Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: January 29th

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.- John 11:16.

THE Saviour is never too late in his movements, or too confident in his resources. We often mistake: we undertake enterprises which we are not able to conclude. We begin what we are not able to finish. Then, there are different degrees of weakness and of strength. Bring two men to a staff: one will be able to break it, and the other not. But bring them to a mast, and they will both fail. But God has all power. “Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength.” “Nevertheless,” says the Saviour, “let us go to him.”

Observe-to him; not to them. “Why, for what purpose? It is too late-he is dead.” “It may be too late for you, but not for me. I turn the shadow of death into the morning. Your extremity is my opportunity. I love not only to do what is needful for my people, but to surprise them. I love to do for them above all they can ask or think. I love to help them when all helpers have withdrawn, and because they have withdrawn.” “Go to him?-why, he is laid out! he is dead!” Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Can the grave praise thee? He cannot receive thy visit! “But he can; he can hear me, he shall see me. He shall find that I am the resurrection and the life.”

And did he go in vain? Ah! Christians have their spots to which they retire; they often go to the grave to weep. Ah! could they fetch out the remains there deposited? Could they bring back a mother, a sister, a wife? It is in vain they stand there. But Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth!” and immediately he came forth. Oh, what a journey was that! Nevertheless, “let us go unto him.” Had you seen him you would only have seen one like yourselves. One of the disciples would here have stepped back and said, “Do you know who that is?” “No.” “Why, ’tis Jesus of Nazareth. Lazarus, a friend of his, is dead, and he is going to make his lungs heave, and to cause his blood again to flow in his veins; and the next night he means to sup with him and a large party.” Oh, you would have said, “Let us go with him; he does all things well.”

There are the Jews by the shore of the sea. They are to go forward. What! are they to go into the sea? Yes. What! are they to be drowned? No; he has all power, and will deliver them. Well, then, let us be no longer faithless, but believing.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. - Psalms 34:8

THE best way of knowing the goodness of God is by tasting it. Here David does not say, Read and see! hear and see! but “Taste and see that the Lord is good;” that is, apply it, make trial of it, and prove it for yourselves. The man of God here refers to experience. Experience means knowledge derived from experiment and trial in contradistinction to mere opinion, speculation, and conjecture. Experimental philosophy is universally commended, and properly speaking no other philosophy is appreciated. So what the Scriptures speak of with regard to faith, knowledge, repentance, humility, love, peace, and joy, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, may be reduced to experiment and trial in the same way; and there are numbers, blessed be God, who have not only read and heard, but have also “tasted that the Lord is gracious,” who know the Lord is good by their own experience, and can say, I know it, for I have realised it-I have enjoyed it.

There are three advantages which result from this tasting or from this experimental knowledge. The first is an increased desire after it. This is natural and unavoidable, “As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby, if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Secondly, It will produce a fuller conviction of its truth and importance. A poor unlettered man may be trusted in the presence of the most subtle philosopher who would endeavour to persuade him that honey was sour, and that gall was sweet. He would say, You may reason and ridicule but you will never convince me; I know that honey is sweet and that gall is bitter, for I have tasted them. So is it with the real Christian; “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”

Thirdly, it will produce fervency and earnestness in speaking of these things and in recommending them to others. Such an one knows the value and efficacy of the medicine he recommends, he has tried it himself and has been cured by it; and the Christian knows what peace flows from a sense of pardoning love-that it is good to draw near to God -he knows there is a “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” And with the Apostle John they will thus bear testimony: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” And shall not we also say,

“Now will I tell to sinners round,

What a dear Saviour I have found,

I’ll point to his redeeming blood,

And say, Behold the way to God!”