the Third Week after Easter
Click here to learn more!
Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
March 25—Morning—Luke 1:72
"The mercy promised."—Luke 1:72.
"The mercy promised!" Why, God graciously promised many mercies, and most faithfully and fully performed them. Yes! every thing out of hell may well be called a mercy. Every child of Adam beareth about with him, day by day, tokens of God’s mercy. The air we breathe, the garments we put on, the food we eat; all the comforts, conveniences, enjoyments of life; these are all mercies. But none of these are what the sweet portion of the morning points at. It is here a particular, a Special, one specific mercy. And who can this mean, my soul, but Jesus, thy Jesus? - He is, indeed, "the mercy promised," the first mercy, the first promise; the first, best, and comprehensive gift of God in the bible. He is indeed the mercy of mercies, the first born, the sum and substance of every other. He is essential to make all other mercies really and truly mercies; for without him, they ultimately prove injurious. He is essential to put a sweetness, to give a relish, a value, an importance, to every other. Where Jesus is, there is mercy; where Jesus is not, what can profit? My soul, hast thou Considered this? - Dost thou know it? Is Jesus thine? Is this mercy promised, really, truly given to thee? Hast thou taken him home to thine house, to thine heart? Pause, if it be so, how dost thou value him, know him, use him, live to him, walk with him, hope in him, rejoice in him, and make him thine all? Hast thou received him as a free mercy, an undeserved mercy? Hast thou accepted him as so seasonable a mercy, that, without him, thou wouldest have been undone for ever? Is he now so truly satisfying to thee in all thy desires, for time and for eternity, that thou canst bid adieu to every enjoyment, if needful; and, looking up to Jesus, canst truly say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee?" Oh my soul, if this be thy portion, then hast thou a Benjamin’s portion indeed! God thy Father hath given thee indeed the mercy promised; and Jesus is, and will be, thy mercy, and the mercy of all mercies, to all eternity. Amen.
March 25—Evening—James 5:11
"Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and bare seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:11.
There is something uncommonly soothing and consolatory in these words, concerning the Lord’s grace, "that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Very pitiful! Sweet consideration to a child of God, under affliction! For it speaks in the tenderest and most endearing manner, upon all such occasions, that if afflictions abound, while the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy, there must be a needs be for them. My soul,-keep this thought always uppermost in thy remembrance; and carry it about with thee in thy bosom for constant use, to have recourse to, as occasion may require. And take another sweet lesson with thee, to help on thy mind to suitable exercises on this account. Hadst thou as much wisdom, and as much love for thyself, and what concerns thy most material interests, as Jesus hath, and is using for thee, the most painful exercises thou art now called to, and which thou art apt to shrink from, would be among the subjects of holy joy. And mark farther What the apostle saith: "Ye have heard of the-patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord;" that is, in the issue of Job’s trials. Who that reads the patriarch’s history, can doubt but that the Lord all along intended the whole for his servant’s happiness, as well as his own glory? In all thine exercises, my soul, look to the end of them. Some blessed purpose, depend upon it, thy Jesus hath in view in all, and he will accomplish it. In the mean time, never forget, that "the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy:" in all the afflictions of his people he is afflicted. And what a memorable scripture is that: "His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel;" Judges 10:16. Precious Jesus! all is well. In the sorrows of thy children, thou bearest a part; and the largest part is thine; the heaviest end of every cross thou carriest. The cup of our affliction is not bitter like thy cup of trembling: for through thy love in redemption, the gall and wormwood are taken out. There is no bitter wrath in the chastisements of a kind father under sin; for thou hast borne the wrath when made sin and a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in thee. Often, my soul! let these sweet consoling thoughts refresh thee. Thy Lord, thy Jesus, "is very pitiful and of tender mercy."
