the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalms 16:8. He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8. Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians 2:14.
Doubt is poison, plague and death to faith. Doubt and vacillation come from an unstable, fickle mind that readily doubts, not because it is tempted, but because it does not love the truth, and affects the doubts. When doubts are only temptations and come often, they are not to be regarded otherwise than mosquitoes to be brushed away. When, on the other hand, the heart itself seeks and voluntarily nourishes doubts, there is an end of faith. Such a person needs a thorough conversion and change of mind. He must begin from the beginning again and pray for a new heart. If the doubts are temptations from Satan to take away your courage by a hundred scruples, pointing to the future and only showing the despondent heart its weakness and the dangers, but not the power and grace of God, then nothing more is needed than that you turn your eye away from the liar and to the word of God, which inspires you with courage and comfort, promises strength to the weak and increases the power of those who have no strength. Confidence in Him, whose strength is made perfect in weakness, is the shield by which we may overcome all temptations to despondency. A look at the Crucified One, who has suffered for us, drawn us to Himself, who has so far shown us so much grace; a look in faith at the faithful Shepherd, who carries His sheep, who strengthens the sick and binds up the broken-hearted, makes one courageous and fearless, and all doubts must vanish. He who began the good work of redemption and sanctification in you, will also finish it. He has seen beforehand who you are, and how weak you are, and has nevertheless begun. It is not your weakness that hinders Him from saving you; only your own will and your unbelief can hinder Him from doing it, inasmuch as you do not earnestly desire to be saved; you do not absolutely trust in Him; you do not surrender to Him unconditionally; you are not willing to belong to Him without reservation.
The hosts of God encamped around
The dwellings of the just;
Deliverance He affords to all
Who in His succor trust.
