the Fourth Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
November 4—Morning—Matthew 28:5
"For I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified."—Matthew 28:5.
Is it indeed known unto my Lord that I seek him? Doth Jesus know that I desire him more than my necessary food? Ye angels of light that watched over his sepulchre, do ye witness for me that he is more precious to me than gold, yea, than the golden wedge of Ophir. And can I, do I, humbly appeal to him that readeth the heart, and knoweth all things, and say, "Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee!" Be comforted, then, my soul: he whom thou seekest will soon be found of thee. He is near at hand. He hath never been a wilderness to his people; neither hath he ever said to the praying seed of Jacob, "Seek ye my face in vain." While thou art seeking him, he is looking on thee. And the very desire in thine heart of seeking him, it is Jesus hath kindled. And nothing can be more sure than that he who kindled them in thine heart, did not kindle them in vain. Sweet thought; I bless thee for it, thou gracious Lord.
November 4—Evening—Revelation 3:18
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see."—Revelation 3:18.
My soul, take advice of thy Lord, for he is a Wonderful Counsellor, and all these blessings will be thine. He will cause thee to inherit substance, and fill all thy treasures; yea, he will give thee durable riches and righteousness. If Jesus clothe thee with the robe of his salvation, thy nakedness will be indeed covered; but no fig-leaves of thine own gathering and sewing together will do this for thee. If Jesus but anoint thine eyes with the precious anointing of his Holy Spirit, thou wilt both see and know the way to buy this tried gold. Now, pause over this sweet verse, and ask thyself, how thou shalt buy this golden treasure? What is the treasure, but faith? For the Holy Ghost calls it precious faith; "Yea, more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire," 1 Peter 1:7. And if thy Lord, who gives thee counsel to buy, will sell this article to thee, as he sells it to all his people, "Without money and without price," it will get for thee every thing thou needest, to cover and to clothe, to give sight, and to gain substance. It will become both meat and drink; and house and home; it will keep thee from every danger; yea, and preserve thee to his heavenly kingdom. It will form a complete livelihood, for "The just live by faith;" and as to riches, there are none, properly speaking, that deserve to be called so, but "The rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom." So that if thou make this purchase, here is a title to all that God in Christ is to his people. God himself, thy Father, is thine; Christ, with all his fulness, is thine; the Holy Ghost, with all his blessed influences, is thine. The promises are all thine; all the blessings of grace are thine; and all the inheritance of glory is thine. And let Satan vent whatever rage he may, as thou art going home to thy Father’s house, yet, by following the counsel of Jesus, and buying of him gold tried in the fire, by thus taking the "Shield of faith, this will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Precious Jesus! give me, Lord, I pray, thee, grace to follow thy counsel, and to buy of thee this gold tried in the fire, and bless both the counsel and the Wonderful Counsellor, who both counsels and inclines my soul to follow what my Lord hath said, and to enjoy in him all things which make for my present peace and everlasting happiness.
