Daily Devotionals

The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions

Devotional: October 3rd

October 3—Morning—Romans 3:22

"Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and, upon all them that believe; for there is no difference."—Romans 3:22.

Here, my soul, is a morning portion for thee! Surely here is enough for a morning portion for poor believing souls to live upon to all eternity. Mark, my soul, what is here said. That righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he wrought out for his church, is the righteousness of God: for, as he was God as well as man, his righteousness was, to all intents and purposes, the righteousness of God. Now the sin of Adam, and the sins of all Adam’s children, put the whole together, form but the sins of creatures; consequently the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ is more than an equivalent, a more full payment than their debt can demand, because it is the righteousness of the Creator. Sweet thought! for God is more honoured by Christ’s obedience, than dishonoured by our disobedience. And observe, my soul, how this righteousness is the church of Christ’s, namely, by faith; "it is unto all, and upon all them that believe." It is received by faith. The scripture language of this unspeakable mercy is, that as it was imputed to Abraham for righteousness, so it shall be imputed unto us also, if we believe on Him that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead. This is another delightful portion of this precious verse. Neither is this all-for, as if to encourage the poorest, weakest, and most timid believer, this righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all that believe, "hath no difference" in its blessed effect. All partakers of it are alike partakers. By him, that is by Christ, the scripture saith, "all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:39. So that, though the faith of an Abraham or of a Peter might have been vastly greater than that of the timid Ananias, or the poor man that came to Christ for his son, saying, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief;" yet the justification by Christ, to all, is one and the same-"it is to all, and upon all that believe; for there is no difference." Oh precious righteousness of the God-man Christ Jesus.

October 3—Evening—Hebrews 9:17

"For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth."—Hebrews 9:17.

Precious Lord Jesus! and was it needful that thou shouldest die, that the rich legacies of thy will might be paid thy children, and thy spouse, the church? Was the testament in thy blood of no force until thou hadst finished redemption by expiring on the cross And hast thou now confirmed the whole, by this gracious act of thine, when dying "the just for the unjust, to bring us to God?" Sit down, my soul, this evening, and ponder over the unequalled love of thy dear Redeemer. Jesus died, and thereby gave validity and efficacy to his will. Now therefore it is of force. Now the large estate of "an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and which fadeth not away," which Jesus hath purchased by his blood, is eternally and everlastingly secured. Yea, the will hath since his death, been proved in the court of heaven, and Jesus is gone thither to see every legacy paid; yea, Jesus becomes the executor and administrator of the whole, and ever liveth for this express purpose. So that it is impossible for any of his poor relations, and their claims through him, ever to be forgotten or overlooked. Pause over this view of this most interesting subject. Shall the great ones of the earth, the rich and the mighty, be so anxious over their legacies from one another, as never to lose an estate for want of enquiry, when their rich relations die; and wilt not thou, my soul, now thy rich relation is dead, and liveth again, and hath left thee the most blessed of all inheritances, wilt not thou seek after it, and be anxious for the full possession of it? Dost thou know thyself to be indeed a part of Christ’s body, the church, the Lamb’s wife, and, by adoption and grace, a child of God, and a joint-heir with Christ; and wilt thou not see that. thy legacy be fully paid? Surely, thou hast already taken out a probate of thy Lord’s will from the chancery of heaven, the book of life, and therefore mayest well look for all the testamentary effects. Precious Lord Jesus! I hear thee speak, and well do I remember the words; "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you!" Oh the unspeakable mercy of being thus related to the Lord Jesus Christ! by which, my soul, thou hast every legacy needful for thy present peace paid in part; and the whole reversionary interest of that immense estate in heaven shall be fully paid when thou comest of age, and thou shalt enter upon the possession of it, in the presence of thy Lord, and sit down with him in the everlasting enjoyment of it for ever!