the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
God commanded me to make haste. - 2 Chronicles 35:21.
VIEWING this as applying to Christians now, let us observe on what the command is founded. There is a distinction between moral and positive duties. Positive duties are right because they are commanded; moral duties are commanded because they are right. They are founded on the very nature of things. The apostle therefore says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” It is commanded, but it is commanded because it is right. We may, therefore, always be satisfied with the revealed will of God, because we are sure that it is founded on rectitude. And here the commandment of God with regard to the important concerns and interests we have mentioned, “to make haste,” is founded on three principles.
First, He commands us “to make haste,” because of the importance of the thing itself. It is not a trifle; it is our life. We cannot neglect it without infinite loss, and plunging ourselves into lamentation and mourning and woe. If religion be any thing, it is every thing; and if it is important at all, it is all-important, or, as the Saviour calls it, it is the “one thing needful.” “Godliness is profitable,” says the apostle,-profitable unto solitude, profitable unto society, profitable unto prosperity, profitable unto adversity, profitable unto life, profitable unto death. “Nay,” says he: “godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Secondly, He commands us to “make haste,” because of the limitation of our opportunities. We have only one season in which to regard these things; then all is over. “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor repentance, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest;” therefore, says Solomon, “Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” But here several circumstances are to be mentioned in regard to this only season of attention. This only season is short. “What is thy life? It is a vapour which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.” This only season is uncertain as well as short. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” “Man,” also, says Solomon, “knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
Then this only season has also much in it that is not applicable to any serious and important service. This is the case with the whole of infancy, and much of childhood and youth. This is the case very much with lawful business, and allowed recreation, and also necessary sleep. We may also observe that, of this only season for action, many favourable periods may fail before the close of it; and if the time continues, as Jeremiah says, “the harvest may be past and the summer ended, while we are not saved.” Then of this only season much is already gone. We have only a day, and with some the sun has risen very high. “It is high time to awake out of sleep.” And if this applies to all, with what force will it apply to those who have reached sixty, or seventy, or more! Thirdly, He commands us “to make haste,” because of the advantages to be derived from ardour. It is often said (and is literally true) that “the lazy take the most pains.” They make no progress, because every thing becomes a diversion or a hinderance. They have, therefore, to begin again and again.
How often have we succeeded beyond all expectation when we have applied ourselves with decision and vigour! There is a pleasure in acting with vigour, which the listless, and inert, and lounging, and yawning, never know. We are never in such a happy state of mind as when we are in a tone of application. For, say the slothful, “See, there is a lion in the way: how shall I advance?” But zeal clears the way of the lion, removes these impediments, and even turns them into auxiliaries.
The wiles of the devil. - Ephesians 6:11.
Satan, says one, had not been a devil if he had not first been an angel of light, and therefore he was originally a superior being; but he has been improving his skill by experience in his beguiling and seductive artifices for near six thousand years. Hence the Apostle thus speaks of the wiles of
“Satan, the fowler, who betrays
Unguarded souls a thousand ways.”
This fowler never “spreads his net” in the sight of any bird; he covers it, conceals his guns and his snares, till unaware we are entangled or caught. Sometimes he falls upon us from quarters where we had little or no apprehension of danger. Sometimes, and indeed how frequently, how invariably, he approaches us in the hour of success, and while enjoying the smiles of prosperity, when our fears are laid asleep. It is very true, as Watts says-
“We should suspect some danger nigh
When we possess delight.”
Some of his greatest temptations come even after Spiritual enlargements and privileges. We see Paul was in danger of being exalted above measure, owing to the abundance of revelation; and good Hezekiah, after he was delivered from the Assyrian invasion, and recovered from his sickness, and had fifteen years added to his life, was puffed up with pride, “therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.” We sometimes think of being safe when alone. David was alone when he was overcome; and how can we be safe in solitude if this being has access to us, and possessed as we are of a deceitful heart? How secure Peter seemed; he said: “Though all men shall be offended yet will I never be offended.” And when our Saviour came so much the nearer, and said to him, “Peter, before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice;” he said, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” A few hours only after this “he began even to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.”
Oh, how often does Satan overcome us by “the deceitfulness of sin,” and by false and flattering names! He comes to one and says, I would not have you covetous-covetousness is a very bad thing, but only lay up for the children. To another he says, I would not have you proud; pride is a very bad thing, but only show a becoming degree of Spirit. I do not wish you to be revengeful: this is very unchristian; but when you forgive, never forget. Ah, says the Apostle, “We are not ignorant of his devices.”
