Morning, April 29 Go To Evening Reading
“Thou art my hope in the day of evil.”
—Jeremiah 17:17
The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and storm. Accurate, it is written in God’s Word, “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;” and it is an excellent truth that religion is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above; but experience tells us that if the course of the just is “As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At specific periods clouds cover the believer’s sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light. Many have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian career; they have walked along the “green pastures” by the side of the “still waters,” but suddenly, they find the glorious sky is clouded; instead of the Land of Goshen they have to tread the sandy desert; in the place of sweet waters, they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste, and they say, “Surely if I were a child of God, this would not happen.” Oh! say not so, thou who art walking in darkness. No Christian has enjoyed perpetual prosperity; no believer can always keep his harp from the willows. The best of God’s saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of his children must bear the cross. Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path because you were weak and timid. He tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, but now that you are more robust in your spiritual life, you must enter upon God's full-grown children's riper and rougher experience. We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and root us more firmly in Christ. The day of evil reveals to us the value of our glorious hope.
Go To Morning Reading Evening, April 29
“The Lord taketh pleasure in his people.”
—Psalm 149:4
How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of his people’s interests that he does not consider, and there is nothing that concerns their welfare that is not important to him. He thinks of you, believer, as an immortal being, but a mortal being. Do not deny it or doubt it: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” “The good man's steps are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” It was sad for us if this mantle of love did not cover all our concerns, for what mischief might be wrought to us in that part of our business that did not come under our gracious Lord’s inspection! Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your meaner affairs. The breadth of his tender love is such that you may resort to him in all matters; for in all your afflictions he is afflicted, and like as a father pitieth his children, so doth he pity you.
The meanest interests of all his saints are all borne upon the broad bosom of the Son of God. Oh, what a heart is his, that doth not merely comprehend the persons of his people but also learns the diverse and innumerable concerns of all those persons! Dost, thou think, O Christian, that thou canst measure the love of Christ? Think of what his love has brought thee—justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of his goodness are unsearchable; thou shalt never be able to tell them out or even conceive them. Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have half our hearts? Shall it have a cold love in return? Shall Jesus’ marvelous lovingkindness and tender care meet with but muted response and tardy acknowledgment? O my soul, tune thy harp to a joyful song of thanksgiving! Go to thy rest rejoicing, for you are no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by your Lord.
Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896. Print.
April 29: Examine Thy Self
Joshua 21:1–22:9; 2 Corinthians 13:1–10; Psalm 59:1–17
Before advising others on how they should act, self-examination is always necessary. When the Corinthians questioned the authenticity of Paul and his colleagues’ ministry (which is ironic since he had planted their church), Paul says to them: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless you are unqualified?” (2 Cor 13:5).
None of us are ready for the ministry that Jesus has for us because we’re not worthy of the great gift of salvation He has offered. We are meant to find our identity and calling in Christ and lead out of the gifts He has given us (see 1 Cor 12). For this reason, Paul makes this claim:
“And I hope that you will recognize that we are not unqualified! Now we pray to God that you do not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even though we are seen as unqualified. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but rather only for the truth” (2 Cor 13:6–8).
Paul is bound to what Christ has called him to do, so he often calls himself an enslaved person for Christ (e.g., Rom 1:1). Because of His great sacrifice, Paul sees the only natural action is living fully—with his entire being—for Jesus. It is in Christ that Paul finds his strength, even in the difficulties he faces with the Corinthians: “For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity” (2 Cor 13:9).
The psalmist also has a plea for times when he faces opposition from others: “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who rise up against me.… For look, they lie in wait for my life. The powerful attack against me, not because of my transgression or my sin, O Yahweh. Without guilt on my part, they run and ready themselves. Awake to meet me and see” (Psa 59:1, 3–4).
The Bible is full of understanding and insight for moments of struggle. And we have a great Savior who can sympathize with our efforts (Heb 4:14–16). It’s not a matter of if we as Christ-followers will experience unrighteous opposition; it’s a matter of when. May we have the type of faithfulness that Paul and the psalmist did. May we plea to the good God who loves us. May we speak only His truth.
What opposition are you currently experiencing? How would God have you answer it? How should you be praying to Him?
John D. Barry
Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Print. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012.
April 29th
The graciousness of uncertainty
It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1 John 3:2.
Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we consider uncertainty a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are confident in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says—‘Well, supposing I were in that condition …’ We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life: gracious uncertainty marks the spiritual life. To be sure of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways; we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are sure of God. Immediately we abandon God and do the duty that lies nearest; he packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe in God; we only believe in our belief about Him. Jesus said, “Except ye … become as little children.” Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God but unsure of what He will do next. If we are only specific in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views. Still, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy when we are rightly related to God.
“Belief also in Me,” said Jesus, not—‘Believe certain things about Me.’ Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986. Print.
April 29
Thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Isa. 49:23
Quiet waiting before God would save from many a mistake and many a sorrow.
J. Hudson Taylor
Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.
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