Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: June 13th

Yet, believing, ye rejoice. - 1 Peter 1:8.

HERE we have the medium of the Christian’s joy,-“believing.” In the Christian economy every thing is by faith; we read of “the proportion of faith,” of “the measure of faith,” “the unity of faith,” “the law of faith,” “the word of faith,” “the righteousness of faith,” “the shield of faith,” “the strength of faith,” “the household of faith,” “the assurance of faith,” “the profession of faith;” we are saved “through faith,” we are “justified by faith,” we are “sanctified by faith that is in Christ.” Our hearts are purified by faith; and yet some wonder that we so extol and commend faith. Every thing is by faith: “the life which we live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God;” “by faith we walk;” “by faith we stand;” by faith we overcome; and yet some persons are afraid lest there should be too much stress laid on faith. Why, every thing is by faith. We read of the “fight of faith,”-“the work of faith,”-of “the prayer of faith,”-of “the joy of faith.” Every thing flourishes in religion just as faith prospers. And here we are told that Christians only rejoice in their Saviour by “believing.” Now, this will appear clear and undeniable when we remark two things.

First, Faith is the only medium of our acquaintance with him. Now, though we can rejoice in an unseen Saviour, we cannot rejoice in an unknown one. The knowledge of him, therefore, is absolutely necessary. And from whence is this knowledge to be derived? Why, only from testimony. This is the record that God has given us of his Son; and this contains all the information that we can possess concerning him while we are in this world. And those who refuse it, therefore, must remain in darkness. “What can I know of his person, of his character, of his offices, of his relations, of his influences, of his blessings, but from the Scriptures, all of which testify of Him?

And then, Secondly, This faith is the medium of all our intercourse with him. It is by this, and by this alone, that we deal with him in the solemn concerns of our souls and eternity. Faith is the feet by which we come to him; faith is the wings by which we “flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us;” faith is the eye by which we see him; faith is the ear by which we hear him; faith is the hand by which we receive him; faith is the arm by which we lean upon him; faith is the taste by which we feed upon him. “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,” says the Saviour, “and drink his blood, ye have no life in you;” and this can only be done by faith.

Who is on the LORD’S side? - Exodus 32:26.

THERE is no neutrality in religion. There are cases in which neutrality is possible, and in which it maybe excused, if not admired and commended. In family disputes, the quarrels of neighbours, it may be well to keep neutral. Two nations may wage war against each other, and waste their resources, and a third nation, however urged, may remain neutral, securing its subjects and husbanding its wealth. Some have thought it to be an excellence in a senator to belong to no party. But a man must take a part with one side or the other, for he can do nothing as a neutral, whether in politics or in religion; or otherwise he will have no influence with either party, but be disowned of both. But even if it were not so in these cases, there can be no neutrality here; and this cannot be repeated too often- “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “Whosoever will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God.” “If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.”

But there are some, blessed be God, who are with him, and on his side. This is their glory, and this should be their joy. They are with him, and on his side now, and they shall be with him for ever. They are now suffering with him, and they shall “also reign with him.” They now are bearing the “reproach of the cross.” They shall soon share with him in the glory of the crown. They are now on his side engaged in the toils of the fight; and they shall soon be with him in the triumphs of victory. And he will fulfil his own words: “Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne.” “Ye are they,” says he, “who have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

If we are on the Lord’s side, we are on the right side, on the safe side, on the rising side. We are on the side which, by-and-bye, will annihilate the opposite side, and become a universality. We are with him-are advancing with him. Here is the Saviour-here are his people; they are weak, he is Almighty -He is at their head. Therefore we need not be afraid to go forward. Let us therefore come to a decision, seeing there can be no medium between loving Christ and hating him; and that when the dispute is between God and Baal, there is to be no “halting between two opinions.”

Let us also remember that we are not only required to “cease to do evil,” but “to learn to do well;” and that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, though it bring forth no bad fruit, is “hewn down and cast into the fire.”