Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: May 12th

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. - Philippians 2:4.

LET us inquire,-First, How are we to look on the things of others? In answer to this we would observe, we are not to look upon them inquisitively. We are not to pry into other people’s history, their condition and circumstances, from mere curiosity, or vanity of mind, or in order to furnish materials for the tongue. If this be not absolute vice, it is a great vexation, and great impertinence; and it is found to prevail principally among women who have no families, and men who have no business, and all those who do nothing and have nothing to do; for, as Watts observes,-

“Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do.”

“And,” says Bishop Hall, “our idle days are always the devil’s busiest ones.” Paul therefore says, speaking to the Thessalonians, “We hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” If persons will conduct themselves uncivilly, if they will draw upon themselves reproach by meddling with the concerns of every one rather than their own, let them bear the consequences; but let it not be supposed that it is religion that makes them uncivil, but the want of it. Let them remember the language of the Apostle Peter: -“Lot none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

Again, we are not to look upon them enviously. “Be not thou afraid,” says David, “when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his own soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” It is as if he should say, Envying others on account of the distinctions and acquisitions around you is not worthy of you. What is man the better for them? But, oh, what evil is there in that temper to the person himself! It is earthly, sensual, devilish. Milton describes Satan as looking on the happiness of Adam and Eve in Paradise, and then turning away with a malignant leer. What a wretched, cursed disposition is this, for a man to be uneasy because another is at his ease; to be miserable because another is happy, and to dislike him just in proportion as by his excellency and success he should love and rejoice in him! Yet this principle is so common, it is so powerful and subtle in its various workings, that Solomon says, “Who can stand before envy?”

We are not to look upon the things of others unconcernedly, but so as to feel for them, so as to have an interest in them by sympathy, so as to make them in a sense our own, so that if the subjects of them rejoice we may “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Common sense tells us what must be the meaning of the apostle here; that when he says, “Look on the things of others,” he cannot mean with such a look as the priest and the Levite gave to the poor, wounded traveller, and then went to the other side; but he must mean such a look as that the eye should affect the heart; such a look as should awaken commiseration and produce corresponding emotions and exertions.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. - Ephesians 6:10.

THE Fall has left us as much without strength as without righteousness. Many are not willing to admit this. It is much easier to convince such of their guilt than of their weakness. Though they neglect for the present the “things which belong to their peace,” they never question their ability to do them. Therefore, at some future season, when they have leisure-and when circumstances are more favourable-they mean to do this. But, ah! the trial, the real trial, would convince them of their inability of themselves to believe, to repent, to obey, and to become “new creatures;” this would bring them upon their knees, and then these important results would soon be exemplified.

But Christians themselves acquire the knowledge of their weakness slowly and gradually. At first they are found to rely very much upon their convictions, purposes, resolutions, and perhaps vows too, but their “iniquities, like the wind, after all carry them away,” and by their failings and falls they are taught that they only are safe who are “kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.” They also learn to pray more and more- “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” This was the case with Peter. But a very few hours after his warm, sincere, and vehement protestations of fidelity-“Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee”-have elapsed before we find him denying the Saviour, and that with oaths and curses. Let us

“Beware of Peter’s word,

Nor confidently say,

‘I never will deny thee, Lord,’

But grant I never may.”

Christians learn by experience more and more where alone their strength lies, and they are led at length to trust in the Lord only, “for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” They find that all their “sufficiency is of God;” that his grace and his strength alone is sufficient for them. Hence the command-”Be strong in the Lord,” &c. Hence the promise-“I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Hence the prayer-“Be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me.” And hence the devout and confident acknowledgment-“I can do all things through Christ strengthening me.” When cast down under a sense of weakness, and of the duties, difficulties, and dangers of our course, let us remember that

-“The Mighty God

Still feeds the strength of every saint.”

There are two things with regard to this strength, we must remember. The one is, the supplies of it are communicated seasonally-“As thy day so shall thy strength be.” His grace is communicated in time of need, active grace for active service, suffering grace for a suffering hour, and dying grace for a dying hour. And the other is, that it is obtained by the use of means-“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Our souls can never prosper if we neglect the use of means. It is “the diligent soul that shall be made fat.”