Daily Devotionals

The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions

Devotional: August 3rd

August 3—Morning—Genesis 22:12

"Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."—Genesis 22:12.

My soul, ponder these words. By whom were they spoken? It is said by the angel of the Lord; probably the messenger of the covenant; he, who in the fulness of time, was to make known, face to face, to all Abraham’s seed, the whole revelation of Jehovah concerning redemption. It was a critical moment in Abraham’s life, and a trying moment to his faith. It is said, "Now I know." Did not the Lord know before? Oh yes; but he that gave Abraham the faith, now afforded an opportunity for the exercise of it. My soul, how blessed is it to remark, that the largest gifts of grace are dispensed, when there is the largest occasion for them. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." And, my soul, do not forget to remark also, that our Isaacs, our children, our earthly comforts, are most likely to be continued to us, when the Lord gives grace and faith to be most ready at his holy will to part with them. When I can say, Lord, all that thou hast given me is thine; and if thou art pleased to take all, or any part back again, still it is thine own—not mine, but lent. Oh, for grace, like Abraham, to bless a taking God, as well as a giving God, and to withhold nothing from him. Pause, my soul, one moment longer over this precious portion. Is there nothing more to be gathered from it? Look again; read it over once more. Pass beyond Abraham, and contemplate the God of Abraham, and see if thou canst not discover the infinite, unequalled, astonishing love of God the Father typified in this solemn transaction; and while we behold Abraham, at the call of God, giving up his son, his only son; may we not behold God, uncalled, unsought, and without any one cause but his own free everlasting love, giving up his only begotten Son, as a sacrifice for the redemption of his people? The patriarch gave up his son but in intention; but God in reality. And, my soul, what oughtest thou now to say to God in the view of this transaction? Methinks I find authority, from these sweet words, to make a paraphrase upon them, and to make application of them, for all and every circumstance with which I may be exercised; and, looking up to God my Father in Christ Jesus, I would say, ’Now, O Lord and Father, I know thou dost love a poor, sinful, unworthy worm as I am, seeing thou hast not withheld thy Son, thine only Son from me.’

August 3—Evening—Acts 24:5

"A ringleader of the sect of the nazarenes."—Acts 24:5

My soul! hast thou arrived at that station of dignity, to be reproached for Christ’s sake? If so, thou wilt enter into a proper sense and enjoyment of the title Paul was branded with; a ringleader, or a standardbearer of the cross. One who, not content with receiving Christ into his own heart, determines, let the cost be what it may, the loss of reputation or of life, to proclaim Jesus upon the house-top. This is to be a ring-leader! An honourable station! and one that Jesus loves! Jesus himself was Jehovah’s ringleader, for he saith, "In that day, there shah be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:10. And elsewhere, Jehovah saith, "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." Isa. Iv. 4. My soul, hast thou taken part in the reproaches of God’s choicest servants? It is impossible to be a true follower of the despised Nazarene, unless thou hast followed him "without the camp, bearing his reproach." The world, from the days of Cain, in his persecution of Abel, hath, in all ages, branded the ringleaders of the Lord’s cause. The servants were treated as the master. His prophets, "troublers of the land," Amos 7:10. His city, always "a rebellious city," Ezra 4:15. Yea, Jesus himself, as "one perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar," Luke 23:2. Precious Lord! could not thy meek, harmless, and inoffensive conduct pass on without this censure; then who can hope to escape? I know, Lord, that to hold thee up, and proclaim thee as Jehovah’s ensign to the nation, is to be indeed a ringleader of the cross, against which all hell must wage war, and all the powers of this world’s customs will declare enmity. But be thou my standard, and I shall be more than conqueror, through thy grace helping me. Oh! let me unceasingly speak thy praise, and let the fathers to the children make known thy truth.