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Daily Devotionals
Our Daily Homily - Volume 2
Psalms 146:4—In that very day his thoughts perish.
The R.V. marg. gives the alternative purposes. And surely we all have had reason to notice the vacillation and infirmity of purpose which characterize too many of the sons of men. They promise to visit us every week, in our sickness or bereavement, but after a few months drop off. They pledge themselves to perform certain functions, but get lax, and ultimately the grass grows thick where their feet should have kept it down.
But we have most to complain of ourselves. Who among us has not bitterly to reproach himself for the evanescence of noble resolution—the dying down of earnest purpose? Too often they have been like the early dew and the morning cloud. In the day in which we made them our purposes have perished.
What is the remedy? It is suggested in those memorable words of Jesus, "The water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water, springing up unto eternal life." When once Jesus has been allowed to do his chosen work in the soul, He opens a subterranean passage to the reservoirs of eternity, along and through which the supplies from God’s own heart begin to enter and rise up within the soul. Abide in Him, and the sap of his life will suggest, renew, and reinforce, the purposes of the holy life. Rise up, O well, for ever rise, within hearts that desire a fixed purpose to love God! Infirm of purpose we need never be, God waits to create in us a steadfast spirit (Psalms 51:10, R.V., marg.). We must be rooted and grounded in Him. Then will be manifest in us the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23. R.V.).
