Morning, April 27: Go To Evening Reading
“God, even our own God.”
—Psalm 67:6
It is strange how little use we make of God's spiritual blessings, but it is odd how little use we make of God himself. Though he is “our own God,” we apply ourselves but little to him and ask but little of him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we go about our business without seeking his guidance! In our troubles, how constantly do we strive tos ourselves bear our burden instead of casting them upon the Lord, that he may sustain us! This is not because we may not, for the Lord seems to say, “I am thine, soul, come and make use of me as thou wilt; thou mayst freely come to my store, and the oftener the more welcome.” It is our own fault if we are not accessible with the riches of our God. Then, since thou hast such a friend, and he invites thee, draw from him daily. Never want while thou hast a God to go to; never fear or faint while thou hast God to help thee; go to thy treasure and take whatever thou needest—there is all that thou canst want. Learn the divine skill of making God all things to thee. He can supply thee with all, or, better still, he can be to thee instead. Let me urge thee, then, to make use of thy God. Make use of him in prayer. Go to him often because he is thy God. O, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege? Fly to him, tell him all thy wants. Use him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark providence has beclouded thee, use thy God as a “sun;” if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah a “shield,” for he is a sun and shield to his people. If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use him as a “guide,” for he will direct thee. Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art, remember God is just what thou wantest, where thou wantest, and that he can do all thou wantest.
Go To Morning Reading Evening, April 27
“The Lord is King forever and ever.”
—Psalm 10:16
Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but he is really and truly the Lord’s anointed! “It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” God hath given to him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, he is now head over all things to his church, and he reigns over heaven, earth, and hell with the keys of life and death at his girdle. Certain princes have delighted to call themselves kings by the popular will; our Lord Jesus Christ is such in his church. If it could be decided whether he should be King in the church, every believing heart would crown him. O that we could crown him more gloriously than we do! We would count no expense to be wasted that could glorify Christ. Suffering would be pleasure, and loss would be gain if we could surround his brow with brighter crowns and make him more glorious in the eyes of men and angels. Yes, he shall reign. Long live the King! All hail to thee, King Jesus!
Go forth, ye virgin souls who love your Lord, bow at his feet, strew his way with the lilies of your love, and the roses of your gratitude: “Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.”
Moreover, our Lord Jesus is King in Zion by right of conquest: he has taken and carried by storm the hearts of his people and has slain their enemies who held them in cruel bondage. In the Red Sea of his own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins: shall he not be King in Jeshurun? He has delivered us from the iron yoke and heavy curse of the law: shall not the Liberator be crowned? We are his portion, whom he has taken out of the hand of the Amorite with his sword and bow: who shall snatch his conquest from his hand? All hail, King Jesus! We gladly own thy gentle sway! Rule in our hearts forever, thou lovely Prince of Peace.
C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).
April 27: Walking in Circles
Joshua 18:1–19:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1–10; Psalm 56:1–13
I often wish things were more noticeable. I ask God to help me understand His timing so I can quickly act. I ask for everything to happen at the right moment. I ask Him to give me such clear directions that I can’t fail to follow them. I used to think this was a good thing, but I realize now that all my questions could indicate a lack of faith. It seems that my questions lead to more questions. Like a man losing his memory in old age, I end up walking in circles around the block rather than finding my way home.
Maybe it’s not the lack of knowing that disturbs me, but that I will have to act when I really know what God wants. This seems to be the problem with faith in Western Christianity. We say we don’t know what God wants. However, if we’re honest with ourselves, perhaps we don’t want to know what God wants. In our hearts, we’re sure that learning will mean uncomfortable change.
Joshua calls the Israelites on this type of faith problem: “How long will you be slack about taking possession of the land that Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” (Josh 18:3). The same question applies to us. How long will we wait? Do we know what we should do? If we don’t, might the reason be that we don’t want to know?
We often hesitate because we’re afraid of our weaknesses and don’t think we have what it takes. Paul addresses this when discussing his shortcomings: “And [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you because the power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, rather, I will boast most gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me ” (2 Cor 12:9).
Rather than live in fear, we should boast about our weaknesses. Christ is working in us to use us despite them. No one is perfect; only Christ has the honor of perfection. And while we are weak, He will give us strength in Him. His strength can overcome whoever we are, wherever we have been, and whatever we will do.
Rather than walking in circles looking for a home, let’s realize we are already home. Our home is Christ.
In what ways are you currently walking in circles? What should you be doing instead?
John D. Barry
John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).
April 27th
What do you want?
Seekest thou great things for thyself? Jeremiah 45:5.
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek to be a great one; seek great things from God for yourself. God wants you closer to Himself than receiving His gifts; he wants you to get to know Him. A great thing is accidental; it comes and goes. God never gives us anything accidental. Nothing is easier than getting into the right relationship with God, except when it is not God Whom you want but only what He offers.
If you have only come to the length of asking God for things, you have never come to the first strand of abandonment; you have become a Christian from your own standpoint. ‘I did ask God for the Holy Spirit, but He did not give me the rest and the peace I expected.’ Instantly, God puts His finger on the reason—you are not seeking the Lord; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus says—“Ask, and it shall be given you.” Ask God for what you want, and you cannot ask if you are not asking for the right thing. When you draw near to God, you cease to ask for things. “Your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask Him.” Then why ask? That you may get to know Him.
Are you seeking great things for yourself—‘O Lord, baptize me with the Holy Ghost’? If God does not, it is because you are not abandoned enough by Him that there is something you will not do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores the present perfection for the ultimate perfection. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy just now; He is always working out His ultimate perfection—“that they may be one even as We are.”
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).
April 27
He … said … I … hid thy talent in the earth.… His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant
Matt. 25:24–26
Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.
Monod
Samuel G. Hardman and Dwight Lyman Moody, Thoughts for the Quiet Hour (Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997).
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