Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: October 26th

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. - Proverbs 14:10.

LET us consider this particularly with reference to Christians; and we observe, First, That religion has to do with the feelings; it is not confined to forms and ceremonies. The sacred writers knew these things; they considered the passions as original parts of human nature, and these are to be employed in the service of God. They all have their proper place and work; for how can we love God or fear him without feeling, according to the language of one of our hymns,-

“True religion’s more than notion:

Something must be known and felt”?

Let us observe, Secondly, The variety there is in the Christian’s experience. We here see he is the subject of both sorrow and gladness. Thus the Christian’s present condition is of a mixed character, and alternating between clouds and sunshine.

What is the emblem of the Christian’s state now? A bush burning with fire and not consumed; a vessel tossed with the winds and the waves. What is the motto of the Christian’s life. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; cast down, but not destroyed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

We see in the Christian now the company of two armies,-nature and grace, flesh and spirit. “The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other.” We see this exemplified in the representations of Scripture. The subjects of divine grace are spoken of as those who fear God, and who hope in his mercy; they are those who “return and come to Zion with singing, and with everlasting joy upon their heads.” And there are those who go forth with weeping, “bearing precious seed,” but who “shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.”

And having done all, to stand. - Ephesians 6:13.

OH how significant is this! It is an intimation that heavenward is not easy walking. The Apostle says to the Philippians: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” not the procuring of salvation, it is already procured by the precious blood of Christ; not to make atonement for our sins, the atonement is already made;. nor to furnish a justifying righteousness in which to appear before God, “for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” The meaning of the Apostle is, that in the use of means, and in progressing and persevering to the end of life, we are to work out our salvation.

The Galatians “did run well,” but were “hindered;” they began in the Spirit, but ended in the flesh: “Ephraim’s goodness was as the morning cloud and the early dew, that soon passeth away.” It is not the first but the last step in the race that brings us to the goal. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.” “He that endureth to the end,” says the Saviour,” shall be saved.” We are by “patient continuance in well-doing, to seek for glory, honour, and immortality.”

Some of God’s servants have been foiled after various successes, and have become affecting examples to show us that we are never out of danger as long as we are in the body, and in the world. Of Solomon, after all his attainments, it is said: “In his old age outlandish women drew away his heart from God.” Joab was a fine officer, and he faithfully adhered to David in the rebellion of Absalom, but he failed in the case of Adonijah; and therefore he perished, notwithstanding all his righteousness, in his sovereign’s fall.

The battle of Eylau, between the French and the Russians, was a dreadful conflict; more than sixty thousand perished; both parties claimed the victory. What then is the historian to do? Why, he will inquire who kept the field; and these were the French while the Russians withdrew. It is the keeping of the field to the last, to see all the adversaries withdrawn, that is to make us “more than conquerors through him that loved us.” It is this that gives decision to the battle.

Some have overcome, and then, alas! they have been themselves overcome: “What is it to gain success, and yield it at last?” Some have been often checked, they often meet with a defeat, but then they have succeeded upon the whole. And “having done all, they stand:” “Of Gad it is said, A troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last.” And this will be the case with every real Christian.

What comes from God will be sure to lead back to God: “A good man’s steps are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth greatly in his way; though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”