Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: March 28th

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Morning Devotional

Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain; as the latter and former rain unto the earth.- Hosea 6:3.

Hearts of disciples enjoy sweet fellowship in the truth. Hence they mutually help and encourage each other’s faith. The Saviour loves to have it so. He blesses them, and manifests himself to them in this way. So it was with the disciples after his crucifixion and death. They resorted together, and communed with each other; and Jesus, though unknown to them at first, joined company with them, expounded the scriptures to them, opened their understandings; and they said one to another, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us by the way?" etc.- Luke 24:32.

So the true disciples of the Old Testament church exhort one another in faith. "We shall know, we shall follow on to know the Lord." So the words may be rendered. Those who know a little of Jesus’ love, and are but just brought acquainted with his free-grace and salvation, shall hold on their way. Knowledge, light, peace, and love shall increase to their souls, through that Spirit by whom they are regenerated and born again. Though at first they are but "babes in Christ, yet, through the milk of the word, they shall grow and increase, with the increase of God." The going-forth of the love of Jesus towards us, is as the morning. At the dawn of day, light is scarce discernible: it seems opposed by surrounding darkness, yet it gradually increases till the sun gains its meridian. So "the path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

The sun never forsakes the earth, though at seasons its light and heat seem withdrawn in comfort and enjoyment. Thus it is with the sun of righteousness; he shall also "come unto us as the rain," to refresh, enliven, and make our souls fruitful in knowledge, peace, love, and holiness; yea, as "the latter and former rain." In the land of Israel, they had usually two rains in a year, one just after the seed was sown, the other when the corn was almost ripe, and the harvest just at hand. Sometimes, just after the seed of eternal life is sown in the hearts of young converts (O what joyful, refreshing, seasons of love and joy are they favored with!) their "hearts are filled with laughter, and their tongues with joy." Others experience the most plentiful showers of heart-reviving love, just as the sickle is to cut them down, that they may be gathered in to the heavenly garner. Our heavenly husbandman knows best what seasons to give, whether the storm of affliction, the rain of prosperity, or the sunshine of joy. This is our mercy. "Jesus is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him."- Isaiah 30:18.

Evening Devotional

I will sow her unto me in the earth, and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy: and I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people; and they shall say, thou art our God. Hosea 2:23.

Declarations of grace depend not on the will of the flesh for their accomplishment. Sovereign power brings sovereign purposes to effect. Human will can neither forward nor frustrate them. So the Lord raises up and forms a people, for his glory on earth, and the Redeemer’s crown in heaven. See the process of it. (1st.) “I will sow her.” This alludes to the word Jezrael in the last verse, which signifies the seed of God. God’s people are his own precious seed: he sows them in the earth. (2d.) “Unto me.” As they are sown by him, they spring up unto him. Though they lie long under the clods of nature’s darkness and corruption, and for a while spring up only to the world, the flesh, and the devil, yet there is a set time to favour them; a fixed day of power, to come upon them. Men do not sow their precious seed, and care no more about it: neither doth the Lord. For, (3d.) “I will have mercy upon her who had not obtained mercy.” His eye of care preserves, till his day of mercy comes. It is as impossible for an elect, redeemed soul to perish without mercy, as for the truth of God to fail. “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18.) The truth of God is the joy of faith. St. Paul, though exceeding mad against Christ, obtained mercy from him: the thief on the cross obtained mercy at the last hour: your soul, mine, and every soul that is called, converted, and justified by the faith of Christ, obtains this from mere mercy, just in the same way. Because justice is satisfied with Christ, mercy flows from God through him to us. (4th.) “I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people.” God’s voice of love comes to us, his grace challenges us, his power apprehends us, before we apprehend him. We are children of wrath, by nature: we are at enmity against God, and fly from God. But the good Shepherd seeks us: he claims us as his own sheep-as the gift of his Father-as the purchase of his blood: he manifests himself to us, and gives us faith in his name. Then, (5th.) “They shall say, thou art my God.” My God-O, how much is contained in this! Now, there is peace in the conscience, love in the heart, and joy in the soul. The sinner can never be happy, till he thus appropriates the Lord to himself. Then, the soul is inspired with a holy, loving fear, and excited to a cheerful walk: a hope, full of immortality, is in the heart: this is ever in the eye, “All is of God, who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:18.

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