A Devotional Commentary on the Gospels

A Devotional Commentary
on the Gospels

Arranged for family devotions, for every day in the year. ByFavell Lee Mortimer, 1802-1878.

This book is a clear, sweet and practical commentary on thelife of Christ. It is intended for reading during family worship, or for personal devotional reading. Though it has some theological flaws which we do not endorse, in the main it is very profitable and Christ-centered. This book may be used with children as young as six or seven. Adults will find it to be both challenging and comforting.

Introduction

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

BOOKS

(The following outstanding books can be used
in family devotions with high school children)

The Gospel of MATTHEW (J. C. Ryle)

The Gospel of MARK (J. C. Ryle)

The Gospel of LUKE (J. C. Ryle)

The Gospel of JOHN (J. C. Ryle)

FAMILY SERMONS (Horatius Bonar)

As he snuffs the gale of popular applause!

JEWELS from JAMES

(Choice devotional selections from
the works of John Angell James)

As he snuffs the gale of popular applause!

"In all things approving ourselves as the ministers
 of God."  2 Corinthians 6:4.

This verse implies that ministers are to labor for God—
surely not for the preacher's fame. SELF is an idol which
has been worshiped by far greater multitudes than any
other deity of either ancient or modern heathenism.
A minister is the last man in the world who should be
seen at the altar of this vile abomination—SELF. And yet
without great care he is likely to be the first one there,
to linger there the longest, to bow the lowest, and to
express his devotion by the costliest sacrifices!

Many become ministers merely to acquire popular
applause. 'Fame' is their motive and their aim. To
commend themselves, is the secret but powerful
spring of all they do. SELF is with them in the study
directing their reading, selecting their texts, arranging
their thoughts, forming their illustrations—and all with
a view to 'shine in public'. Thus prepared, they ascend
the pulpit with the same object which conducts the
actor to the stage—to secure the applause of approving
spectators. Every tone is modulated, every emphasis
laid, every attitude regulated—to please the audience,
rather than to profit their souls; to commend themselves,
and not Jesus Christ. The service ended, this bosom idol
returns with them to their own abode, and renders them
restless and uneasy to know how they have succeeded.
If they are admired, they receive their reward; if not,
the first prize is lost! 

It is nothing in abatement of the sin, that all this
while evangelical sentiments are uttered. Orthodoxy
is the most direct road to popularity. Christ may be
the text—when SELF is the sermon! And dreadful
as it seems, it is to be feared that many have elevated
the cross only to suspend upon the 'sacred tree' their
own honors! and have employed all the glories of
redemption—merely to emblazon their own name!

The ministry is not intended to be a platform, where the
petty manufacturer of 'tinsel eloquence' and 'rhetorical
flowers' shall display to a gaping crowd his gaudy wares!

When carried to this height, this is the direst, deepest
tragedy that was ever performed by man, since it ends
in the actual and eternal death of the performer, who
forgets, as he snuffs the gale of popular applause,
that it bears the vapors of damnation! 

"The Spirit took me to the north gate of the temple's
 inner courtyard, where there was an idol that
 disgusted the Lord and made Him furious!"
    (Ezekiel 8:3)

It is by faith

JEWELS from JAMES

(Choice devotional selections from
the works of John Angell James)

It is by faith
It is by faith, as an operative principle of universal obedience 
to the gospel of Christ, that the believer "purifies his heart" and 
adorns his character with "the beauties of holiness," through 
the power of the Divine Spirit. 

It is by faith that he overcomes the world . . .
  the dread of its frown, 
  the desire of its smile,
  its evil maxims, 
  its corrupt principles. 

It is by faith that he . . .
  quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one,
  is delivered from the wiles of the devil,
  and bruises the serpent's head. 

It is by faith, as a pilgrim and stranger upon earth, he 
nourishes the desire for, and indulges the expectation of, 
that country which God has promised to those who love Him. 

It is by faith that he rises superior to the love of life, vanquishes
the fear of death, and while this monster puts his most horrid
form of mischief on—he smiles at his terrors, and, swelling into
rapture, exclaims, "O death, where is your sting!"

Christ's seemingly inexplicable conduct

JEWELS from JAMES (Choice devotional selections from the works of John Angell James)

Christ's seemingly inexplicable conduct

Behold the Canaanite woman appealing to Incarnate Mercy
for her demon-possessed daughter, beseeching for a cure from
Him who alone could effect it, and whom she believed could, if
He would. What a plea! "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!
My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession!" One
would think that such an appeal of course will be instantly heard
and granted. "But Jesus gave her no reply—not even a word!"
What! the 'ear of pity' deaf to such a petition! "What!" one
would have imagined she would say, "is this the mercy, the
fame of which has reached even my afflicted home? Will He
not hear me, look on me, answer me? Must I return, and tell
all who come to inquire about my plight—that He would not
bestow a word or even a look, upon me?"

