. It takes both of these elements
to make true religion. J.R. Miller, Daily Bible Readings
in the Life of Christ, 1890. Now there was a man in Jerusalem
called Simeon, who was just and devout. Luke 2.25. He was just in all his dealings
with men, and devout in his dealings toward God. It takes both of
these elements to make true religion. Some people are just and not
devout. They are scrupulously honest
in all their dealings, and yet they never think of God or of
their duties to Him. They do not bow to Him in prayer,
nor do they ever lift their hearts to Him in praise. They do not
love Him. They confess no obligations to
Him. Their whole religion simply is
honesty towards their fellow men, while they utterly ignore
God, their Creator and Redeemer, in whom they live, from whose
grace every blessing in their lives flows, and upon whom they
are dependent every moment for breath and existence. it is readily
seen that such religion is no religion at all. While we are
just and honest in our transactions with men, it is to God that we
owe the first and highest duties, We are His creatures, we are
saved, if at all, by His grace. We owe to Him obedience, faith,
love, honor, service. So we must be devout as well
as just. On the other hand, there are
some people who profess to be devout who are not just. They attend upon ordinances,
they sing and pray, and then they go out into the weekday
world and are hard, unjust, greedy, and oppressive. It is very evident
that this kind of religion does not please God. He wants our
praise and honor, but He wants us to honor Him by our lives
and actions as well as by our lips. There are two tables of
commandments, and the second table commandments are as binding
as the first. We are to love God with all our
heart, the first table, but we are also to love our neighbor
as ourselves, the second table. While we are devout toward God,
we are to be honest, true, unselfish toward men. The two things must
go together and must never be torn asunder.