the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. 1 Chronicles 22:13. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee. Psalms 31:22. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise. Psalms 55:2.
"Dread," if you cannot do otherwise, but "be not dismayed. " The prophets dreaded and lamented, as we see from the above cited verses; but they also rejoiced. The apostles were troubled on every side, yet not distressed (2 Corinthians 4:8). Our Savior ’’began to be sorrowful and very heavy," but He conquered His dread and went out to meet His murderers with undaunted courage (Matthew 26:37; John 18:4). The Gentiles, the unbelievers, who are without God, despair, but not so the Christians. It may be that they must bear "the terrors" of God and be "cut off" (Psalms 88:16); but the Lord comforts them when they are weary, that they be not "dismayed" ( Sirach 17:20). But they who let their hope and confidence fall or throw faith away entirely and no longer believe what God has promised in His Word and consequently fall away from God, who succumb in the spiritual battle, flee and leave the field to the enemy, these shall have "their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). A Christian must therefore, never permit himself to be taken captive by dejection and despondency, however dark the outlook may be. He may lament with David; he may weep and complain to God as Jeremiah; only he must not give up hope; help will surely come if he be not "dismayed," if he cease not in prayer and supplication, hope and expectation. It has often seemed to the dearest children of God as if He had cast them off, as if His mercy were never to return, as if no help were to come. Even for them the Lord stayed the help so long that they came near losing perseverance. Nevertheless, at length the help came, and the comfort, and the power, and God gave them so much greater joy. Let the cause of your dread be whatever it may, afflictions, misfortune, persecution, or temptations, or the weakness of the flesh, which you so much desire to overcome, without ever being able to overcome it, despair not; wait and hope until help comes. It will surely come, even though you must struggle and wait to the end. If you give yourself up to despair, you know even now where you belong: you are certainly lost. But as long as you wait, there is hope of rescue, and salvation is possible.
Correct, reprove, and comfort me;
As I have need, my Savior be;
And if I would from Thee depart.
Then clasp me, Savior, to Thy heart.
