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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
Devotional: January 22nd

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Morning Devotional

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. - Matthew 22:29.

IT is a sad thing that many persons, from whom better things might be expected, are so shamefully ignorant of the Scriptures. In consequence of not understanding them they are so liable to err-so liable to be led away with the error of the wicked, and carried away by every wind of doctrine, so as frequently not to know the way wherein they should walk, or the things they should do. It was of these errors arising from a deficiency of scriptural knowledge for which our Lord thus rebuked his own disciples. “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.”

And, if the word of Christ dwell in some, it is not “richly and in all wisdom.” There may be an abundance of Scripture truths laid up in the memory, but there may not be the wisdom to apply it.

The apostle complains of some as not being “skilful in the word of life, for they are babes.” “For when for the time,” says he, “ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” There are but few who do justice to the Scriptures in this respect. They are

“A broad land of wealth unknown,

“Where hidden glory lies;”

for, as David says, “they are exceeding broad.”

“The cross, the manger, and the throne,

Are big with blessings yet unknown.”

Let us seek to be better acquainted with them. “Search the Scriptures,” says our Saviour, “for they are they which testify of me.” Instead of imagining that we are very proficient in divine knowledge, let us pray with the apostle that we “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,” and “to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.” But we are reminded that the duty of practising what the Scriptures teach and enjoin is not less than that of acquiring a knowledge of them.

We read of “obeying the truth,” and of “walking in the truth.” We can never regard the Scriptures properly until we find them to be “a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our path.” Every thing in the Scriptures has a practical aim and tendency. Its doctrines are “according to godliness;” its “exceeding great and precious promises” are given us, “that by these we might be partakers ‘of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lusts.” And “he that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure.” Hume, the infidel, sneeringly said, “The Bible was given to keep the poor in order.” If believed and acted upon, its truths will keep us all in order. It says as much to the rich as to the poor-as much to the master as it does to the servant-to the husband as it does to the wife, and as much to professors as to those who have the form of godliness without the power.

We are servants: it is not for servants to dictate, but to obey. We are patients: it is not for patients to prescribe, but to submit. We are criminals offending: and it is the prerogative of the Sovereign offended to choose the way in which his mercy shall be exercised, or whether he shall exercise mercy at all. With regard to the mind and will of God concerning us, as revealed in the Scriptures, our only inquiry therefore should be, What may we hope to receive from God? and our prayer, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Evening Devotional

The LORD is good. Nahum 1:7.

HE is essentially good-immutably good-infinitely good.

The good of all creation is derived from him. They are only so many beams from this sun, or so many drops from this ocean. “He is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.” But his goodness does not appear here in its highest form; and the reason is, these creatures never forfeited his care and kindness; they answer the purpose of their original creation.

It is otherwise with us; we have rebelled against him; we are transgressors from the womb; we deserve, as children of disobedience, that his wrath should be poured out upon us. And yet such is his marvellous loving-kindness, that even “the children of men put their trust under the shadow of his wings.” And he spares us, and preserves us. He provides for us, and gives us richly all things to enjoy.

What a world has he fitted up for us! what sights for our eyes! what sounds for our ears! what relishes for our appetites! Yet, if he were to stop the bounties of nature and providence, we could even then exclaim with the Apostle John, “Herein is love.” In what? “Not that we loved God, but that God loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Oh, this ensures every other blessing. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.” This involves every other. He is “all in all.” By him and in him we are “blessed with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”

How good is he, who not only without our desert and without our desire provided for us such a Saviour, but has disposed and enabled us also to avail ourselves of him; who has called us, not only by his word, but by his Spirit?” “Why,” may every Christian ask-

“Why was I made to hear his voice,

And enter while there’s room,

While thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come?

“’Twas the same love that spread the feast,

That sweetly forced me in,

Else I had still refused to taste,

And perish’d in my sin.”

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