Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: September 29th

Who remembered us in our low estate. - Psalms 136:23.

WE are here called upon to contemplate and admire the divine remembrance. Though we have forgotten him, he has not forgotten us. Observe what is included in this. When we are called upon to remember all the way the Lord our God has led us in the wilderness, or when young people are exhorted to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, something more than an intellectual process is enjoined. It is a remembrance which combines all proper feelings and actions. So God’s remembrance of us implies his regard, and this expression of it appears in five particulars.

First, In his providing a Saviour for us. This is the grand instance of his affectionate remembrance:-“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He sent not an angel, but the Lord of angels; not a servant, but his “own Son,” and “his only-begotten Son;” and surely “he that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, will with him freely give us all things.”

Secondly, In furnishing us with a divine revelation. For what advantage could we derive from him unless we knew him? How could we call upon him of whom we had never heard? The dying patriarch said, “Unto him shall the gathering of the people be;” but how shall we repair to him unless we have been informed of him? But unto us is “the word of this salvation sent.”

Thirdly, In appointing the means of grace. This led him to set apart one day out of seven to recall man from all his cares to the consideration of the “one thing needful,” and to institute the Christian ministry, and to raise up a succession of those who should “show unto men the way of salvation,” and to “devise other means, that his banished ones be not expelled from him:” so he throws in the sinner’s way a good book: he bereaves him of a friend, or takes away his worldly substance, or strikes down the wife of his youth; or sickness comes and seizes him, and, detaching him from the crowd, lays him upon a bed of languishing; and now he is brought with weeping and supplication to seek the Lord. “Lo! these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.”

Fourthly, In bestowing upon them supplies of grace. He says to them, “O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.” Zion said, indeed, “My God hath forgotten me;” but this was a wrong conclusion. “Can a woman,” says God, “forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, she may forget. Yet will I not forget thee. Behold, t have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” So he sends them from time to time the influences of his Spirit, to make them equal to their trials and conflict.

And lastly, He does not forget to correct them when they need the rod, “for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” And having in all these respects remembered us in our low estate, he will not now be unmindful of his promise:-“Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure.” “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him.” And, says the apostle, “All things work together for good to them that love God.” And here the Psalmist says, “Who remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endureth forever.”

Take unto you the whole armour of God. - Ephesians 6:13.

AND with regard to the armour which is provided for the Christian warrior, the Apostle enables us to remark four things. First, He specifies the articles of which it consists. “Having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness,and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Here it will be perceived there is no armour provided for the back. He therefore that flees is wholly defenceless, and is sure to perish.

Secondly, He tells us of the nature of this armour. It is the “armour of God.” It is Divine. It is the armour of God by institution, that is, it is appointed by God. We read of “the instruments of a foolish shepherd,” and there are the weapons of the foolish soldier. Soldiers are not allowed to choose their own armour in a war. These are determined by the authority under which they move. Nothing is to guide or to be considered binding upon the Christian soldier but “Thus it is written,” and has the sanction of this blessed book, which contains all the articles of the holy war. But it is also God’s armour by constitution. It is not only appointed by him, but provided by him. It is all of his own workmanship; it is therefore of Divine temper, and will abide the severest trial; no part of it can ever be destroyed or injured.

Thirdly, He speaks of the appropriation of it. For armour is nothing unless it be laid hold of and used; and therefore, says the Apostle, “Take unto you the whole armour of God.” He means that we should apply it to the various purposes for which it has been provided. There are some who are ignorant of it; these cannot “take it to themselves,” and they are perishing for lack of knowledge. Others know it, but despise it; they never make use of it, their religion is all speculation; they “know these things,” but “they do them not;” they believe, and “the devils believe and tremble.” The grace of God, which bringeth salvation,has come to them in vain; for it does not teach them to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.” Such knowledge is like the letter which Uriah carried in his bosom, and which placed him in the very front of the battle. Eor if our knowledge is unimproved, it will enhance our guilt and our condemnation.

Observe, fourthly, He remarks the entireness of the appropriation: “Take unto you the whole armour of God.” God forbids nothing in vain enjoins nothing in vain, provides nothing in vain; and therefore every part of this defensive and offensive armour is necessary. This armour of the Christian warrior may be considered with regard to his principles, his practice, his experience, his comfort, and his profession. And oh how important is it in each of these that neither of them is to be left in him exposed and undefended. He is to stand complete in the armour of righteousness; he is to be “perfect and entire, lacking nothing.” We are, however, here to distinguish between the aim and the attainment. Imperfection is compatible with sincerity in religion, but partiality is altogether alien to it. We must “esteem all his commandments to be right, and we must hate every false way,” and be able to say with David, “Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”