Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: December 26th

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. - John 1:14.

THIS intimates to us the Saviour’s intercourse and his sociableness. All great minds love and seek solitude. The Saviour loved and often sought retirement, and, had he pleased himself, he would have more frequently retired from public view; but he never refused the company of those who sought his presence, and therefore he did not refuse to be a guest when the Pharisee invited him to his table; nor did he refuse to be a guest at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. It was on this occasion he wrought a notable miracle, turning the water into wine. This condescension and grace drew forth the maliciousness of his enemies; hence the allegation, This man “receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” “John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil;” that is, he is melancholy and a recluse. The Son of man came eating and drinking; there was no excess, but “simple living” according to the common mode of life; and they say, He is “a wine-bibber,-a friend of publicans and sinners.”

This was a foul and scandalous reproach. But, though he did not love men’s sins, he loved their souls; and was concerned for their salvation. All through life he was never actuated by the spirit of the Pharisee, saying, “Stand by; come not near me; I am holier than thou.” He never indulged in the abominations of monasticism. He never said, Touch not, taste not, handle not. He knew that “every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving, and sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” His prayer to his heavenly Father was, “I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.” He was in the world, but not of it. We, also, are to be in the world, but not of it. His religion, if we understand it properly, calls us at once out of the world as well as into it.

Out of the world as to its spirit and principles and maxims, and what the apostle calls “the course of the world;” but into it as a field of action and a sphere of usefulness,-if there are any tried ones to be relieved-if any hungry to be fed-if any naked to be clothed, or sick to be healed -if there are the ignorant and uninformed to be instructed, the vicious to be reclaimed, or the lost to be saved.

Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? - 2 Chronicles 6:18.

GOD makes use of means for the accomplishment of his purposes; and could we see things as God sees them, we should always see that he employs suitable ones. While the weakness of his instruments shows his power, their adaptedness exhibits his wisdom. Solomon was the instrument here employed. Behold the whole Israel of God assembled together, and their king leading the devotions of the whole.

An ordinary mind would have been struck on this occasion with that vastness of the multitude, with the magnitude of the building, with the costliness of the ornaments; but Solomon overlooks all these, and only marvels at God’s noticing any of them, and therefore exclaims, “Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?” Four things may be mentioned to show why it is so wonderful that God should dwell with men on the earth.

First, The mode of his intercourse. For observe that this is not looking towards them merely, and this he does. Not coming to them as a wayfaring man approaches an inn, when he turns aside to “tarry for a night.” Not visiting them as a friend calls upon a friend. A visitor is not an inmate, but a dweller is a resident, and this is the case with God; he takes up his abode with his people.

Secondly, Observe his infinite dignity and grandeur. This renders him matchless; here all examples fail, his greatness is unsearchable.

“And will the glorious Lord

Unto me condescend,

And will he write his name

My Father and my Friend?”

“THUS saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,” whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, and that trembleth at my word,” “to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Such a Being is he.

Thirdly, The meanness and unworthiness of those who are, indulged. This struck David as well as Solomon: “What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?” It was thus also with Job: “What is man that thou shouldest magnify him, and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him, and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” What indeed! what are they, making the best of them, with whom he “in very deed dwells upon the earth?” If we take them as creatures, they are of yesterday, and know nothing; their foundation is in the dust, they are crushed before the moth.

If we take them as sinners, then we shall find them guilty, polluted, blind, deaf, and all over diseased. We shall find them all rebels, all traitors against the Divine Majesty; and therefore not only undeserving, but ill-deserving and hell-deserving creatures. And it is alone of his “mercy that they are not consumed.” Will God dwell with such upon the earth?

Fourthly, Observe the humility which religion always inspires. Man is naturally as proud as he is poor, but the day of conviction is a day of humiliation.

“The more thy glories strike mine eye

The humbler I shall lie,

Thus while I sink my joys shall rise

Immeasurably high.”