the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
Since I come to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people, neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. Exodus 5:23.
At the very time when God is about to deliver us from the power of a particular sin or weakness, he suffers it most to be stirred up and felt, that we imagine, perhaps, to have never been so wicked and oppressed before. But thus out of darkness he brings forth light; of unbelief, faith; of pride, humility. " For God (as Luther observes,) makes none a great saint, except he has first made him a great sinner." Sin must first appear so great and sinful, that we heartily plead guilty of damnation. Romans 7:13. Humbly begging pardon and renouncing all self-righteousness and strength; and that we not only receive Christ for our only righteousness, but also abide in him, continually drawing all necessary strength from him for sanctification. This is the only method of bruising the head of sin. Thus I build not the comfort of pardon upon my victory, but the victory upon my pardon. I strive, not thinking, that I shall have only remission of sin, when I conquer it, but I seek first remission, and believe that it is forgiven. Being assured of this, I strive in faith against sins forgiven already, as one who is not only accepted with God through Christ, but even in league and covenant with him against all our enemies. And by these means I have peace, courage, strength, and victory.
O may thy pardoning grade be nigh,
Lest we should faint, despair and die!
Thus shall our better thoughts approve
The methods of thy wondrous love.
