the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.- Psalms 23:1.
All comfort is derived to the soul from the knowledge of what Jehovah is to us. This we know by the word of truth, and enjoy in the sweet exercise of faith. "I am the good shepherd," saith Jesus- John 10:11. Thou art MY shepherd, says the believing soul. Thus, whatever office or character Jesus sustains, it is the glory of faith not only to view the Lord as such, but to draw sweet peace and comfort from it to one’s own heart: that thou art to ME. David knew the duty of a shepherd by experience. How watchful to preserve from danger, and how careful to guide and feed the sheep committed to his trust! But herein is the peculiar love of the shepherd of our souls; he "gave his life for his sheep." And after such love manifested to them, shall they want either his power to protect, or his grace to supply their need? No; that is impossible.
But a sheep is a silly weak creature; it often bleats and makes a noise when it wants nothing; so do we. Though it knows its shepherd, and hears his voice, still it is naturally prone to wander from rich and green pastures, to break out of the fold, and, if left to itself, would leap into the very jaws of its enemy: so foolish are we also. Hence arises our distress; for when we look to what we are in ourselves, and lose sight of the love and care of our dear shepherd, we cast our eyes around us, and call in this distressing thought and the other distracting care. Hence we often send forth the bleatings of unbelief, and cry out, "We shall certainly perish for want of supply and assistance." But where is the Lord our shepherd?
Alas! we forget his dying love, his covenant engagements, his watchful care; we listen not enough to the sweet voice of our shepherd, but to the enemy, who speaks terror; and our poor hearts are affrighted and tremble. But in opposition to all that sin, Satan, and the law can say or do against us, "The voice of the Lord is a mighty voice: the voice of the Lord hath the preeminence." And Jesus our shepherd saith, "I give unto my sheep-what? Grace, upon condition that they will continue to be my sheep, hear my voice, and follow me?" Infinitely more: security stronger than the mountains; comfort more unfathomable than the great deep. "I know my sheep;" my Father gave them unto me: I lay down my life for them. Shall the enemy rob me of one of my purchased ones, or my dear Father of one of the objects of his love? No: they shall never want my Spirit to keep, to quicken, to comfort, and enable them to persevere till they receive the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall ANY pluck them out of my hand."- John 10:28.
Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Though St. Paul is not now in the third heavens, yet he is not content, to speak any language below the superlative degree, most gladly. O, says he, “I have had the richest experience of my own weakness and impotence, that ever I had in my life. I should be most glad, every day, to be thus emptied and laid low at the feet of Christ, that the all-sufficiency of his grace, and the power of his strength might be made perfect in me. What does he mean by infirmities? All that weakness, feebleness, and inability, which he found in his nature, to withstand sin and Satan, to bear up under his crosses, trials, and distresses-to run the way of God’s commandments-to fight the good fight of faith, etc. I will rather glory in these. What means he? I will glory, rejoice, and be glad, that self is laid low, my proud nature debased, my self-exalting views brought down, and that I am entirely emptied of all selfsufficiency. I will rather glory in this, than in any thing else.
Why so? “That the power of Christ may rest upon me.” When full of the pride of nature, and self-sufficiency, the soul sees not the need of Christ’s grace. A full stomach loathes the honey-comb. When strong in nature’s power, the strength of Christ is not sought after. But when Satan buffets-infirmities prevail-nature fails and sinks, hope and help from self forsake us, when the Saviour is sought to. The soul goes right humbly to the Lord. The sinner’s extremity is the Lord’s opportunity. When Peter begins to sink, self-confidence forsakes him, and he cries, Lord save or I perish. Then Christ exerts his power and saves him. When Satan thinks to buffet Paul out of his faith and hope in the Lord, he only buffets him out of his self-exaltings and self-confidence. He drives him to the throne of grace. He besought the Lord again and again. The Lord delivers not, but only tells him, my grace is sufficient for thee. St. Paul felt the power of Christ resting upon him. Learn hence, O soul, not to be distressed at thy infirmities, a sense of thy weakness and emptiness: glory in them, that Christ may be glorified by thee, causing his power to rest upon thee. For mind that precious word of his. Let thy weak and infirm spirit hang upon it from day to day. “He giveth power to the faint: and to them who have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29.
Tho’ weak to stand, and prone to fall,
Yet we alas, are full of pride!
O Saviour dear on thee we call,
Humble and keep us near thy side.
When weak and faint we find our heart,
Still will we glory in thy pow’r
Thy strength’ning grace shall ne’er depart
From thine in their distressing hour.
