Daily Devotionals

The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions

Devotional: January 10th

January 10—Morning—Song of Solomon 6:2

"My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies."—Song of Solomon 6:2.

Wonderful condescension! Jesus, the beloved of all his people, is indeed come down into his garden, the church; for he loves the sacred walks of a spot so near and so dear to him, which is at once the gift of his Father, and the purchase of his own most precious blood. Moreover, he hath gathered it out of the world’s wide wilderness and separated it as a sacred enclosure by his distinguishing grace. Surely then he will visit it. Yes, here he constantly walks; here he comes to observe the souls of his people as trees of his own right-hand planting. He is said to feed here; for the graces of his Spirit, which he calls forth into exercise, are more fragrant to him than all the spices of the east. And all the beauty and whiteness of the lily is not to be compared to the glory, loveliness, and sweet-smelling savour of the righteousness of Jesus, in which he beholds the souls of his redeemed as clad. And Oh! here Jesus is gathering them to himself in all the different degrees of their growth, from the first moment of planting them in his garden, until he transplants them into the paradise of God. Art thou, my soul, in this garden of Jesus? Art thou rejoicing under his gracious hand? Are the dews of his ordinances, in this enclosure of thy Lord, dropping upon thee!

January 10—Evening—Acts 27:23

"Whose I am, and whom I serve."—Acts 27:23.

Here is a delightful subject for an evening meditation, if, like the apostle, who thus expressed himself, a child of God can take up the same words, and from the same well-grounded authority. Paul was in the midst of a storm, with not only the prospect, but the certainty of shipwreck before him, when he thus reposed himself in his covenant relations. An angel had informed him of what would happen; and had bidden him to be of good courage. But Paul’s chief confidence arose from the consideration of whose property he was, and whose service he was engaged in. See to it, my soul, that thy assurance be the same; then thy security in every dark night will be the same also. For if thou art Jesus’ property, depend upon it, thou wilt be Jesus’ care. Hath Jesus bought thee with his blood; made thee his by grace; and hast thou voluntarily given up thyself to him in a covenant not to be broken? Hath the Lord spoken to thee by the sweet voice of his word, brought home to the heart in the gracious application of his Spirit? Doth he say to thee, as to Jacob of old; "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine?" Oh! then how sure will be the promise that follows; "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." If, in a view of covenant relationship, thou canst say with Paul, concerning Jesus, "whose I am;" do thou next search after the love-tokens of thine own heart, in covenant engagements also, and, see whether thou canst adopt Paul’s language in the, other particular, and say as he did, "whom I serve." Is Jesus the one only object of thy love? Did be give himself for thee; and hath he by his Holy Spirit enabled thee to give thyself unto him? Hast thou given thyself to him, and given thyself for him, and art thou willing to part with every thing for the promotion of his glory? Depend upon it, the real confidence of the soul can only be found in faith’s enjoyment of these things. My soul! drop not into the arms of sleep before thou hast brought this point to a decision. No storm of the night, no tempest without, will alarm, while Jesus, by his Holy Spirit, speaks peace within. If Jesus be thine, then all is thine; and as thou art his, every promise is made over to thee with him, whose thou art, and whom thou dost serve. Sweet promise to lie down with on the bed of night, or the bed of death: "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32:18.