the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
September 3—Morning—Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord."—Jeremiah 9:23-24.
And didst thou, my poor, proud, vain, sinful heart, after so much as hath been said to thee of Jesus, and so much as thou hast been feelingly taught thy want of Jesus, didst thou need this precept? Oh yes, my soul; every day it had need be sounded in thy ears, and wrote over again by the Holy Ghost upon thine heart. Now it is, Lord Jesus, I learn from hence why thou art so suited to a poor convinced sinner. Thou, and thou only, art the Lord our righteousness: and therefore let those that know not their own worthlessness, nor thy glory, boast in what they may; let others talk of what they will, I see plain enough there s nothing out of thee for a poor soul to rejoice in. The wise men hath no wisdom, but in thee; nor the mighty man strength, nor the rich man riches, but if thou art my portion, thou art made of God to me both wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and then indeed I shall glory in the Lord!
September 3—Evening—Zephaniah 1:7
"Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests."—Zephaniah 1:7.
My soul, here is a portion of God’s word, which, like the pillar of the cloud in the camp of Israel, hath a double aspect; it becomes a cloud of trembling indeed, of darkness, dread, and fear, to all who, spiritually considered, are yet in Egyptian bondage, but a glorious refreshing light to the people of God. The presence of the Lord God is a solemn presence to all, and will command silence, yea, a trembling. "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." And is the day of the Lord at hand? Yea, verily, every day brings it nearer; every breath, every pulse that beats, shortens the distance. There is, there must be, a day, in which "the Lord will judge the world in righteousness, and minister true judgment unto the people." And observe, my soul, what this blessed scripture adds: "The Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests." God hath set forth his dear Son as a propitiation, for "without shedding of blood, there is no remission." He hath bid his guests. Yes! the Lord that hath made this rich feast of salvation, hath also invited the people he will have to partake of it. He hath sent out his word, his servants, into the highways, and lanes, and hedges of the city, to call them in. And their characters are marked: they "are" the poor, and the needy, and the halt, and the blind." Thousands, answering to this character, are come; have partaken of the rich feast, and called it blessed; "and yet there is room." My soul! art thou come? Hast thou accepted the invitation, and come under this character? Hast thou found it blessed? Pause over the inquiry. The reverse of this will be a cup of trembling, and astonishment, and madness, to all that reject the counsel of God against their own souls, who are too proud to accept the bidding to the feast of Jesus’s blood, to cleanse them, and too rich, in their own eyes, to look for salvation in his righteousness to justify them.
