Category: Devotion of the Day

MAJORING ON THE MINOR

These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:23

Jesus was not preaching mainly on tithing here. Some have emphasized the negative side of this admonition until it has been overlooked that our Lord is pleading for “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith.”

When Christians “major on the major,” put first things first, and give proper attention to their faith in and fellowship with Christ, they will not leave lesser things undone. We are in peril of getting people to join church, tithe, and observe certain religious duties which, indeed, ought not to be left undone, but still omitting the supreme things which they should do first. Such procedure only confirms them in their self-righteousness and makes them doubly hard to reach with spiritual “first things.” Don’t forget that the Pharisees read the Scriptures, went to church, prayed, gave a tenth- and went to hell. Our righteousness must exceed theirs.

Let us “major on the major” and “minor on the minor.”

WOUNDED AFRESH

What are these wounds in thine hands?…These with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Zecchariah 13:6

Our Lord’s most grievous wounds are suffered at the hands of professing Christians, those who claim to be His friends. Judas was not the only man who has betrayed Jesus, nor is Peter the sole disciple who has denied Him. He is daily crucified afresh by those who call Him Lord, Lord, and do not His commands.

The present-day dens of iniquity, the liquor shops, theaters, the card playing and gambling, all the big, booming business of sin would practically be out of business if all church members withdrew their support. Staggering bums in the gutters are of little value to the devil. He prizes most the men and women who wear the livery of saints and live the lives of sinners.

Indeed, our Lord is wounded by this foul and blasphemous world. But His deepest scars He gets at the hands of those who dare to claim His Name. Shame on us who sing of His cross on Sunday and crucify Him afresh all week!