the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
December 12—Morning—Luke 22:17
"Take this and divide it among yourselves."—Luke 22:17.
Precious Lord, such was thine unbounded love to thy people that thou gavest all to them! And, dearest Jesus, what didst thou reserve for thyself? And how wisely was thy love manifested! To every one grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ; for the purchase of redemption, in the case of all, cost thee the same. If, indeed, a lamb of thine be weak, or diseased, or torn, or scattered, thou wilt take it to thy bosom, while thou wilt gently lead those that are with young. But every one, and all, shall have thy care; all, as their several wants may be. Here then, Lord, to thy table I would come. Thy death hath confirmed all thy purchased blessings. And in the holy supper I would seek grace, that my right may be confirmed in them. Before God, and angels, and men, I would take the seal of thy gift. In thy blood thou hast signed them: in the word of thy gospel thou hast recorded them: in the ordinances of thy church they are published and brought forth: and by thy Spirit thou givest the tokens and the pledges of them to thy redeemed. Witness for me, then, ye angels of light, that I accept of all in Jesus and in his free gift, the purchase of his blood, and the tokens of his love. Sweeter are they to my mouth than honey and the honeycomb. Blessed Jesus, thy love is better than wine.
December 12—Evening—Isaiah 52:3
"For thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourselves for nought: and ye shall be redeemed without money."—Isaiah 52:3.
Sweet thought, arising from this gracious promise of a most gracious covenant God in Christ! It is indeed for nought that every poor sinner hath sold himself, and mortgaged his inheritance; for sin produceth no wages but death, and Satan gives nothing but misery to his captives. The world holds out great promises indeed, but never fulfils them. Vanity and vexation of spirit are all that we receive in the close of the account. So that what Jehovah saith, every man finds to be true; we have sold ourselves for nought. But, blessed Lord! when at any time, for our sin and rebellion, thou sufferest our enemies to lead us captive, what profit doth our Lord gain by it? May we not say, in the language of the church, "Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by thy price?" Psalms 44:12. If, Lord, it would be to thy glory, that our shame, and the triumph of our enemies ministered to thy praise, it would be enough to make thy church say, "Let us suffer, so Jesus be but glorified." But, Lord, this is so far froth being the case, that when Jesus’s members suffer, the glorious Head is injured, and the triumph of the foe becomes an insult to our God. How very blessed is it then to know, that though we are soul destroyers by ministering to our own ruin, Jesus is our soul restorer by redeeming us without money. Oh! for grace to keep in view the vast, the immense price Jesus hath given for our redemption! Oh! for grace to give him all the glory of our recovery, who alone hath accomplished it! And, Lord! I would pray, that as "the redemption of the soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever," my soul may everlastingly rejoice in the assurance, that being bought with such a price, not of silver and gold, but by thy blood, I may henceforth glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are his! Remember, my soul, it is the Lord that saith this: "Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money!"
