Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: October 17th

The word of the Lord endureth forever. - 1 Peter 1:25.

WE may, therefore, be persuaded of the stability of the cause of revelation. We may give to the winds our fears: they are unworthy of us, as they are entirely groundless. The church of Christ is not, cannot be, in danger. “Upon this rock,” says he, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The unbelief of man shall not make the word of God, says the apostle, of none effect. Men may oppose Christianity, they may burn the Bible, but they cannot destroy either the church or the Scriptures. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” says the Saviour, “but my word shall not pass away.” “My word,” says God, “shall not return unto me void; it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Thus we read in the Acts that “the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.”

The waves may roar and dash, but while they beat against a rock they break only themselves. Satan, in our day, may be deceiving many; but yet we have, in thousands of cases, abundant proof that God is at work too. Has he not all his enemies under his control and under his subserviency? Oh, yes! the thunders that terrify will purify the air. God shows his government of the world in those confusions which seem likely to unhinge every thing; and he shows his care of the church in those perils and difficulties which seem likely to destroy it. Let us therefore apply the Scriptures to our own use, and to the purposes for which they have been given:-“Whatever was written aforetime was written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope.” “These things,” says the evangelist, “are written that ye may believe on the Son of God, and that, believing, ye may have life through his name.”

We are only trifling with the Sacred Book, unless we make it the means of leading our feet into the way everlasting. For to what purpose is it that we read it unless we receive the “saying which is worthy of all acceptation,”-unless it brings us to the Saviour,- unless it enables us to give ourselves up to him as poor, perishing sinners, knowing in whom we have believed? Oh, let us then seek the blessings it promises, attend to the duties it enjoins, follow its examples, and suffer them to govern us in our worship, in our lives, and in our calling. And let us be concerned for the diffusion of scriptural knowledge at home and abroad. What can we impart to our fellow-creatures equal to the bread and water of eternal life? And let us, whenever we have opportunity, speak highly of the gospel, and recommend it to others.

And behold the whole city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. - Matthew 8:34.

HERE was a sight enough to melt hearts that were not of flint. The people, hearing of what had befallen the herd of swine, came out of the city in large numbers; and when they came they saw before them that wretched being whom no man could tame, though he were bound in chains and fetters, who had his dwelling among the tombs and mountains, ever cutting himself with stones-they saw this poor wretch dispossessed and tranquillised, clothed, and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Surely this was a sight to endear the Saviour to them; but as soon as they discovered what had befallen the swine, every tender thought was annihilated. Instead of bringing their sick and poor folk to be healed and blessed; instead of praising this Divine Benefactor, or inquiring of this Prophet, so mighty in deed and word, they prayed-yes, for once they prayed (for they were afraid to offer him violence)-that he would depart out of their coasts. He heard their prayer, took shipping, and withdrew, and they saw him no more.

How dreadful is this prayer! Alas, how many have offered the same, and even encouraged a hope that it would be answered, and that they would be rid of Christ in time! While Moses has been crying, “If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence;” and David praying,” Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me;” these have been desiring that Christ would depart from them. And yet we need the Saviour’s presence as much as the earth needs the sun; without him all is darkness, dullness, dreariness, and death. “Woe to them,” says God, “When I depart from them.” Better for a man to lose his property, and embrace the dunghill, be deprived of his liberty and become a slave, or to lose his health and know not a moment’s ease, than to endure the curse, “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.”

If God leave a man, then is he left indeed. A blind man on the edge of a precipice, a mariner sleeping on the mast-top, a child with a flambeau amongst gunpowder, is less in danger. Yet the Gadarenes desired him to depart. Alas, how many are there who, though ashamed to say so, have felt the same desire. Thoughts of the Saviour and his presence have been unwelcome and irksome; they have lamented the checks and restraints these have imposed on them, and wished they were able to go on undisturbedly; in short, to be free, to be rid of him.

This is the prayer of many a look, many a gesture. By their looks and their actions many have prayed thus, when not a word has been said; but actions speak louder than words. How many have thus told a minister, a friend, a parent, to leave off! In the movement of an eye, or a finger, or the turning of their back, they have said, “Depart from us; we desire not a knowledge of thy ways;” “which say unto the seers, See not, and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease before us.” This language is their meaning. God puts it into words; and what wonder, if God in judgment takes them at their word. And thus God interprets the meaning of these prayers; he translates these actions into intelligible language, and there is nothing more awful than for the Almighty thus to put men’s conduct into words, and to tell them what they say when no sentence passes their lips.