Devotionals By J.R. Miller, 1895

September 13.

"The child sat on her lap until noon and then died."
"Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said.
2 Kings 4:20, 28

The woman's thought seems to have been, "It would have been better had I remained as I was, with no voice of love in my home, my heart unfilled with affection, than that I should know and experience the gladness of motherhood for this brief time, and then be robbed of the joy." No doubt similar thoughts ofttimes come to those who are bereft of friends. In their deep grief, it seems to them that it would have been better if they had never had their friends at all—than to have had them a little while, to have learned to love them so, and to find such blessing in them—and then to lose them!

But Tennyson's word is far more true:
'Tis better to have loved and lost,
Than never to have loved at all.

Loving itself blesses us. It opens our heart and enriches our life. It teaches us the true meaning of life; for to live truly—is to love.

The taking away of our dear one—does not rob us of the blessings which loving has wrought in us. These we keep forever, though the friend is with us no more. Even if this child had not been restored to the mother in this world, she would still have kept forever the impressions and the influences which the child in its brief, beautiful years had left upon her life.

September 14.

"That they may be ever seeing—but never perceiving,
and ever hearing—but never understanding" Mark 4:12

It is a mistake not to use one's eyes to see things that are to be seen. The result is that in the end—one has no eyes with which to see. Refusing to listen to the words of God that are spoken in gentleness and love, results in the loss of the power to hear, so that in all God's universe of love, one shall hear no sweet sound; so that the very voices of tender mercy shall become screams of terror. Refusing to understand the things of God—leads to the dulling and deadening of the soul, so that at last one cannot understand—even if he would.

We should learn to keep all the gates of our soul open toward heaven. We should train ourselves to see whatever God would show us. Thus shall our eyes become able to see more and more beauty in God and in all his works. We should keep our ears intent to hear every Word that God speaks to us. We should strive to understand what God teaches us; for to those who seek, all hidden mysteries at length become clear.

September 15.

"Who touched Me? Jesus asked." Luke 8:45

The people were crowding against Jesus, and many people touched him; but there was one touch different from the others. There was a heart's cry in it, a pleading, a piteous supplication. It was a touch of faith, inspired by a deep sense of need. It was not an accidental touch, a mere touch of nearness; it was intentional.

This incident illustrates what is going on all the while, about Christ. We cannot move without pressing up against him. Sometimes in our heedlessness we jostle him rudely. But when among all earth's millions, one person intentionally reaches out a hand to feel after Christ, to touch him with a purpose, to seek for some blessing, to crave some help—Jesus instantly knows the pressure of that touch, and turns to answer it. He knows when any heart wants him, no matter how obscure the person, how poor, how hidden away in the crowd. Blessing came that day to none in that crowd, so far as we know—except to this poor, sick woman, who touched Christ's clothes. It came to her, because she had a burden on her heart—and sought Christ's help.

So in every company, there are some who are close, and yet receive no blessing, because there is no faith in their touching. Then there are those who are no nearer—but who reach out their hands in faith, and touch Christ's clothes, and go away helped, comforted.

September 16.

"Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours!" Luke 6:20

The blessed ones of the Bible, are not those whom this world considers happy. Indeed, in the opinion of worldlings, those whom Christ calls blessed, have a dreary life. He says the meek are blessed, the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. It would be hard to convince the man of this world—that these are the really blessed ones. But that is the way it appears to the eyes that look down from heaven—and that is the standard of life by which we must be measured in the divine judgment.

It is assuring to hear Jesus himself speak beatitudes for men. He knew who really are the blessed. He knew the difference between the earthly ideals of happiness, and the heavenly ideals. We may safely trust his estimates, and know that they are right. We know, too, that he came into this world to make blessedness possible for men who were lost in sin. On the cross he died to make men happy. It is pleasant to remember, too, that the last glimpse this world had of Jesus—he was in the attitude of blessing men. He had his hands stretched out over his disciples when he began to ascend. Ever since that moment, blessings have been raining down from those pierced hands upon a sorrowing earth. Those who do not receive blessings shut their hearts against them.

September 17.

"When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, Don't cry!" Luke 7:13

A sorrow in a home sends out a wave of tender feeling which impresses a wide community. While the death-crape hangs on a door, almost everyone of the great throng of passers-by is made at least for the moment, a little more thoughtful. Even strangers going by feel the influence, and their hearts are warmed by it. Whatever thus touches men with a gentler mood, though but transiently, becomes a blessing in the world. There is a humanizing influence in sympathy. It makes men more tolerant of each other, more patient with each other's faults, more loving and thoughtful. That which is changing the world these days from cruelty and savageness, into lovingness and brotherliness, is a sorrow—the sorrow of Calvary.

September 18.

"Then a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." Luke 9:35

Many of the sweetest revealings of comfort, are spoken to God's children out of the clouds of sorrow. Many a Christian learns more about God in a brief season of trouble, than he has learned before in years of earthly prosperity. We would never see the stars—if the sun did not go down. We would never see the promises that gem the Bible pages, like stars in the sky—were there no darkening of the sky of human prosperity and joy. Out of our clouds, too, comes the Father's voice, saying, "This is my Son." It is Christ who comes even in the shadow, who for a time hides and darkens his face. HE is in the center of every cloud.

