the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
Let the heart, of them rejoice that seek the Lord. - Psalms 105:3.
HAPPINESS is a thing to which none are indifferent. All persons profess to be seeking it, contriving in one way or another to acquire something in which they may rejoice; but only the Christian is in possession of the important secret. The Christian’s joy alone is worthy the name. This joy is full, permanent, and pure; and it is to be found only in the Lord, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is the “hidden manna,” the “bread of heaven,” “angels’ food,”-yea, more: for
“Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace and dying love.”
This joy is indispensable. What can we do without this joy? It will cheer us in adversity, and give additional zest to the enjoyments which prosperity provides; it will lend an additional charm to the smiles of youth, while it will strengthen and sustain us in the decays, privations, and depressions of age; and it will shed its halo upon the dreariness of solitude and the loneliness of death. Seeing then, however successful, however indulged, however amused, the human heart feels a void within which only this joy can fill, a craving which this alone can relieve, a restlessness which this alone can allay and soothe, let us seek to possess it; and, blessed be God, it is attainable.
The Saviour addresses himself to the disconsolate of every grade, and, from whatever cause their dissatisfaction and disquietude may spring, he says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Let us therefore be looking unto Jesus, the “Consolation of Israel.” In him we may have peace; but if we would be filled with all joy and peace in believing, we must live near him, and walk closely with him and circumspectly before him; for we must not forget that though all the consolations of the Bible are derived from free grace, they are insured only in a course of obedience.
Teaching us. - Titus 2:12.
LET us attend to what is here said of the influence of the gospel. It is expressed by “teaching.” It teaches by way of precept. Some of those precepts are particular, and others are more general. It teaches by way of example; and as example goes much further than precept, everything in the gospel is thrown down before us in instances and facts. We are not only told of the Christian warriors, but we see the warriors engaged; and we see the pilgrims, and mingle with them; we travel with them, and hold converse with them. We see the actings of faith in Abraham; of meekness in Moses; of patience in Job; of zeal in Paul; and we have the perfect example of one who did no evil- in whom was no sin-the Holy One of God-godliness incarnate- the ten commandments walking up and down in the flesh.
The gospel also teaches in the way of motive. It addresses every principle of our nature; every passion of our bosom; our hope, our fear, our joy, our sorrow, our abhorrence, and our admiration. It draws back the veil, and we see a burning world-a descending Judge-the rising dead-the dead, small and great, standing before God-the glories of heaven and the flames of hell. It addresses our discouragements, our unworthiness, and the sense of our weakness. It says, “Fear not, for I am with thee,” &c. “My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
It also teaches by way of real, Spiritual, and efficient operation. It is here that none teaches like him: he not only gives the lesson, but the capacity to receive it; not only the light, but the seeing eye; not only the sound, but the hearing ear. It teaches the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to feel. Precept and example may suit those who are already alive; but what will they do with those who are “dead in trespasses and sins,” unless there be something more? There is this distinction between the gospel and all other moral means: all other moral means are left to their own unaided strength; but this is not the case with the gospel. The gospel is connected with the presence and energy of God, and this is insured to us.
The gospel is the “ministration of the Spirit.” “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” And when it is effectual for our salvation it comes, as the Apostle says to the Thessalonians, “not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”
