Daily Devotionals

The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions

Devotional: May 12th

May 12—Morning—John 20:27

"Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing."—John 20:27.

Was Jesus willing to have his wounds searched, than his unbelieving disciple should go unconvinced? Look, then, my soul, at Jesus, and he will grant thee a suitable testimony, to hush all thy remaining doubts, if so be after such manifestations of grace as he hath shewn thee, there be a single doubt left behind. Doth not Jesus, in effect, say, in every renewed ordinance, reach hither thy finger, thrust in thine hand, and the precious blood thou needest shall flow; for the fountain for sin, for uncleanness, for unbelief, and, in short, for every necessity of my people, is still open. Is not this the language of all? Doth unbelief doubt the reality of the thing itself, like Thomas? Doth unbelief tempt the soul to doubt the particular efficacy of it to special cases, such as a man’s own? Doth unbelief suggest the circumstances hopeless from delay, from past neglect, from present unworthiness? In answer to all, Jesus speaks, "reach hither thy finger;" and if a touch will not satisfy thee, thrust thy hand deeply into my side. Here is enough to silence all fears: why are those wounds still open? Wherefore did I appear to my servant John as a lamb that had been slain, but to convince, by so palpable a testimony, that I am the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever? Oh for grace to return the grateful answer to Jesus, "my Lord, and my God!" My soul, now thou art commanded, this do. Put forth thine hand, and leave every other consequence with Jesus. While Jesus thus gives himself to thee, my soul, do thou make a complete surrender of thyself to him; for this is the very exercise of faith that Jesus is come after, and therefore let him not go away until he hath taken thine whole affections with him, as thy Lord and thy God.

May 12—Evening—Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."—Jeremiah 29:11.

My soul! thou art "looking for the mercy of thy Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." This is thy one object, and that one object is centered in Jesus. But in the view of this, thou art sadly put to it, at times, by thwarting providences, that seem to come between It would be a blessed help to thee, hadst thou grace always to keep in remembrance what the Lord saith in this blessed scripture: "I know the thoughts that I think towards you; thoughts of peace, and not of evil." And how truly fulfilled are these things in the redemption by Jesus! In him the foundation is laid for the accomplishment; and "He is of one mind, and who can turn him?" Be the outward appearances of things what they may, yet the Lord is everlastingly pursuing one and the same invariable plan of mercy. His providences may vary, but his grace never can. It is the deficiency of our faith, and not a defect in the covenant, which makes a believing soul to stagger, and call in question divine faithfulness. [ said, saith the church, (at a time when the streams of that river which makes glad the city of God, ran low,) "I said, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord." But how did the church correct herself soon after! "The Lord is my portion," saith she; "therefore will I hope in him." Lamentations 3:18-24. It is blessed to rest upon the Lord’s own words, and to give credit to what he hath promised, when, according to all appearances of things, there seemeth an impossibility to the performance of them. This indeed is faith, and faith in her best dress and character. It is no longer faith, when the thing promised is come to pass: this is not trusting God, but receiving payment from God. But when God’s thoughts towards us, find, through his grace in our hearts, corresponding thoughts towards him, of his truth and faithfulness; then, whatever happens by the way, the soul of the believer is kept in peace, because he knows that he shall have an expected end of peace, and not of evil. Oh! then for grace to be everlastingly hearing the Lord’s voice in all his dispensations. See to it, my soul, that under all trials, all exercises, all difficulties, be they what they may; as there can be no trial of which Jesus hath not the appointment, no exercise but what he knows, no difficulty that can for a moment alter or interrupt his plan of salvation; Oh! learn to lean upon him, and to leave all with him, entertaining and cherishing the same good thoughts of him for ever! for he it is that saith, "I know the thoughts that I think towards you; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."