Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: February 13th

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost. - 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

WE need not be informed that all to whom the gospel comes do not receive it. The Scripture speaks of such persons as these under various awful representations: as neglecters of the grace of God, “as turning away from him that speaketh from heaven,” “as treading under foot the Son of God,” as making light of the message of his servants, and going their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. It addresses their eyes, but, alas! they are closed; It addresses their ears, but they are stopped up. It addresses their hearts, but they are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It addresses their passions, but they are all running mad after the things of the world.

But as to the Thessalonians, it came to them in the “demonstration of the Spirit, and with power.” They received it therefore as an immediate revelation from God, though delivered by man. To the Thessalonians it was a novelty, even in itself; to us, who are born in a land of vision, it is a novelty only as a matter of experience. But when the ministry of the word becomes the ministry of the Spirit, the man is then “called out of darkness into his marvellous light;” and, however acquainted with the things before, they now impress him as new. Thus he resembles one born blind, who, if his eyes were opened, would not see a new sun, but the same which has been shining from the beginning; but it would be a new sun to him, for he never saw it before.

There are some who receive the gospel more feelingly and suddenly; and they resemble Zacchaeus in the tree, who, as soon as he heard our Saviour say, “Make haste, and come down, for today I must abide at thy house,” made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Some are more slow under admonition. The man is gradually impressed and enlightened; he has to feel and fight his way, and to drop his prejudices by degrees; he sets off, like the dawn, with a few rays, but his “path is like the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Another from no good motive goes to hear the word; he gives the preacher a look half wondering and half frowning. As the preacher proceeds, he begins to feel, and he blushes, as if he were “known of all and judged of all.” He is full of alarm and resentment, and yet he cannot leave the place. He goes home, and, being uneasy, is fretful and discontented. He betakes himself to his companions in dissipation, but they no longer please:- “miserable comforters are they all.” He hates the place where he was made so uneasy, yet he cannot keep away. Again he goes, and learns more of his depravity and danger. He determines, therefore, that he will mend, and that he will not only “turn over a new leaf,” but become “a new creature.” But soon he feels that he is unable to perform his vow; and now is the danger lest he should be induced to say, There is no hope; lest despair should link him effectually to an unconverted state. He goes again and now he learns that what hinders his salvation is not his depravity, is not his guilt, is not his weakness, but his unbelief and his pride. He finds that it is unnecessary to build a refuge of his own: there is a refuge already provided; he has only to enter it. Instead of furnishing himself with a righteousness, he has to submit only to the righteousness which is of God. He finds that “to him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness.” Obedience he sees is required, but it is already provided for him in that dear One in whom he has not only righteousness but strength.

He now regards good-works, not as peace-offerings, but as thank-offerings; and, “by the mercies of God, presents his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God as his reasonable service.”

Your joy. - John 16:24.

THERE is, then, a joy belonging to Christians. “Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Your joy, says the Saviour. The intimation would have been absurd, if there was not a joy provided for them, and valued by them, to which they were entitled, and of which they were possessed. This accords not, indeed, with the opinions of the people of the world; according to them, religion prescribes a joyless course, engaged in which, we must bid adieu to everything like pleasure. According to them-if it smiles on eternity, it frowns on time; if it renders death safe, it renders life melancholy and gloomy. But where did they learn this? At the bar of reason? As all happiness depends on God, is it likely that he will allow those who love and serve him to be less happy than those who hate and oppose him? Where did they learn this? At the oar of experience? If we consult those who have made the trial of his service, they will tell us that since they have served him they have found his yoke easy, and his burden light. Where did they learn this? At the bar of Scripture? Why, this assures us that Religion’s “ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” What say its commands? “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice.” What say its promises? “They shall sing in the ways of the Lord.” What say its representations? “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.” “In thy name shall they rejoice all the day “And what say its examples? Look to the first Christians, none of whom escaped persecution. Their religion made them sufferers, but it did not deprive them of pleasure and comfort; they “received the word in much affliction,” and “in joy of the Holy Ghost.” They “took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

The reason that we see and hear so little of joy among Christians now, is that everything in this cold wintry world is adapted to repel instead of drawing forth their joy; and, moreover, theirs is a joy with which strangers intermeddle not. Their joy floats not upon the surface, but dwells deep in the recesses of the heart, making holidays there. And lastly, if Christians do not rejoice, it is because they do not live as they ought; they do not live up to their privileges.