Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
Devotional: May 1st

Resource Toolbox
Morning Devotional

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. - John 13:17.

WE ought to be thankful that we have the word of righteousness; that we are not left, as to the most important of all concerns, to the darkness of nature or reason, but that we have the word of God in our own tongue and in our own hands, and that we are not only allowed, but commanded, to “search the Scriptures, for in them we have eternal life.” The Scriptures are not given for mere speculation or to gratify curiosity, but to lead our feet in the path of peace. Would not a Jew have used unskilfully the pillar of cloud in the wilderness, if he had observed it only as a naturalist or a philosopher?-if he had said, from time to time, I wonder how it is caused; I wonder what its qualities are: whether it is at all palpable, or what would be the ingredients if it could be analyzed and so on. What was to be the design of that pillar? It was to be their conductor to lead them by the right way to a city of habitation; and then it was only well used when they obeyed its movements.

So it is here: the gospel is in the nature of a remedy, and it is to be used and applied. It shows a refuge, that we may run into it and be safe. It shows me a Saviour, that I may give up my poor lost soul into his hands, and say, “Lord, save, or I perish;” “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” What is the reason men, especially of talent and science, so err with respect to this volume? Why, they never go to it for the purpose of being made wise to salvation, (they do not feel their need of salvation,) but for some other purpose. If they went to it having in view the end God had in giving it,-if they went to it with the question, “What must I do to be saved?”-would the apostles and prophets keep them in a state of uncertainty for one moment? Would not all unite to exclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world”? Oh, when we go to it with such an aim, (and we go to it with no purpose worth regarding, unless we go to it with this aim,) then it becomes plain enough; not only the scholar, but the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein. “These things,” says our Saviour, “are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye might have life through his name.” And he came not only that we might have life, but that we might have it, more abundantly. No wonder, therefore, that Solomon should say, speaking of this blessed book, “Bind it continually upon thine heart, and tie it about thy neck; when thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”

No wonder that Paul should say, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Let your love to the Scriptures increase; but let it increase “in all knowledge and judgment,” as the apostle says. Let us therefore seek after a growing acquaintance with it, and use for this purpose all the means in our power, (and we have many.) Above all, let us pray that our footsteps may be ordered by God’s word.

Evening Devotional

They are men wondered at. - Zechariah 3:8.

THE subjects of divine grace are like him to whom they belong, and whose name is “The Wonderful.” They are for signs and for wonders. “I am a wonder unto many,” says David; and, indeed, the experience of Christians in general is strange to the people of the world. Their language to them seems paradoxical when they say, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” The people of the world think it strange that they run not with them to the same excess of riot. They are amazed when they see that they can turn their backs upon those amusements and dissipations, which seem essential to their very life; and they often imagine that it is mere affectation in Christians to do this-that their hearts are still after these things; for they are not in the secret. They know not that they have discovered pleasures infinitely superior-that they are thus weaned from worldly indulgences; so that they are astonished when they see them in their trials “possessing their souls in patience,” and sometimes even rejoicing in tribulation.

The reason they are so amazed when they see this in Christians, is because they do not see all. They see their troubles, but they do not see their supports. They see the burdens which press them down, but they do not see the “everlasting arms” underneath them. They do not see what access they have to the throne of the heavenly grace; how they bathe their weary souls in the streams of that river which maketh glad the city of God; how by waiting upon God their strength is renewed. They are astonished when they see them going on cheerfully in their religious course, though they gain by it no worldly honour or wealth; nay, often lose the friendship of their connections, and draw upon them the abuse and reproach of their neighbours.

The reason is, they know not the principles which actuate them. They are not acquainted with their grand attraction; “for the love of Christ constraineth us,” says the Apostle, “to live not to ourselves, but to him that died for us and rose again.” He says, “Lovest thou me?” and the Christian answers,

“Lord, it is my chief complaint

That my love is weak and faint!

Yet I love thee, and adore,

O for grace to love thee more.”

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Mornings and Evenings with Jesus" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile