Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

April 21– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“I know that my Redeemer lives.” 

—Job 19:25

 

The center of Job’s comfort resides in that little word “my”– “my Redeemer”– and in the fact that his Redeemer lives. Oh, to get hold of a living Christ! We must take up residence in him before we can enjoy him. What use is gold if it remains in the mine unharvested and unrefined? Thousands of beggars live in countries rich in gold. Gold can’t satisfy me; it is gold in my pocket that helps me to purchase the bread I need. In the same way, a Redeemer who doesn’t redeem ME is of no use to me. Don’t rest today until by faith you can say “Jesus is my Redeemer.” Even if you are holding onto Jesus with a very weak grip—even if your faith is as small as a grain of mustard seed—you are entitled to say, “Jesus is my Redeemer.”

But Job’s confidence is also heard in the words, “I know.” To say, “I hope so, I trust so” is comfortable, and there are thousands who never get much further than that. But to reach the essence of comfort in Christ you must say, “I know.” Doubts sting the soul like wasps. If I have any suspicion that Christ is not mine, then my wine turns to vinegar; but if I know that Jesus lives for me, then even darkness is not dark; even the night is bright to me.

If Job can be this confident in Christ long before Jesus ever came to this earth, how can I be any less confident? Let’s rest on this foundation and build every room of our house upon it! Jesus is my Living Redeemer, and he brings me unspeakable joy. [M&E]