There is significance also, in the message from the cloud, "Listen to him!" We must learn to listen to Christ—and to him only. There are mysteries about Christianity, things hard to be understood—but we may safely wait for the solution of these, meanwhile doing sweetly and quietly the things that Christ bids us do. Hereafter, we shall know.

Rain comes out of clouds, and if there is no rain—all nature suffers. So out of sorrow's clouds—the rain falls, and our lives are enriched thereby.

September 19.

"Then He said to them all, If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23

The more important the position we occupy is, and the greater its responsibilities are—the more cares will it bring. The quiet calm is found in the low valley, not on the mountain-top. As we rise in life—our burdens increase. We need to learn how to carry our load cheerfully when it gets heavy. We cannot reach the higher places, and miss the steep climbing that leads to them. If we would gain the heights—we must consent to climb up the steep and rugged mountain. It was not a mere dream, which envisioned life to the patriarch as a ladder.

September 20.

"If you love Me—you will keep My commandments." John 14:15

Love is more than a mere sentiment; it is also a life. The proof of it must be in acts. Thus in one of his epistles this disciple of love writes: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him—how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

This same principle applies to our profession of love for Christ. It is not enough that we sing it in our hymns, say it in our prayers, or utter it in our creed; we must show it in our life! A fruit-tree proves its usefulness by bearing fruit in the season. The rose-bush puts forth beautiful roses. And when we claim to be Christ's friends—we must show it by doing what he bids us to do.

September 21.

"Yes, Lord—but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table!" Matthew 15:27

When Jesus spoke to the poor Gentile woman in the language of the time, as if she were but a 'dog'—she was not offended. She was willing to be as a dog under the Master's table. She was ready to grant to the Jews—the children's place. The position Jesus had assigned to her satisfied her. For the dogs under the table did not starve. The children were first served, and then the pieces of food which they let fall, belonged to the dogs. Even the crumbs from that table were enough for her. Thus her humility and also her faith were shown.

We should come to Christ with a deep sense of our unworthiness, ready to take the lowest place; and we should realize that even the crumbs of his grace and love are better than all the feasts of this world.

September 22.

"Follow my example—as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

"Be imitators of me—as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

One way in which God reveals himself to us, is through the lives of the godly and the saintly. Next to living in direct communion with him—is living with others who thus live with him. Converse with those who lie in Christ's bosom and who know the secret of the Lord, cannot but greatly enrich our own knowledge of divine things. Yet in these busy days we are quite in danger of losing almost altogether out of our lives, this rich means of grace. One has said: "Do not think it wasted time— to submit yourself to any influence which may bring upon you any noble feeling."

September 23.

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows—he will also reap" Galatians 6:7

People have loose notions about sin. They think they can go on through life in disobedience of God's commands, and defiance of all moral laws—and then, by a single act of penitence, in a moment, have all the consequences of their sinning wiped out, all the effects in their own nature of lifelong evil habits reversed, and their character changed into saintly beauty and fitness for the kingdom of heaven.

But the Bible does not teach this. Those who choose sin for their way in life—must eat sin's fruit. The fruit of trees drops off—but sin's fruits stay in the life and become part of it. One may sow common seeds, and others gather and eat the harvest; but the sinner must gather and eat the fruit of his own sowing.

We are not through with our life—as we live it. Every act, every word, every thought, every choice, is a seed which we drop. We go on carelessly, never dreaming that we shall ever again see our deeds. Then some day, we come upon an ugly plant growing somewhere, and we ask, "What is this?" Comes the answer, "I am one of your plants. You dropped the seed which grew into me." Our lives are the little garden plots, in which it is our privilege to drop seeds. We shall have to eat the fruits of the seeds of which we are planting these days.

September 24.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." James 1:17

There are many good things that come to us through our friends. The father toils and saves, and leaves an inheritance for his children. Many rich blessings come to us through human affections. Hands are ever being reached out to us, hands of love and kindliness, offering us good things. We owe far more than we ever can estimate, to those who love us. The kindly ministry of friends, brings countless benefits to our lives.

But everyone of these is a blessing sent to us from God. The human hands which bring them—are but the hands of messengers. This is only one of God's ways of sending his good things to us.

James tells us also, that all that God gives us is good, and that every blessing of his is perfect. Sometimes we think that what we receive from God, cannot be good. We think he must have changed toward us. It is a loss or a disappointment, and it seems unkind. But in whatever form it comes, there is a blessing—some good is wrapped up in everything God sends to any of his children.

September 25.

"But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses." 1 Samuel 10:19

We are very quick to see ingratitude in those whom we have befriended, who forget our kindness and treat us unkindly. We like to quote in such connection, the fable of the serpent, frozen by the wayside, which the benevolent passer-by took up and put in his bosom to warm—but which returned his kindness, by striking its deadly fangs into his flesh!

Let us be honest toward God. Let us judge ourselves in relation to his mercies and favors to us, by the same rule which we so inexorably apply to our fellow-men. What has God done for us? What mercies and favors have we received from him? From what adversities and tribulations has he delivered us? Are we saved? Are we on the way now to heaven and glory? Who forgave us our sins? Who rescued us out of the hands of Satan? Who keeps us day by day?

There is only one answer. How, then, are we treating this Deliverer, Savior, and Friend? Do we recognize him as our King and Lord? Or are we rejecting him and demanding another? It is well that we sit down quietly, while this matter is before us, and see whether we are free from the sharp blame which the prophet here lays upon these ancient people. May it not be that we, too, are neglecting the God who has saved us?