To increase her distress and discouragement, the  disciples
urged Jesus to send her away. "Tell her to leave," they said.
"She is bothering us with all her begging." Is this all the mercy
that could be found in the hearts of all the twelve apostles?
Poor woman, we pity you. There is very little hope for you!

Jesus at length breaks silence, and says, "I was sent only to
help the people of Israel—God's lost sheep—not the Gentiles."
His harsh words are more distressing than His silence!

Still her faith holds on, and her prayer continues, for "she came
and worshiped Him and pleaded again—Lord, help me!" To this
He makes a reply that seems to add insult to neglect. "It isn't
right to take food from the children—and throw it to the dogs!"

Mysterious answer! O Savior, how apparently unlike Yourself!

What must have been the poor widow's reflections—"My heart is
now almost broken—am I not a Gentile woman? and must I be
called a dog? Is it thus He will deny His own character, and
break the bruised reed? Must I go home and look upon my poor
child with the sting of this insult and its venom rankling in my
tortured bosom?"

Surely she will now give up her suit—stop her plea—and renounce
her faith. Yes, she would have done so—had her faith been less
strong. "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even dogs are permitted to
eat crumbs that fall beneath their master's table!" Marvelous reply,
one of the finest responses which language ever formed, and the
most ingenious reasonings ever drawn.

Jesus could hold out no longer. He could protract the trial no
farther. Like Joseph under the influence of his feelings, when his
heart was moved by the discourse of his brothers; Jesus drops
the innocent disguise which His bursting compassion could not
sustain another moment, and with delighted surprise He exclaims,
"Woman, your faith is great! Your request is granted!"

What was the meaning of all this? What was the secret of Christ's
seemingly inexplicable conduct? What? He saw He had a subject
which would enable Him to exhibit to the world an extraordinary
instance of faith in prayer, and He determined to draw it forth in
all its power and beauty. His heart was moved towards her from
the beginning. He knew what He would do—and though He beat
her off with one hand, He held her fast by the other.

Here then we have an instance of prayer continued under delays,
apparent neglect, and repulse—and continued through the power
of faith. The woman still believed that there was mercy in that
heart, to which she for a long time appealed in vain, and that
she should ultimately succeed—and she did. "And her daughter
was instantly healed!"

Have you seen Jesus lately?

C.H. SPURGEON

SPURGEON COLLECTION

Have you seen Jesus lately? 

"But they did not know who He was." Luke 24:16

The disciples ought to have recognized Jesus, they had heard His voice so often, and gazed upon that marred face so frequently, that it is amazing that they did not know Him. Yet is it not so with you also? Have you seen Jesus lately? You have been to His table—and you have not met Him there. You are in a dark trouble, and though He plainly says, "It is I—do not be afraid," yet you do not recognize Him. Alas! our eyes are blinded! We know His voice; we have looked into His face; we have leaned our head upon His bosom—and yet, though Christ is very near us, we are saying, "O that I knew where I might find Him!"

We should know Jesus, for we have the Scriptures to reflect His image. Yet how frequently we open that precious book—and have no glimpse of our Well-beloved! Dear child of God, are you in that state? Jesus walks through the glades of Scripture, and desires to commune with His people. Yet you are in the garden of Scripture—but cannot see Him, though He is always there!

Make it your prayer, "Lord, open my eyes—that I may see my Savior present with me!" It is a blessed thing to desire to see Him. But oh! it is better far to gaze upon Him! To those who seek Him—He is kind; but to those who find Him—He is precious beyond expression!

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Amidst all the changes of this troublous life

Spurgeon Collection
C.H. SPURGEON

Amidst all the changes of this troublous life
 

"I am the Lord—and I do not change!" Malachi 3:6

It is well for us that, amidst all the alterations and vicissitudes of life, that there is . . .
  One whom change cannot affect,
  One whose heart can never alter,
  One on whose brow mutability can make no furrows.

All other things have changed—all other things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age. The world is waxing old—the heavens and earth must soon pass away and perish! There is One alone, who has immortality—of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change.
 

The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore—is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth, "I am the Lord—and I do not change!" The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian's hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth.

"With Him there is no variation!" Whatever His attributes were of old—they are now! His power, His wisdom, His justice, His truth, are alike unchanged.
 

He has ever been the refuge of His people, their stronghold in the day of trouble—and He is their sure Helper still.

He is unchanged in His love. He has loved His people with "an everlasting love!" He loves them now, as much as ever He did! And when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, His love will still wear the dew of its youth.
 

Precious is the assurance that our God never changes! The wheel of providence revolves—but its axleis eternal love!


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