Jesus is enough for each day. . . .

Piper starts today’s reading with two verses from a song:

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what he deems best
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

I’m amazed at how often thoughts from devotional readings are preceded by an event that illustrates the truth or point that God makes. The theme of Piper’s reading is an explanation of how the “Father’s wise bestowment” is the amount of trouble that we can bear each day — and no more.

Last night I worked until midnight on a project that I’ve been asked to teach to a group of quilters. This part was almost mindless but planning the session loomed large in my mind. Normally, when I go to bed thinking about a challenge ahead of me, I cannot sleep. My mind is too busy trying to solve the thing. However, I went to sleep instantly and then dreamed how I could do that session. Amazing! The dream made perfect sense and not only that, I remembered all of it when waking up, feeling totally rested and refreshed. Then Piper’s devotional reading reminds me of this truth:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)

I tend to think I will have to bear tomorrow’s burdens on today’s resources, but today’s mercies are for today. God will give me the wisdom and whatever I need for tomorrow’s challenges — and He did that in my sleep! How amazing!

Piper reminds me of the manna in the wilderness. His people were told to gather only enough for each day, with twice only on the day before their sabbath, a day of rest. In that vein, He gives strength for today’s challenges today, and gives what I need for the next day is given the next day, when I need it. “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Another issue bothering many is the future. North American politicians seem to be using our fears about tomorrow to mess with our minds and our sense of security. God gives me Psalm 2 and other passages to reassure me that He will give His people what they need, and He will also deal with unjust and ungodly rulers. Even so, this points to the future. It is good to focus on today’s needs rather than be like the pundits and media who speculate and try to fix such things that haven’t yet happened. I don’t know the future, not even the next hour, so being in a stew or a snit robs me of the energy God gave me for today.

PRAY: Jesus, trusting You means living in the right now. I need Your mercy and grace to handle today’s chore list and decisions — and You give me that and Your promise for renewal every morning. Thank You for Your great faithfulness. In a world where very little is certain, You are my anchor and all that I need will be supplied.

Counting my Blessings

Every day we thank God for our meals and for the blessing He provides in our lives. This includes spiritual gifts from above such as weaknesses strengthened, energy sufficient for our tasks, wisdom for the puzzles encountered, and the greatest blessing of all — a share in the sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world.

Today’s devotional points out that His treasures are for those found in the place where all God’s provision is treasured. That is, “if someone chooses to sit outside the baker’s shop, that person may starve on its threshold.” Those who refuse to “ascend to the hill of the Lord and stand in his holy place by simple faith” will find that God’s amplest provision is nothing to them. They will find themselves empty, even in the midst of affluence.

Yet that simple faith is often tested, sometimes severely. For instance, Abraham’s faith and love for God was put to the test when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son. As they went up the mountain with materials for a sacrifice, the boy asked about the lamb as they had not taken the customary sacrifice along with the wood for burning it. As the scene unfolded and this loving father prepared to obey God’s strange command, a ram appeared nearby, his horns caught in a thicket. The boy was saved and the ram was sacrificed.

So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)

The LORD will provide the lamb for the offering He commanded because it was the substitute, the appointed sacrifice to preserve the life of Abraham’s son, Isaac. This was a picture that pointed ahead to the greatest truth — that the only sacrifice that God accepts for the sin of the world is the substitute sacrifice that He himself has provided, His only Son, Jesus Christ.

At this, all I can do is bow in worship. The pagan world built altars but to no avail. Israel also built altars for lambs, but had to repeatedly sacrifice for these were never enough. . .

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. (Hebrews 10:4–6)

The human body of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, became that offering that forever satisfied the wrath of God against sin. God Himself provided a Lamb. Abraham’s devotion was proved because he did not withhold his son from God. And God’s love is sealed and proved because he did not withhold his only-begotten Son from us.

God provides — on the lowest level, the outward supply of my daily needs, and on a higher level, the means of obedience and action for the challenging duties and sharp trials. And for the highest need of all, He supplies the spotless sacrifice that alone atones for all my sin, even all the sin of the entire world.

To access that supply, I must stay near, inside the bakery as it were, living in fellowship with Him in love, prayer, mediation and obedience. Because He provides in gracious care, His treasury is overflowing for me and for all who have become His children by faith in His Son, the Lamb of God who took away all our sin.

It is finished!

In the Old Testament sacrificial system, sacrifices were offered frequently, just as sin was committed frequently. God had declared that there was no remission of sin without the shedding of blood and this system covered their sin for a time. They needed to make the sacrifices in faith, realizing that a Redeemer would come.

Jesus did come, the Lamb of God who bore the sin of the world. Unlike the other sacrifices, His was sufficient. It covered all sin and He only had to do it once.

As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

As the people of God looked ahead to full redemption, I look back. Just as Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) and my redemption is complete. Every time I or anyone else sins, there is no need for another sacrifice. Jesus did it. His blood was shed, not just for the sins up to His sacrifice, but all sin for all time.

I know many people do not understand this or believe it. It seems weird, or gory, or a silly way to deal with sin, but this was God’s plan from before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20). He knew that humanity would fall into sin and He knew that His Son would have to die for that sin, bearing the punishment we deserve.

Every morning I ask the Lord to give me truth and thoughts that I need for each day. Sometimes I am startled by the way His response fits my needs. When I have a question; He answers it. When I have a need; He supplies what I need.

Today, I’m tired from a full and wonderful day of worship yesterday, and He gives this — the simple truth of the Gospel — Jesus came, bore all my sin and gave me eternal life. Further, He is coming again and when He does, I will experience the fullness of the salvation that is mine. Today, He bids me to simply rest in the wonder of that reality.