Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: March 5th

There is another king, one Jesus. - Acts 17:7.

WE have two epistles addressed to the Thessalonian believers, both of which raise them so high in our esteem, that we feel an interest in every thing which concerns them. We are here informed of the commencement of the church of Christ among them, by which, we need not say, is not meant the erection of a building, (for the early Christians had no place expressly appropriated to their worship till ages after,) nor the formation of a national establishment, (for it is well known that the civil, power did not attempt to aid Christianity till the close of the third century.) But we mean, that by the coming of the gospel some were converted, and these formed themselves into a voluntary and holy communion, to assemble together in the name of Jesus, to attend on his appointments, and to “walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” “Now, when Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath-days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ.” What was the result? Perhaps there never was a sermon yet preached that was useful to all who heard it. Not excepting the sermon Paul preached at Athens? No; for though some “clave to him others mocked.” Nor even the sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand were pricked to the heart, and cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” No; for some mocked, and said, “These men are filled with new wine.” “Some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude; and of the chief women not a few.” But others “rejected the counsel of God against themselves,” and commenced a furious persecution.

Now, we only observe here the calumny under which they endeavoured to justify the vileness of their proceedings; they accused Paul and Silas of being disturbers of the public peace: but they themselves had excited the riot by urging on a number of vagabond miscreants, who were always ready for any confusion or evil work. Paul and Silas preached quietly in the synagogue, and wherever they came they admonished men to be quiet and to mind their own business; to love “one another; to follow peace with all men; to “do good unto all men.” And yet they are said to be those “who turned the world upside down.” They were also reproached as being opposed to the established government, and enemies to Caesar. They do things contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that “there is another king, one Jesus.” Now, had this been true, the Jews were the last people in the world who should have urged the charge; for it was well known that they hated Caesar, that they hated his government, that they endeavoured the destruction of both, and that they were looking for a Messiah who, according to their views, would entirely accomplish it; while nothing could be more untrue and slanderous than the insinuation itself, Jesus had said to his disciples, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, as well as unto God the things that are God’s;” and his servants, wherever they came, enforced civil obedience. Neither was it contrary to the decrees of Caesar to say that “there was another king, one Jesus.” Though the emperor, with the senate, would not suffer any one to wear the name of king without their permission, yet many were allowed to retain the title as tributary, as under their dominion.

Jesus was called a king by his followers in such a sense as could not be included in the design of the imperial interdiction. He was indeed a King, but not an earthly king; his kingdom was not of this world. Oh, when will rulers learn to distinguish things that differ? When will they see that there is nothing in the example or doctrine of Christ to countenance the deposing of princes, or the depriving them of any of their lawful prerogatives?- yea, that in proportion as men submit to his laws they must be the best of men, the most enlightened and the most faithful subjects; because they are subject, “not only for wrath, but for conscience’ sake”? So we see that Paul and Silas, without contravening the designs of Caesar, could say, “There is another king, one Jesus.”

For your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9.

THIS is the medium of all a believer’s attainments. If we are rich, it is because “he was poor, and that through his poverty we might become rich;” that is, by his emptying himself we are filled; that by his descending to earth, we can ascend to heaven; that by his bearing the shame, we are crowned with glory and honour; that by his dying alone we live. If he saved others, himself he could not save. If he redeemed us, it must be with the price of his own most precious blood. If we are saved, and enriched, and glorified for ever, it must be in a way in which the law is not dishonoured, but magnified and made honourable; in which sin must be condemned while pardoned; in which all the attributes of God must be blended in perfect harmony. “Mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other,” in a way which blends and mingles “glory to God in the highest” with “peace on earth, good will to men.” And here it is that all are displayed. “Therefore he was made perfect through suffering, and thus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Thus it was that “He who was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich;” that “he once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” It is here we see the value of our souls; it is here we see the importance of our salvation; it is here we see what difficulties stood in the way of it, and how remotely, infinitely remotely they are removed. It is here we learn our full obligation to the Saviour.

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.”