Morning   “Avoid foolish questions.” / Titus 3:9

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing

over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a

world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical

importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points

and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said,

neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes

knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions

upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God

alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of

observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our

business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them

altogether; and if we observe the apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful

to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with

profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and

needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we

must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in

the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not

after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my

conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming

of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What

more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our

attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our

critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be

peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to

“avoid foolish questions.”

 

Evening  “O that I knew where I might find him!” / Job 23:3

In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an

afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer

is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every

part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the

jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the

spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might

find Him, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!” God’s children

run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious

soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath

made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer. A

hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave,

would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of

heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in

the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God

was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The

patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial

throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes

himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and

cries, “O that I knew where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much

the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all

besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no

honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter

than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize

God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily

cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.