Devotional for June 2015

by John Carpenter | Jun 5, 2015 | Devotional

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble — the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice — Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart — and fulfill all thy counsel.” Ps.20:1-4

When this wonderful Psalm of David says: “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble” it pertains — first of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ — and then unto all of us whom God has placed in Him before the foundation of the world. The word so translated as “hear” — literally means: “answer”. So, the phrase actually says: “The Lord answer thee — in the day of trouble”. This denotes petitionary prayer being made — “in the day of trouble”. Our sovereign Savior substitute was often vanishing from the crowds to get away to a place of private prayer with His heavenly Father. Even so, we who have been eternally loved and chosen by God — and place in His dear Son — will do the same thing.

The “day” of trouble for Christ was every day that He spent in His special time of divine incarnation in this world — our fallen world — on our behalf. So, if ever there is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for wisdom; for guidance; for provision; for protection and preservation — it is now.

Our Lord prayed — just to simply spend time in the presence of His Father. Even so do all of God’s true children whom He has set apart from this evil world to be eternally saved. Our Savior’s prayers were not for His own deliverance, but for ours! He was sent by the Father to act as our Surety and Substitute. To seek and to save all of God’s lost children…every one. His petitions were always concerning us!
And, what does the Word of God command of us? What does the Law of the Lord command all of His true children? Why, it commands of us that we should love one another — bear one another’s burdens — and pray without ceasing for one another. This is the holy practice which makes up the bulk of our days in this world of trouble, trial and affliction. And, as the Father sent help from Zion unto His Son to strengthen Him in the accomplishment of the eternal holy atonement that He was sent to perform — even so, has He sent and supplied us with Christ — who is our help and strength! He is even our all and in all.

It is certain that the Father hears and grants the petitions of His Son — who is the eternal Son of God! And again, the same assurance is given unto us: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him — that if we ask any thing according to His will — He heareth us: (15) and if we know that He hear us — whatsoever we ask — we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1Jn.5:14-15 We have been given this eternal assurance by virtue of Christ’s eternally accomplished atonement on our behalf as being “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”– Praise His Name!

For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter

Devotional for April 2015

by John Carpenter | Apr 27, 2015 | Devotional

“My beloved spake, and said unto me: Rise up, my love, my fair one — and come away; (11) for, lo, the winter is past — the rain is over and gone — (12) the flowers appear on the earth — the time of the singing of birds is come…(13)…arise my love, my fair one, and come away.” [Song. 2:10-13]

This text is a wonderful reflection of our loving Savior graciously coming unto us and refreshing upon us His divine presence and power. It’s like a brand new morning — of a brand new season — that He is awakening us to realize. His personal coming brings both unto us, and it is grand! It is grand because He, it is, who is “full of grace and truth” [Jn.1:14]. We, who are His loved and chosen from everlasting, are awakened with His eternally gracious and faithful presence.

This, in turn, provides the means to make the moment even more special. When He says: “Rise up, my love — my fair one — and come away”– we cannot help but do it! Just like when He first called unto the disciples to follow Him. Some were busy mending their fishing nets, but when He called them, it says, immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. Whatever preoccupied their time — whether family, or personal work — it all instantly lost its appeal to their obeying the loving command of Christ to follow Him! [Mt.4:18-22]

Even so, from this text found in Solomon’s Song we cannot expect it to be any different. Irresistible grace is absolutely at work here — just like when our Savior issued various commands during His holy walk among mankind during His time of incarnation. The Bible says from 1Co.15:10 “But by the grace of God, I am what I am
— and His grace toward me was not in vain — but I labored more abundantly than they all — yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Praise the Savior!

The Word of God communicates the truth of the story of redemption so much through Old Testament types and shadows — and here in Solomon’s Song we have, as it were, our Lord coming to each of us individually — who make up being His Bride — and awakening us. Jesus said that He will raise us up at the last day [Jn.6:39-40,44]. Here, in this text, we have a glimpse of how He lovingly and gently does this. He comes to us and says, “Rise up, my love (Or lit. My companion) my fair one (Or, one whom I have made beautiful with my righteousness) and come away!” Just like the disciples were irresistibly summoned to come and follow Christ. even so, we, at that glorious moment will be summoned to come away with Him — right into heaven!

Truly, then we will adoringly and joyfully say: “O how marvelous, O how wonderful — and my song shall ever be! O how marvelous, O how wonderful, is my Savior’s love for me!” We shall be irresistibly summoned to rise up from the death of this dark, cursed world’s Winter time of night — to go away with our Savior into the light of the eternal life of Heaven’s eternal Spring day!

For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter