Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes–and he dined regularly in the presence of the king of Babylon for the rest of his life. As for his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, for the rest of his life.” 2 Kings 25:29-30
Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king’s palace with a ‘supply’ to last him for months–but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really needs. We do not need tomorrow’s portion; for that day has not yet dawned, and its needs are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June–does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet. If we have enough for each day as the days arrive–we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day–is all that we can enjoy.
We cannot eat or wear more than the day’s supply of food and clothing. Any surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveler–but a bundle of staffs is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast–but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. Enough is all that we should expect–a craving for more than this, is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more–we should be content with His daily allowance.
Jehoiachin’s case is ours–we have . . .
a sure portion;
a portion given to us by the King;
a gracious portion;
and a perpetual portion.
Here is surely ground for thankfulness.
Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace–you need a daily supply. You have no store of grace. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance–that a daily portion is provided for you. In the Word, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God–you shall receive renewed grace and strength. In Jesus, all needful things are laid up for you. Never go hungry–while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy! Enjoy your continual allowance!
“Give us each day–our daily bread.” Luke 11:3
“As your days–so shall your strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25
Where the righteousness of Christ is imputed to an
individual–a principle of holiness is imparted to him;
the former can only be ascertained by the latter.
The merits of Christ’s finished work are reckoned to
my account–only if the efficacy of the Holy Spirit’s
work is evident in my soul and life.
Wherever Christ’s redemption is truly received by
faith–it kindles in the heart, an intense hatred
of sin, and the deepest love and gratitude unto God.
18″He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 4:12
12″And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Maybe you’ve heard it said, or maybe you’ve said it yourself, “is Jesus the only way?” I heard a particularly smiley “pastor” say on Larry King when asked this same question, “Gee, ya know Larry… I just don’t know.”
Now, if you’ve read the two verses above it seems very clear. “Pastor” Smiley is right to say… we don’t decide who goes and who doesn’t… but we can, and must say that no one goes to Heaven apart from Christ. It’s simply not an option for a Christian… and I think it’s pretty clear that’s exactly the way Jesus wanted it. Continue reading 'The only way?'»
26″But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.
27″My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29″My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30″I and the Father are one.”
31The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.
I was reading this last night and it jumped out at me. Believing doesn’t make you a sheep… being a sheep means that you will believe… Verse 26 isn’t saying that they aren’t sheep because they don’t believe… it’s saying they don’t believe BECAUSE they are NOT SHEEP! Continue reading 'Election.'»
Though the Gospel is exactly suited to the dire need of fallen man–yet it is far from being suited to his proud heart! It calls upon him to “Behold the Lamb of God”–but in order to do so–he must look away from himself. That is, he must renounce himself, deny himself, repudiate all “imagined goodness” in himself–and this is something which he is very far from being willing to comply with. The Gospel is a revelation of pure grace, of sovereign mercy, unmerited favor–offering to enrich spiritual paupers, to clothe the spiritually naked, to save Hell-deserving sinners–but that is something the self-righteous and independent heart of fallen man cannot tolerate! Continue reading 'Better than Hell-deserving sinners!'»
“The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is afflicted. From the sole of the foot even unto the head–there is no soundness in it; but only wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!” Isaiah 1:5, 6
Sin and Satan have wounded man’s body, which bring it down with disease and pain to the dust from whence it was taken. They have wounded his soul in all its faculties–his understanding with darkness, his will with a wicked choices, his affections with worldly-mindedness, so that he places his love upon the creature instead of the Creator. They have wounded his conscience with guilt, and with fear of death and dread of Hell. They have stopped his ears to the voice of the Spirit, and closed his eyes to the glory of God. How completely and severely man is wounded! Worst of all–sin has inflicted a mortal wound which has deprived man of his spiritual consciousness, for he is insensible, unaware of his desperate state!
Fallen man is in such a wretched condition, that he is beyond doing anything for his deliverance. But such a truth is far too distasteful to proud human nature. Man will not accept the Divine verdict, he will not believe his case is so desperate as the Scriptures depict it. He persuades himself that it lies in his own power to win the favor of God. He thinks that if he tries his best, and employs himself in religious duties–that such endeavors will receive an eternal recompense. All the expedients which human wisdom has devised as remedies for the wounds which sin has inflicted, may be reduced to two: good works–and religious duties.
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