Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: January 30th

But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. - 2 Chronicles 35:21.

WE have already noticed these words in their connection. We now take them independent of the circumstances under which the command was originally given, and consider them as language which we may and ought to adopt as our own. God commands us also “to make haste.” Any truth may furnish us with matter for meditation; and, if there be a truth in the Bible, (and we cannot either deny or question this,) this is one, that God has “commanded us to make haste” concerning some things and principles.

But the question is, what is haste? Haste is not hurry. Hurry always implies a kind of disordered and confused effort, as if something had been forgotten or overlooked, and seems always to infer a single and transient exertion. This is not the same with speed, nor is it favourable to speed. “I have too much to do,” said one, “ever to be in a hurry.” There are some persons, indeed, who seem always to be in a hurry or bustle, and they would appear to be persons of business and despatch. No such thing; they are “important nothings in a juggler’s box.” Some who ought to rise at six are coming to life about eight, and running for hours after their work, and then doing it superficially and slatternly too.

But by haste is meant application, diligence, zeal; something opposed not to entire omission or neglect, but to slow and careful performance requiring excitement. It means exertion; but it is that exertion which arises from reflection rather than that which is the result of impulse, and which was exemplified by David when he said, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies; I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”

He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. - Titus 3:5.

IT is by the agency of the Holy Spirit that we have been made to see our guilty, wretched, undone, and perishing condition-by whom alone our once rebellious will has been bowed to God’s dispensations and to obey his will-by whom also the affections which were once earthly, sensual, and devilish are fastened and feasted on things above, and the memory is made to retain God in its knowledge, and the conscience to fear him, and by whom we are disposed to dedicate all we are and have to the service and glory of God, walking before him in newness of life.

It is he alone that renders the gospel precious by impressing us with the sense of our wants, and showing us every blessing there that is adapted to relieve a fallen, guilty, depraved, helpless, perishing creature. It is he that makes the gospel of peace effectual to relieve the conscience under its pressure of distress, and also to purify the heart by faith, and to fill the life with all the fruits of righteousness, and this is unto the praise and glory, not of the man who exercises it, but of God who produces it.

Thus it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy, he saved us; “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Let us, therefore, give him the glory that is due to his holy name.