Daily Devotionals

The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions

Devotional: November 22nd

November 22—Morning—Isaiah 55:1

"Come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price."—Isaiah 55:1.

Surely, no man can plead poverty as an excuse for not buying, when the things sold are not only without money, but without even the proposals for money; not only without ready money, but without any money. Here is not even a price given. My soul, remember this. The poorer the wretch, the more welcome to this market. But what are the things sold? Both wine and milk. A blessed variety in the gospel feast—wine to cheer, and milk to nourish. Yes, blessed Jesus, thy love is better than wine, and thy salvation more healing than milk: Besides, it comes free, it comes pure, it comes in plenty. And it far, very far, exceeds the strongest wine, and the richest milk. For though wine may remove a temporary heaviness, yet was it never known to raise the dead; but thy love, blessed Jesus, hath raised, and will keep alive for ever, sinners dead in trespasses and sins, and preserve the languishing graces of thy saints. Come then, my soul, obey the gospel invitation of this day, and every day; come, buy these precious things without money, and without price. Come, ye poor, needy, perishing, sinners; come, every one of you, and buy, there is enough in Jesus for us all; and depend upon it, not one of you will be sent empty away, if you come empty to be filled, and hungry to be satisfied. This is the only mark and evidence of every real purchaser. If Jesus, with all his blessings, be welcome to your heart, you are welcome to take of his free salvation. Lord, I am come this day, and every day. Now let me hear thy voice; "Eat, O friends; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved."

November 22—Evening—1 Corinthians 7:22

"The Lord’s free-man."—1 Corinthians 7:22.

And who is the Lord’s free-man? Jesus himself hath given a decided answer to this enquiry. "Whosoever committeth sin (saith Jesus) is the servant of sin." Now as by nature we were all born in this state of bondage to sin, and by practice have fully manifested the stock of servitude to which by nature we belong; we are Vassals and slaves to sin, and in bondage to all the dreadful consequences. "But (saith Jesus) if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed!" John 8:34-36. Hence then; my soul, learn what it is to be the Lord’s free-man, and the blessed effects resulting from this freedom. If this be thy portion thou art no longer in bondage to "the curse of God’s broken law." Jesus hath freed thee from this; having "redeemed thee from the curse of the law, in being made himself a curse." Thou art no longer under "the penalty of sin:" Jesus delivered thee from the wrath to come, when "He, who knew no sin, became sin for his people, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him." Thou art no longer under "the dominion of Sin:" Jesus hath taken away this power also; for ’° the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, hath made his people free from the law of sin and death." Thou art loosed from "the yoke of Satan:" for by the conquest of Christ on the cross, thou art "delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son." Thou art freed from "the slavish fears of death:" for through death Jesus hath destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and hath delivered them, "who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage." Are these among the privileges of the Lord’s free-man? Is it thus to be a citizen of the Jerusalem above, which is free, and the mother of us all? Hail then, thou almighty Lord of thy people! It is thou who hast redeemed them to God by thy blood! And therefore to thee we wave the palm of victory, ascribing all our salvation to God and the Lamb!