Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: April 28th

Unskilful in the word. - Hebrews 5:13.

SOME persons are so ignorant and so unfamiliar with the sacred writings as not even to know what is the language of Scripture and what is not, when they hear it. Some are unskilful in finding it. How they fumble for parts of the Old Testament in the New, and for parts of the New in the Old! Some are unskilful in quoting it. Sometimes they misquote the meaning, frequently the words. Now, the meaning is unquestionably the main thing; but we love the very words, when they are the words the Holy Ghost uses.

Unskilful in defending it. A weak argument, instead of strengthening a good cause, always weakens it. It is like supporting a roof by a rotten pillar. How many doctrines are there which have been proved-that is, attempted to be proved-by passages of Scripture which have no relation to the subject! Persons have frequently endeavoured to prove the divinity of Christ by his miracles. He is divine, and we have proofs enough of it in his blessed book; but his miracles are proofs of his mission, not of his dignity. Moses performed miracles, but Moses was not divine; Paul performed miracles, but Paul was not divine.

Unskilful in applying it. “Who would give strong meat instead of milk to a babe?” says the apostle. “Who, instead of milk,” says Mr. Newton, “would give to a babe the bones of controversy, either to pick or to bite?” There are things in the Scripture “hard to be understood:” who would lead beginners to these? “Who,” as an old writer says, “would lead sinners to the university of predestination, before they have entered the grammar-school of repentance?” There are passages which regard the distressed and desponding; we should search after these, and ply them with such language as this:-“Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;” “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” It requires, as Isaiah says, “the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season.” But there are some who are unwise in applying it to themselves as well as to others. “There is no driving the dog out of the house,” says a quaint author, “without making the children cry;” but some do not want to drive him out, and therefore they endeavour to soothe him, and say, “l am not angry with you.”

So it is here: when hypocrites are unmasked, and when heartless professors of religion are denounced, how often are the humble and sincere ready to seize all this, apply it to themselves, and conclude that they have no part or lot in the matter, and that their heart is not right in the sight of God! The apostle, therefore, after having uttered some very faithful things against backsliders in this epistle, by a fine turn immediately says, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany salvation, though we thus speak.”

There are some who are exceedingly fond of applying things to others which are suited peculiarly to themselves. A good woman said to her minister one Monday, “Oh, sir, you gave it finely to Mrs. such-a-one yesterday.” He only wanted to say, but could not, “Dear madam, that was designed for yourself.” And then, lastly, how unskilful are many in perusing the Scriptures! They are babes, and we do not expect skilfulness from babes. Excellency in every department is commonly the effect of much application and toil, and is to be looked for in those who have their senses exercised and their faculties employed.

I will remember the works of the Lord. - Psalms 77:11.

THIS is not a natural resolution. Men naturally are for putting God out of their thoughts. God infinitely deserves our remembrance, and He is perpetually making us to remember. He says to us in his word and by all his works, “Behold me, behold me.” He pours a profusion of benefits around us, that we may be perpetually reminded of him; and when we forget him, he will employ other and painful methods to induce us to regard him. And when he is visiting us with chastisement, it is well if we remember him, and ask, “Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?” David, when in distress, and when his soul was cast down within him, says, “I will remember thee.” And so said Asaph, in the day of trouble, and when his “sore ran in the night.”

Whom ought we to remember? Whom can we remember so effectually when in distress as God? “He is,” says the Apostle, “the blessed God;” the original is “the happy God,” happy in himself, and the source of happiness to us. Therefore, when our soul is cast down within us, let us remember him-remember his power. Can anything be “too hard for the Lord? “Is he not able to do far more exceedingly abundant than we can ask or think? Let us remember his wisdom. He knoweth our soul in adversity. He knows what discipline we require. He knows “how to deliver the godly,” and how to make “all things work together for good.” Let us remember his goodness. “He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” There is a needs-be for these dispensations. If we should ever question whether he withholds anything for want of disposition to indulge, let us look at the cross. See what he has given us already. Let us remember that he “spared not his own Son,” but “gave him up for us all,” and will he not “with him also freely give us all things” that are necessary for our welfare? Let us remember his word. “This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickened me.” What provisions! what promises do we find here! how suited to our own case, and all-sufficient for our relief. Let us remember his covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure; and let us remember his providence.

O may we never forget that God is about our path, and while he is acquainted with all our ways, he is “performing all things for us.” In the midst of our fears, he is managing all our affairs, and caring for us, with infinite wisdom and kindness. Let us therefore remember the works of Him, without whom a sparrow falls not to the ground, and who numbers the very hairs of our head. It was thus David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.