ROMANS 8:33-34 – “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us”.
THEME OF THE DAY: SAFE AND SECURE IN THE LOVE OF GOD. We live in an age where getting a handwritten letter is rare, if at all. Texts, emails, messages, and other forms of electronic communication have removed “snail mail” from our experiences. And I believe we are not better for this replacement of the good old-fashioned letter or card in the mail. What is lost is the personal touch. It just isn’t the same receiving an email or text message with emojis, symbols, or abbreviations that often I don’t even know what they mean!
Well, all is not lost. We can still write. We can still be “old school”, and I hope we will. But something else is not lost. God has preserved letters written from great Christians in history for our edification and encouragement. And some of the richest came from the pen of the 17th century pastor John Newton. His name may immediately ring a bell in our thinking because he wrote what arguably is the most familiar of all Christian hymns – Amazing Grace.
John Newton was quite the pastor, and a large measure of his successful ministry was in his letters. There are books that are still in print today containing his letters, and one gem is titled Jewels from John Newton: Daily Readings from the Works of John Newton. It is published by Banner of Truth, and an excellent daily devotional. Below is a portion from a letter he wrote to a Christian sister to encourage her, and it flows from today’s scripture. May we equally be encouraged by this great man of God from church history.
With respect to my own experience, I have little now to add to what I have formerly offered; at least, little variety; for, in one sense, every new day is filled up with new things – new mercies on the Lord’s part, new ingratitude on mine; new instances of the vileness of my nature, and new proofs of the power of sovereign pardoning grace; new hills of difficulty, new valleys of humiliation; and now and then, though, alas! Very short and seldom, new glimpses of what I would be, and where I would be. The everlasting love of God; the unspeakable merits of Christ’s righteousness; and the absolute freeness of the gospel promises; these form the three-fold cord by which my soul maintains a hold of that which is within the veil. Sin, Satan, and unbelief, often attempt to make me let go and cast away my confidence, but as yet they have not prevailed; not thanks to me, who am weaker than water: but I am wonderfully kept by the mighty power of God, who is pleased to take my part, and therefore I trust in Him that they never shall prevail against me. A vile sinner, indeed, I am; but, since God, who alone has a right to judge, is pleased to justify the believer in Jesus, who is there that shall dare to condemn? I bless the Lord for that comfortable portion of scripture, Zechariah 3:1-5. When the Lord is pleased to pluck a brand out of the fire to save it from perishing, what power in heaven or earth shall presume or prevail to put it in again? No; He has done it, and who can reverse it? He has said it, and His Word shall stand. And I humbly believe (Lord, help my unbelief) that not one good thing shall fail of all that the Lord my God has, in His Word, spoken of to me.
So beautiful. So uplifting – if God is for us, and He is, there cannot be anyone or any force against us. Live confidently in this truth for to do so is to walk in the power of Christ’s love and joy!
PRAYER: Father, no words rightly define the depths of Your love, but my heart rejoices in its depths.
REFLECTION: No one, not the devil, not a person, not God, not even we ourselves shall condemn His children.