Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: November 1st

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. - Isaiah 42:16.

WHAT could we do without such a Leader? The condition of men with regard to a future state is represented as being without God and without hope in the world. Man is a poor wanderer on the mountains of ignorance, a prey to every danger, liable to be led astray by his prejudices and passions, for “wherein is he to be accounted of?” He is “alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in him,” and if left to himself, he would, “in the greatness of his folly, go astray.” A man may go to hell without a guide, but he cannot go to heaven without one, or without a Leader, of whose guidance we are here assured. But-blessed be his name!-if we earnestly seek divine direction, he is willing to listen to our supplications, and to take us under his own peculiar guidance.

Hence the Christian can say, with David, “He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Thus the Church sung in triumph, of old, “This God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Oh, what can equal the satisfaction derivable from the persuasion that we are under divine guidance, led by One almighty to save, to pardon, to indulge; patient to bear and able to deliver; wise to conduct and to make all things work together for our good? Let us first observe that the subjects of this guidance are blind with regard to their spiritual state. Though all Christians are children of the light and of the day, yet “they were once wholly in darkness,” and are still partially so; and were they not only in a measure enlightened, they would not stand in need of such a Director and Guide.

Let us also observe where he leads them:-“I will lead them in paths they have not known.” Now, this is true, first, with regard to their spiritual concerns. They were not born Christians, but they have been made such; and if now they differ from others, and from their former selves, it is because he hath “called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.” “I will lead them in paths they have not known.” What did they once know? They once felt convictions of sin, now they see its evil; they now not only feel an aversion with regard to it, but an abhorrence of it. What did they once know of faith and trust in the Redeemer? Now they can confide in him as their only foundation, and say, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength; yea, they can rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Then what did they once know of a throne of grace? They heard prayer and supplication, and perhaps they “said their prayers;” but they now know what it is to come unto God by Him who is “the way, the truth, and the life.” They have now boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Christ; their fellowship is now with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. But they had not gone this way heretofore.

Secondly, With regard to their temporal concerns, God leads his people in a way which they “have not known.” What can we know of the future as to nations, families, or ourselves as individuals? Now, if we look back and contemplate the bounds of our habitation, our connections, our friends, our successes, our disappointments, as fixed by Providence, all appear surprising and rare. Perhaps, if much had been foretold us by a seer some years before, we should have been ready to say, “If the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?”

And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. - Acts 11:23.

OBSERVE, first, The importance of the admonition-that they would “cleave unto the Lord.” Who did he mean by the Lord? Unquestionably the Lord Jesus. Him they had received; in him they were to walk. He possessed every excellency to excite their admiration, and every claim upon their obedience. He and he alone was equal to the relief of all their exigencies; and therefore “he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord.” If we had heard Barnabas explaining his own exhortation, probably it would have been something to this effect: Cleave, my brethren, to him; cleave to him as your Teacher; hear ye him. If others go off murmuring and complaining, saying this is a “hard saying, who can hear it,” and he says unto you, “Will ye also go away?” return the same answer as we are doing, “Lord, to whom can we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Cleave to him as your Redeemer, whose blood cleanseth from all sin; whose righteousness alone can give you boldness and access, with confidence in all your dealings with Cod. Cleave to him as your Support in all your duties, and in all your conflicts, and in all your trials, for in him you have not only righteousness, but strength. “Without him you can do nothing,” but through his “strengthening you, you can do all things.” Cleave to him as your Comforter; he is the “hope” and “consolation of Israel;” in him alone you can have peace; while “in the world you shall have tribulation.” Cleave to him as your Master; remember that he bought you with his blood, and that you have dedicated yourselves entirely to his service. Cleave to him as your Example. Seek to be more and more like him, “to deny yourselves and take up your cross,” and “follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth.”

Observe, secondly, The nature of the admonition. It was “that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Now this impulse-not only conviction but resolution-always issues from the heart; and what is religion unless the heart be engaged from the beginning to the end. God therefore says, “My son, give me thine heart.” When this is given, everything else will be surrendered. When there is purpose of heart, when the heart is fixed, the possessor of it will go forward notwithstanding difficulties, and will convert opposition and hindrances into furtherances and aids.

Thirdly, The extensiveness of the admonition. It was universal; he “exhorted them all;” not only those who were weak, but the strong; not only the young, but the aged. When is a man beyond the snares of Satan? Solomon’s heart was led away in his old age: and does not the Apostle warn Timothy, who was young, to “flee youthful lusts?” Who is ever entitled to live without caution? Those who think they stand in need of no admonition or caution are those who are most in danger; for “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”