the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. Psalms 39:12-13. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14; 1 Chronicles 29:15.
The saints of old felt that they were not at home here. They were all home-sick. They regarded themselves as strangers, as sojourners who for some time are received only and allowed on foreign soil. They cannot help longing for their native country. He who loves his native land never feels so contented as when he is on the home soil, no matter how prosperous he may be. He can never forget it. Blessed is he who feels himself a stranger upon the earth. Blessed is he who never feels perfectly contented here, except in so far as even on earth he lives in heaven. Though many earthly joys smile upon an heir of heaven, he nevertheless thinks, “It is far different beyond. Here all is nothing. Oh, that I were at home!" Here everything is in reality but a discipline and a trial. It is only in view of this that he readily remains here awhile, as none who is untried, no child that has lacked chastisement, is permitted to enter the home in heaven. Notwithstanding all this, the pilgrim sighs, “Oh, spare me! stay the chastisement awhile, that I may recover strength, before I go hence." He sighs for some ray of grace, and longs for the sun now and then to penetrate the clouds, that he at least may see a rift in the sky, a glimpse of his home. Thus clings the heart to the heavenly home when it has made sure of its sonship and right as an heir.
Draw us to Thee, and teach us
E’en now that rest to find,
Where turmoils cannot reach us,
Nor cares weigh down our mind.
