the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction. - Psalms 88:9.
ONE source of David’s sorrows was affliction. He had many trials and troubles which his greatness could not prevent or even alleviate. Oh, how happy was he in the village, in the retirement of Bethlehem, with his sheep, his harp, and his muse, going home in the evening to old Jesse, his father, and to the embrace of his loving mother, to whom he so often refers in his psalms. But when he had begun to rise in the world and to entertain the expectation of the throne, what did he? He soon found that it was “through much tribulation that he must enter the kingdom;” and when he had entered it he said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest; I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind and tempest.”
Obliged to appear cheerful in public, yet when he had given orders to his generals, and audiences to his ambassadors, and had left the company of his courtiers, we find him alone, bleeding at every pore. And he makes no scruple to lay it down as a maxim, even under a dispensation which abounded with worldly promises, that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”
Nor are Christians to be insensible under these afflictions. Religion allows them to feel; religion requires them to feel. Their trials would never answer their moral ends without feeling, and feeling severely, too. There is no grace in bearing what we do not feel. There is neither patience nor resignation in a stone. If we look at our Saviour himself, shall we find that he was insensible under reproach? “Reproach,” saith he, “hath broken my heart; and I looked for some to take pity, and there was none; and for comforters, and I found none.” Did he deem pain no evil? His “soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” He said, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
The affliction of others also drew forth his tears. And Paul says, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is afflicted, and I burn not?” We are commanded not only to “rejoice with them that rejoice,” but “to weep with them that weep.” And a woe is denounced upon those that are “at ease in Zion,” and who are “not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph.”
God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16.
CHRISTIANITY is the only religion of the heart, the only religion founded in love, and requiring only love in return. As to all other systems of religion, they always want the full assurance here expressed. Missionaries from abroad have declared that they never found anything among idol worshippers like love, real love, even to their gods and goddesses; they only dreaded them, and therefore hated them. No; there is no religion of love but the religion of Christianity.
If we compare Protestantism with Popery, observe Scotland, and compare it with Ireland. If we compare America with Spain, and England with France, it will be seen that Christianity operates according to the degree of the truth and Spirit of it which are received. See what Christianity has done; it has not only been the power of God to the salvation of many, but where it has not operated savingly, what great moral and social advantages has it produced! As persons have received the truth “as it is in Jesus,” they have always been distinguished by their humanity, by their benevolence, and by their exertions to do good. As Christians, we have reason to be fond of the religion which comes to us with this proclamation: “Now the end of the commandment,” that is, Christianity, “is charity, out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” But while we admire, let us remember the words of Young in another case: “Nor stop at wonder: imitate and love.”
Let us keep this truth alive in our thoughts: “God is love.” Keep the belief of it in our prayers, that we may feel not again the “Spirit of bondage again to fear,” but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry “Abba, Father;” that we may have boldness and access by the faith of Jesus. Let us keep alive the belief of this in all our efforts to do good, in seeking the welfare of souls, and in all our trials; it is this and this alone which will produce acquiescence. A view of God’s power and of his authority may suppress murmurings and complainings; but it is a view of his love in these dispensations, that “he does not afflict willingly;” that it is for our profit, and that our advantage will be answered by it:-It is this that will bring us to his feet, saying, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Lord, here I am; “do with me as seemeth good in thy sight.”
We should think of this and recommend it to all around us, and say, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Let it induce us to render our obedience cheerfully and affectionately, and by the mercies of God may we “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service,” and thus he followers of God as dear children, patient like him, forgiving like him, liberal like him, “who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;” “for if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
