Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

February 5– Morning

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

“The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” 

—I John 4:14

 

It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come into the world without his Father’s permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent by the Father to be our Savior. We too often forget that, while there are distinctions to be made between the persons of the Trinity (that is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), there are no distinctions of honor.

We too frequently ascribe the honor of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, to Jesus Christ more than we do to the Father. This is a very great mistake. Yes, Jesus came, but didn’t his Father send him? Yes, Jesus spoke the words of life, but didn’t his Father pour grace into his lips and make him an able minister of the New Covenant? The one who knows the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost as he should know them never sets One before Another in respect to love; he sees all of them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary–- all equally engaged in the work of salvation.

O Christian, have you put your confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Have you placed your reliance solely on him? And are you united with him? Then you are united to the Eternal God of heaven. Have you ever considered the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah when God the Father equipped his Son for the great enterprise of bringing salvation to men? If not, then meditate on this today: the Father sent him! In the wounds of the dying Savior, see the love of the great I AM. Remember that “it pleased the Lord to bruise [Christ]” on your behalf. [M&E]