Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: June 29th

Show me a token for good. - Psalms 86:17.

THE words before us are the language of David; and, oh, how many, since he used them, have made them their own! How many pious Jews, and how many real Christians, have said, “Show me a token for good”! “A token” is something added to a promise. A man promises to do something for us, and, in order to confirm our confidence, he offers a favour as a token that he will give the rest. A token in some respects resembles a pledge; still more, it resembles an earnest, only with this difference:- an earnest is always a part of what is to be given. A pledge is a token, inasmuch as it constitutes a practical confirmation and assurance of the rest. Let us, therefore, consider what the believer is desirous of obtaining. We hear mankind say, “Oh that I had a token for good,” that I should succeed in the formation of such a connection in life, that I may gain such an office, that I may amass such a fortune, that I may complete such an enterprise: “what shall I eat, and what shall I drink, and wherewithal shall I be clothed?” But while Christians are at present in the world, and are likely to be affected with its vanities, they are not, they cannot be, of the world as others are. No; they are born from above and bound for glory. There is their inheritance, and there will they reside forever; and they often say,-

“There my best friends, my kindred, dwell,

There God my Saviour reigns.”

The Christian, therefore, feels that he is a stranger and a pilgrim; he has no continuing-city here, but he seeks one to come; he no longer seeks that for his portion which is only intended for his passage and designed for his accommodation; and while many say, “Who will show us any good?” his language is, “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me;” while he: is thankful for earthly blessings, he feels his need of blessings relating to the soul and eternity,-blessings that can afford him security and satisfaction, and upon the possession of which his happiness absolutely depends. He therefore says, with Watts,-

“To thee we owe our wealth and friends,

Our health and safe abode;

Thanks to thy name for meaner things

But these are not my God.”

Or with our favourite poet,-

“Give what thou wilt, without thee we are poor,

And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.”

He now “seeks the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” and “sets his affections on things above:” now his treasure is in heaven; he has now new views, new wants, new desires. Witness his aim:-“That I may win Christ and be found in him.” Witness his inquiries now:-“How shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?” Witness his desires now:-“Remember me with the favour which thou bearest unto thy people.” He hungers and thirsts after righteousness. He now views the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant, which are hanging on the boughs of the promises, and longs to gather them as his own. He sees Christians feasting on the provisions of the gospel, and he says, “Ye are the happy ones: how I envy you! Is there a place for me by your side? and can I find a welcome there with you? Oh to be able to say, ‘Thou hast given me the heritage of them that fear thee’!” Thus it was with Nehemiah; he said, “Remember me, O Lord, for good.” Thus it was with David, who here says, “Show me a token for good;” and thus it is with the believer who is desirous of obtaining this blessing.

Arise, he calleth thee. - Mark 10:49.

WHEN our Saviour was passing along the road, a blind man who sat by the wayside begging cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy upon me.” And he stood still, and commanded him to be brought; and the multitude then said to the man, “arise, he calleth thee.” It is just the same with regard to many things now. He is thus calling many now. A season of affliction is a time in which he may be now, as he often has been, found. And how concerned we should be not to suffer such a season to pass unseized and unimproved. Do we feel our purposes broken off? even the thoughts of our hearts, and all our worldly schemes laid bare? We are thus addressed: “Arise, he calleth thee;” and by these things he bids us to arise and depart hence, to turn from the world, which is vanity and vexation of Spirit, and seek “a better, even a heavenly country;” and seek to know that we have in ourselves “a better and an enduring substance.” When invaded by sickness, it is still, “Arise, he calleth thee,” for by this messenger of mortality he says, “now you see there is but a step betwixt you and death;” now “the Judge standeth at the door;” or when bereaved of beloved connections, these bereaving providences say to us, “Arise, he calleth thee.” Yes, he now says:

“Why should this earth delight you so,

Why should you fix your eyes

On these low grounds where sorrows grow,

And every pleasure dies?”

When these are saying to us, “You see your idol now, what can it do for you?” then may we say, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” And when we see Christians supported under their trials, that they are happy without those things after which the multitude are so eagerly pursuing; that while others are saying, “Who will show us any good?” they have found it, and have acquainted themselves with God, and are at peace- by these we are also addressed, “arise, he calleth thee.” Let these, he in affect says, let these be instances and examples of my sustaining and supporting grace, to excite and encourage you.

O when we are alone, when God comes to us, as he did to Adam, “in the cool of the day;” when our heart, by these trials, is softened, and when powerfully impressed by the word we have been hearing, why then are we also thus addressed: “Arise, he calleth thee.” O then may we say, “Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.” “Lord, I am thine, save me.”