Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: August 5th

He is able to succour them that are tempted. - Hebrews 2:18.

HERE we view the suffering Saviour succouring his tempted followers. Let us notice, First, The subjects of relief:-“Them that are tempted;” that is, as we have already noticed, by trial and by suffering. Such is the condition of his people; “Bonds and afflictions abide them.” Those who enter heaven can say, “I found trouble and sorrow.” Yes,

“The path of sorrow, and that path alone,

Leads to that world where sorrow is unknown.”

Observe, Secondly, The source of their relief, and how greatly they stand in need of succour and support to keep them from sinking in the day of adversity. This is that which David felt when he said, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” The Lord’s people are favoured to experience “peace and joy in believing” in the midst of their trials, so that the people of the world have wondered to behold them. The reason is, these worldlings can see their temporal losses, but they cannot see their spiritual gain; they can behold their burdens, and are amazed that these do not press their very lives down to the ground; but they cannot see “the everlasting arms underneath them.” They can hear their cries, but know not their comforts, their access to a, throne of grace, their share in “an everlasting covenant,” nor the communion which they have with their Lord and Saviour, and their earnests of that blessed state where all sorrow and sighing will cease, where God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Indeed, Christians themselves are often not aware of this beforehand, so that they are often amazed when trials come; for they find that as their day so their strength is; and they find that God gives them “grace to help in time of need;” so that, “in the multitude of their thoughts within them, his comforts delight their souls.” They are led to rejoice that all their sufferings come from him. The apostle, therefore, says, “If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ;” and there is, when there is none in the world. So he says again, “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth.” But how? “By Christ.” Hence says Micah, “This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian cometh into the land.” And thus said the Saviour himself, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace.” “The hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble.”

He is therefore called “the consolation of Israel.” And what Lamech said to his wife on the birth of Noah, as she was fondling him in her arms,-“This same shall comfort us,”-may the Christian say with regard to the Saviour, whatever his external trials or his internal exercises may be.

He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. - Luke 9:55.

THESE are the words of our Saviour to two of his disciples. The circumstances which led him thus to address them are thus recorded: “When the time was come that he should he received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face, and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem”-that is, these Samaritans perceived he was going to attend a Jewish festival, and not one of their own, and the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans.

Now it is remarkable that they were just by the very place where Elijah had inflicted those judgments of God which came upon the men Ahaziah had sent to apprehend him; this, probably, led these disciples to think of asking permission to follow his example. And so when his disciples James and John (oh sad!) saw this, that is, the conduct of these Samaritans, they said, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” This showed some love to their Master, and also a willingness to do nothing without his consent and approbation. This was good; but there was something else with which he was acquainted. “He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of.” Elias did not act from private resentment; he did not act as a man; he acted as a prophet of the Lord-he had a special call to do what he did. You have no such call. His was pure zeal for God; yours has in it a sad mixture of the leaven of prejudice, subsisting between the Jews and the Samaritans, above which you are not able at present to rise.

You should consider, also, that the dispensation under which he was placed, and the dispensation under which you are placed, are very different from each other; for “the Son of man is come not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Elias was under the Law; you are under Grace. “Grace as well as truth came by Jesus Christ.” Elias came in order to inflict judgment upon the wicked; “I am come to seek and to save the lost.”

Yes; the gracious and compassionate Saviour went about doing good. He never destroyed one life; he never injured one individual. No; “he came to bless us, in turning every one away from his iniquities.” And in him may we be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.