Daily Devotionals

John Gossner's Treasury

Devotional: May 21st

Thou hast ascended on high thou hast received gifts for men. Psalms 68:18. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3.

He ascended on high to the Father to receive what He had earned by His sufferings and death, by His obedience unto the death of the cross; yet not only to let Himself be crowned with honor and glory, but more especially to receive the gifts of grace, benefits and blessings, which He had earned for the world, and to bestow them upon the redeemed. He did not enter into heaven there to rest from His sorrow and labor, much less to take vengeance upon the ungodly men who had reviled and crucified Him on earth, but to overwhelm them with grace and benefits, to save them and draw them unto Himself. However great and splendid the honor and glory which He enjoys on the throne of God, yet it is not too great for Him to look down upon us, who are poor and groveling in the dust. No, He remains in constant communication with His own on earth. He stretches out His hand, full of gracious gifts, from high heaven and fills us with blessings and happiness as often as we lift our hearts and hands to Him. He stretches His hands down to us in the depths to draw us out of the darkness of earth to His eternal kingdom of light. He cannot rest. He wants us all to be with Him, to possess and enjoy the gifts which He has earned for us, for this life as well as for the life to come. We are to have all that He Himself has. In such manner does the Father bless us through the Son.

Savior, draw away our heart

Now from pleasures base and hollow.

Let us there with Thee have part,

Here on earth Thy footsteps follow.

Fix our hearts beyond the skies.

Whither we ourselves would rise.