Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: March 2nd

That I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. - Romans 1:12.

THERE is no such thing as independence. All are needful, all are useful. We are not only one body in Christ, but “every one also members one of another.” “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” Man is designed and formed for society. His faculties, inclinations, and exigencies all urge him to associate. In his natural state he loves sinful society; in his renewed state he loves the society of the godly. Many things may often keep the partakers of divine grace asunder; but, being let go, they go to their own company, for each of them can say, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”

No; it is not good for man to be alone, nor is it good for the Christian to be alone. Bunyan knew this; he has no solitary pilgrim. Though Christian began his journey alone, he soon enjoyed a fellow-traveller, and Hopeful was found to be his companion when Faithful was removed. Love delights in the presence of its object; and, as “iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Religion, so far from destroying the social principle, sanctifies and regulates and strengthens it. Like attracts like; and, when we become godly, our longing is for godly association. Yea, we “choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

Communion with saints falls in with our new views, and hopes, and fears, and joys, and sorrows. These are now our fellow-learners and fellow-labourers, fellow-travellers and fellow-warriors. And Christians feel themselves to be thus united to each other. Their principles lead them to “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and to weep with them that weep;” and, instead of envying and hating one another for their successes and endowments and comforts, they glorify God on each other’s behalf. They feel it to be their highest privilege to guard each other’s reputation, explore and supply each other’s wants, soothe each other’s sorrows, and soften each other’s cares, being all partakers of the same “common salvation,” and realizing that they “are all one in Christ Jesus.” Every disadvantage is compensated for; thus,-

“They share each other’s woes,

Their mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.”

He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things. - 2 Samuel 23:5.

THIS covenant of salvation shows that God is good. His work is perfect, and all his ways are judgment; he hath done all things well. It is “ordered in all things.” Its arrangements are perfect. At present we can but imperfectly survey this order; but though we now see through a glass darkly, by and by this mystery will be more fully developed. We shall then find that all heaven will be filled with admiration and praise at the manifold wisdom of God herein. But we even now see some and much of its excellency. It is so ordered in all things as to harmonise and display the Divine perfection; as to unite his honour with my happiness, that while he redeems Jacob he glorifies himself in Israel. It is so ordered in all things, that while the sinner is encouraged he is abased, and abased while he is encouraged; that sin is pardoned while condemned, and condemned while it is pardoned. It is so ordered in all things, as to provide for everything we need, and only as we need it, from the fulness of the Redeemer and not from ourselves. This will serve to influence our love, check self-confidence, incite to diligence, and promote intercourse with our Lord and Saviour. It is so ordered in all things, as to separate care and duty; so that while it delivers us from all anxiety about events, by showing us the providence of God, managing all things for us-God caring for us-it frees us from solicitude, and leaves us free to pursue our work, and nothing else.

In a word, we see it is so ordered in all things, as to prove that the Author of it was a being who perfectly knew us and all our condition, and that he perfectly loved us; for he has wisely and mercifully adapted all things to all our woes, wants, weakness, and wishes. Therefore to this a believer turns in a dark and cloudy day, and not only submits but acquiesces. He glories in the scheme, and wishes to glory in nothing else.

“Amidst temptations sharp and long,

My soul to this dear refuge flies;

Hope is my anchor, firm and strong,

When tempests blow and billows rise.”