the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. - 1 Timothy 1:11.
THE glory of the gospel is derived from its Author. It is the “testimony of Christ,” as it is called, “that has digged down the altars;” it is this which has rescued the captives; it is this which has destroyed the works of the devil; it is this which draws all to the side of Christ. What wonder that the angels, who are “proverbial for knowledge, yet make this the theme for study! They pass by the sun, and moon, and stars, to drop round the cross. They are nowhere represented as being philosophers or astronomers, but they are Christian students; they “desire to look into these things,”-“the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.”
Oh! the gospel dignifies every place it enters. Capernaum was a poor despicable fishing-town; but Christ preached in it, and hence he speaks of it as being “exalted to heaven.” When the gospel enters a country, it is said, “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Wherefore was this earth formed? and why is it perpetuated? Was it only to be a promenade for Satan, a laboratory for the chemist, a counting-house for the merchant, a field of battle and slaughter for the hero, a cabinet for the intrigues of princes, an observatory for the star-gazers? Was it for this that Christ rejoiced in its habitable parts?
No; but because the knowledge of him was to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea; because the mountains were to bring peace to the people, and the little hills by righteousness; because he should come down as rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth; because he should live, and to him should be given of the gold of Sheba; because his name should endure forever,- his name should be continued as long as the sun; men should be blessed in him, and all nations should call him blessed. And blessed be his glorious name forever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.
They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. - Luke 5:31.
OF what importance is it, therefore, that we should be fully sensible of the condition we are in! Unless we are conscious that we are suffering from a Spiritual disease ourselves, and are thereby in danger of perishing, we shall never be induced to seek of the Physician of souls a divine and everlasting cure. For this purpose let us consider, First, The complaint itself; and there is nothing so dreadful; no disorder of the body will bear any comparison with it. It vitiates our noblest parts; it destroys the beauty, strength, freedom, pleasure, and the activity and usefulness of the soul; and it exposes not only to a temporal, but to an eternal death.
Secondly, Let us consider the Physician to whom we are directed to apply. He has everything to recommend him. Job rejected his friends under the notion that they were physicians of no value. But the Lord Jesus is the very reverse of all this. He is infinitely able; no difficulty is too great for his skill; he never failed in any case yet which he undertook since the creation of the world. And he is equally willing. He performs all his cures “without money and without price.” He is always accessible, and is always condescending and affable, and ready to attend us. He has said, to encourage all applicants, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.”
Thirdly, Let us consider that the time of cure is limited, that it is short, and that it is very uncertain. It is only now that he addresses the question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” While there is life there is hope, physically and morally; but still there are favourable opportunities which may pass and never return. There are impressions that may be worn off, and there are convictions that may be starved for want of being cherished and sustained; and we know that at death all the opportunities of salvation are over.
Lastly, Let us remember, that neglecting to make application to this only Physician of souls, and rejecting the gracious remedy provided, will greatly aggravate the misery by which it will be succeeded.
