Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

May 23– Morning

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

“The Lord will accomplish His plans for me.”.” 

—Psalm 138:8

 

These words of the Psalmist are uttered in Divine confidence. He did not say, “I have enough grace to perfect myself; my faith is so steady that it will never stagger; my love is so warm that it will never grow cold; my resolution is so firm that nothing can move it; no, his dependence was on the Lord alone. If we indulge in any confidence that is not grounded on the Rock of ages, our confidence is worse than a dream. It will fall upon us one day and will cover us with its ruins to our sorrow and confusion.

The Psalmist was wise; he rested on nothing short of the Lord’s work. It is the Lord who began the good work within us, and he is the One to carry it on to completion. If there is even one stitch of self-righteousness in our heavenly garment, it will not clothe us adequately. But this is our confidence: the Lord who began will perfect. He has done it all; he must do it all, and he will do it all.

Sometimes we think to ourselves, “You will never be able to stand. Look at the evil of your heart; you can never conquer sin. Remember the temptations that cause you to fall? You will certainly be allured by them and led astray.” And, if you are left to your own devices, of course, you will die! If we have to row our frail boats over the rough seas of life, we might as well give up now. But thanks be to God, he will complete the job and bring us safely home. We can never be too confident when we confide in God alone. [M&E]