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Daily Devotionals
Our Daily Homily - Volume 3
Jeremiah 38:20—Obey.... So it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live. (R.V.)
Of many Christians it can hardly be said that their souls live; they exist, but do not thrive. The food of the soul is in part the Word of God; but in part it is obedience. As we obey we are fed; for our Master said, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). The same truth is suggested here; if we obey the voice of the Lord, it is well with us, and our soul thrives.
The voice of God speaks from the page of his Word. Let us not accept that to be his voice which does not come to us through Scripture, or is not corroborated by Scripture. But let us be very careful to obey God’s Word, so far as we know it, even when, as in Zedekiah’s case, it seems to contradict all the suggestions of prudence and common-sense. Better be with God in a minority of one, than have the plaudits of an immense host of godless men.
How well I remember, years ago now, entering the bed-chamber of an eminent saint, one autumn morning, whose diminishing candles told how long he had been feeding on the Word of God. I asked him what had been the subject of his study. He said he had been engaged since four o’clock in discovering all the Lord’s positive commandments, that he might be sure that he was not wittingly neglecting any one of them. It is very sad to find how many in the present day are neglecting to observe to do the Lord’s precepts—concerning his ordinances, concerning the laying-up of money, the evangelization of the world, and the manifestation of perfect love. They know the Lord’s will, and do it not. They appear to think that they are absolved from that "observing to do," which was so characteristic of Deuteronomy. As though Love were not more inexorable than Law!
