May 21

Morning

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. — 1 Pet 2:3

“If”, then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. “If”, then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. “If”, then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to inquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience.

There is no spiritual favor which may not be a matter for heart-searching. But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content while there is any such thing as an “if” about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of SELF may give rise to the question even in the believer’s heart but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Savior in the arms of faith, and say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.”

Do not rest, O believer, until you have a full assurance of your interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy you until, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with your spirit—you are certified that you are a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no “perhaps” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy your soul. Build on eternal verities, and truly build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let your anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that your soul is linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary “ifs”, abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the land ever flows with milk and honey.

Evening

There is corn in Egypt. — Gen 42:2

Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family should suffer great poverty; but the God of providence, who never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary for His people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and leading them to stockpile the grain of the years of plenty. Little did Jacob expect deliverance from Egypt but there was the grain in store for him.

Believer, though all things are apparently against you, rest assured that God has made a reservation on your behalf; in the roll of your griefs—there is a saving clause. Somehow He will deliver you, and somewhere He will provide for you. The quarter from which your rescue shall arise, may be a very unexpected one but help will assuredly come in your extremity, and you shall magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed you, ravens shall; and if earth yields not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the source of distress—the channel of delight.

The grain in Egypt was all in the hands of the beloved Joseph; he opened or closed the granaries at will. And so the riches of providence are all in the absolute power of our Lord Jesus, who will dispense them liberally to His people. Joseph was abundantly ready to support his own family; and Jesus is unceasing in His faithful care for His brethren. Our business is to go after the help which is provided for us—we must not sit still in despondency, but bestir ourselves. Prayer will bear us soon into the presence of our royal Brother—once before His throne we have only to ask and have—His stores are not exhausted; there is grain still—His heart is not hard, He will give the grain to us. Lord, forgive our unbelief, and this evening constrain us to draw largely from Your fullness and receive grace upon grace!