Daily devotional · Day 77 of the year

Daily Devotional for March 18

Today's morning text: “Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26). Read Spurgeon's morning and evening meditations, a chain of Scripture from Daily Light, and today's Bible reading.

Today's Bible-in-a-Year reading: Joshua 24; Judges 1–2 · See the plan

Morning

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26

The fatherhood of God is common to all his children. Ah! Little-faith, you have often said, “Oh that I had the courage of Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as valiant as he! But, alas, I stumble at every straw, and a shadow makes me afraid.” List thee, Little-faith. Great-heart is God’s child, and you are God’s child too; and Great-heart is not one whit more God’s child than you are. Peter and Paul, the highly- favoured apostles, were of the family of the Most High; and so are you also; the weak Christian is as much a child of God as the strong one.

“This cov'nant stands secure, Though earth’s old pillars bow; The strong, the feeble, and the weak, Are one in Jesus now.”

All the names are in the same family register. One may have more grace than another, but God our heavenly Father has the same tender heart towards all. One may do more mighty works, and may bring more glory to his Father, but he whose name is the least in the kingdom of heaven is as much the child of God as he who stands among the King’s mighty men. Let this cheer and comfort us, when we draw near to God and say, “Our Father.”

Yet, while we are comforted by knowing this, let us not rest contented with weak faith, but ask, like the Apostles, to have it increased. However feeble our faith may be, if it be real faith in Christ, we shall reach heaven at last, but we shall not honour our Master much on our pilgrimage, neither shall we abound in joy and peace. If then you would live to Christ’s glory, and be happy in his service, seek to be filled with the spirit of adoption more and more completely, till perfect love shall cast out fear.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (1865)

Evening

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.”
John 15:9

As the Father loves the Son, in the same manner Jesus loves his people. What is that divine method? He loved him without beginning, and thus Jesus loves his members. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” You can trace the beginning of human affection; you can easily find the beginning of your love to Christ, but his love to us is a stream whose source is hidden in eternity. God the Father loves Jesus without any change. Christian, take this for your comfort, that there is no change in Jesus Christ’s love to those who rest in him. Yesterday you were on Tabor’s top, and you said, “He loves me:” to-day you are in the valley of humiliation, but he loves you still the same. On the hill Mizar, and among the Hermons, you heard his voice, which spake so sweetly with the turtle-notes of love; and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all his waves and billows go over you, his heart is faithful to his ancient choice. The Father loves the Son without any end, and thus does the Son love his people. Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver cord, for his love for thee will never cease. Rest confident that even down to the grave Christ will go with you, and that up again from it he will be your guide to the celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and the same immeasurable love the Son bestows upon his chosen ones. The whole heart of Christ is dedicated to his people. He “loved us and gave himself for us.” His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves him! There is much food here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness!

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (1865)

Daily Light on the Daily Path — March 18

Morning

Mine eyes fail [with looking] upward.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.

Ye have need of patience.

While they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

That blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Isa 38:14 Ps 6:2-4 Ps 55:4-6 Heb 10:36 Ac 1:10,11 Php 3:20 Tit 2:13

Evening

His name [shall be] in their foreheads.

I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep].

The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance.

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

This [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Re 22:4 Joh 10:14 2Ti 2:19 Na 1:7 Re 7:3 Eph 1:13,14 2Co 1:21,22 Re 3:12 Je 33:16

Daily Light on the Daily Path, compiled by Jonathan Bagster and family (1875) — every line is Scripture (KJV).

Respond in prayer

Before moving on, take two minutes: What does this reading show you about God? Is there a promise to trust, a command to obey or a sin to confess? Write one sentence in a prayer journal and carry today's verse with you.