Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: June 1st

Instant in prayer. - Romans 12:12.

THIS command cannot mean that we should be always upon our knees, or actually engaged in the exercise, for we have not the time, and it would be incompatible with other duties equally important; but surely it requires that we should cherish a frame of mind so as to make us ready to avail ourselves of every opportunity for its performance, in public and in private; surely it implies the infinite importance of the duty. Cowper says,-

“Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian’s armour bright;

And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.”

It includes, also, what the old divines call ejaculatory prayer,- that is, a sudden starting up of the thought and desire to God. Wherever we are, and however we are engaged, this may be done. We have an instance in the case of Nehemiah: he was the king’s cup-bearer; when he was fulfilling his task, and Ahasuerus addressed him, in order properly to answer the king, he prayed to the God of heaven. He did not go out of the room; he did not kneel down upon the carpet; he uttered no words; but he implored God for his influence and assistance. And so must we do in all the exigencies of the day. If we are in straits, or in danger, or under a cloud, we are to lift up our hearts to him. In all our ways we are enjoined to acknowledge the Lord, and he will direct our steps. It is thus we shall obtain strength to conquer our numerous enemies and to bear our heavy trials and perform our difficult duties. In all these respects we shall find “our sufficiency is of the Lord.” And how are we to avail ourselves of this sufficiency? “For all these things,” saith God, “will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do them for them.”

He never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain; rather,“Ask, and it shall be given; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. - Acts 2:11.

THE truth of the miracle here recorded is also fully substantiated. Infidels are never satisfied, or we should think here is enough to satisfy them, for who are these men? These men were well known. “These men are all Galileans.” If they had been strangers, it might have been said, “O, they knew these languages and they only pretended that they had become suddenly acquainted with them.” But the men, their characters, and their pursuits were well known; it was well known they were poor fishermen of Galilee.

Then observe their judges, if they had spoken in one language only the others might not have detected it; but everyman, whether Crete or Arabian, heard them speak in the dialect of his country. Observe the place, also, in which they spake. They did not go to a distance to tell their tale: they began when the Jews were around them, who were their bitter enemies. Observe the season: what large multitudes were present on the occasion. And mark their boldness: they charged the Jews with having “killed the Prince of life,” and denounced upon them the heaviest judgments of God. And what did Peter, who had denied his Lord and Master through fear- does he dare thus to accuse and to denounce them; and could he have done this unless God had fulfilled his promise-“ It is not ye that speak but the SPIRIT of your FATHER which speaketh in you?” And then mark the result; the hearers were pricked in the heart, and many gladly received the word and were baptized, and the same day there were added to the church about three thousand souls.

Thirdly, This miracle was predicted. When our Lord was going to leave his disciples, he said, “These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall speak with new tongues.”

Fourthly, This miracle was necessary. Miracles were never performed merely to excite wonder- all were to answer some useful purpose; and so it was in this case. If these disciples had gone first to learn these languages, what an expense there would have been in time and labour. And even if they had gone out with interpreters, how could they be sure that those interpreters would be faithful and trustworthy. But difficulties are nothing in the way of Omnipotence; he can remove all, and effect his purposes.

Fifthly, Miracles were continued for years-to the end of the times of the Apostles. Sixthly, The gift was extensively distributed. Many had it who perished. It had no connection with the salvation of the soul.

Finally, The absence of this miracle in the church, in the work of evangelizing the world, must now be supplied by human learning. And we ought to be very thankful to God that his word has been translated into so many tongues. But the time is coming when all the inhabitants of the earth shall read “in their own tongues the wonderful works of God.”