. The young student of mathematics should very quickly get past the first principles; for if he continues working in notation and numeration, simple addition, etc., he will never amount to anything, And yet, however far he advances in mathematics, whatever abstruse problems he solves, he must always make use of those first principles, and of those only. The most profound problems consist only of simple principles in various combinations. So as we leave the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on unto perfection, we leave them only in the sense that we do not use them detached, but in combination. The man who eats hard food, instead of milk, does not reject any element that is in milk, but gets it all and more. MEDM September 1904, page 286.6
Sabbath, Sept. 24. Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isaiah 28:9. MEDM September 1904, page 286.7
Nothing is more nearly perfection than a little child in its mother’s arms; yet if it remains the same, and no change takes place in it, after the lapse of years it is most imperfect and repulsive. Continued perfection depends on growth and constant change. The infant, in order to receive knowledge, must cease to be an infant. It must be weaned, and must learn to feed upon solid food, suitable for the nourishment of its body to the measure of the stature of a perfect man. This applies in the spiritual realm, as well as in the physical. MEDM September 1904, page 286.8
Sunday, Sept. 25. He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God. John 3:34. MEDM September 1904, page 286.9
What else should he speak? If one is sent with a message for another, he has no business to speak his own words; his sole business is to give the message of the one who sent him. Even so with those whom the Lord sends forth as his ambassadors. It is true that our text refers primarily to Jesus Christ: but it also applies to all his followers; for he says, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Since we are to speak only the words of God, it follows that we should give great heed to know just what they are. MEDM September 1904, page 286.10
Monday, Sept. 26. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Peter 1:11. MEDM September 1904, page 286.11
From Acts 7:38, where we read that in Mount Sinai Moses “received the lively oracles to give unto us,” we know that the oracles of God are the ten commandments. If any one speak, then, he is to speak as authoritatively, and words that are as true and lasting, as the law of God. This is the same as saying that if one has not such words in him, and is not sure that his words are as true as God’s words, and are indeed that word, he should keep still. How much less we should talk, and how much more we should say, if we always remembered this commandment. MEDM September 1904, page 286.12
Tuesday, September 27. God “Confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers.” Isaiah 44:26. MEDM September 1904, page 287.1
God’s word is forever “settled in heaven;” it “can not be broken;” though heaven and earth should pass away, his word can not fail. Even so sure does God make the words of his servants. It can not be otherwise, because they speak the words of God. With what confidence, then, can the servants of the Lord speak, and how boldly they may meet the world. Whatsoever the church speaks, whether it consist of one member or a thousand, is sealed in heaven only when the word that it speaks first came from heaven. When men speak God’s word, whatever they say will most surely be performed. MEDM September 1904, page 287.2
Wednesday, September 28. Thy words were found, and I did eat them: and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord. Jeremiah 15:16. MEDM September 1904, page 287.3
It is by no means a mere figure of speech when the Scriptures represent the word of God as food. It is from God’s word that everything comes. His word is seed that was sown in the beginning, that the earth might bring forth grass, herbs, and trees bearing fruit. “The good seed is the word of God.” But only a small fraction of God’s word is in the food that he gives us; and this is given to us in so tangible and visible a form, in order that we may learn how richly we may live if we feed on all the word. Our daily bread is given, that we may know that “man doth not live bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” MEDM September 1904, page 287.4
Thursday, September 20. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live. Isaiah 55:3. MEDM September 1904, page 287.5
As the Word of God is living, and is life itself, so it gives life to all who receive it. The hour “now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” “The dead know not anything:” all their senses have utterly departed: yet they can hear the voice of God calling to them, and, hearing it, they live, and recover all their lost faculties. Since this is the case with those who have died, and returned to dust, what an immeasurable difference there must necessarily be between the life and activity of the already living one who hears and receives the word, and the one who heeds it not. Do our lives testify to the world that we have heard the Word of God? MEDM September 1904, page 287.6
Friday, September 30. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24. MEDM September 1904, page 287.7
Wonderful promise! Most comforting assurance! Death and the judgment are as though they were not to the one who knows this truth. The sting of the one and the terror of the other are removed for him. Though he walks in the valley of the shadow of death, he has the light of Iife, and he is exempt from the call to judgment because Christ has answered for him. MEDM September 1904, page 287.8
“God’s Almighty arms are ‘round me.
Peace, peace is mine:
Judgment scenes need not confound me:
Peace, peace is mine.”
MEDM September 1904, page 287.9