Reading: “Only believe.” —Mark 5:36
O eternal, ever-blessed fountain of all light, source of all happiness, “God of all grace,” look down upon me this morning with that love which “You bear to Your own,” as I venture anew into Your sacred presence. Let me enjoy a sweet season of fellowship with You. Let the world be shut out and may I feel alone with God. “Under the shadow of Your wings would I rejoice.”
I come in the nothingness of the creature, standing alone in the fullness of Jesus. I come “just as I am, without one plea” as a sinner and as the “chief of sinners” to You, almighty Saviour. I seek to disown all creature confidence, and, with all the burden of my guilt, to cast myself for time and for eternity at Your feet. “Lord, save me, else I perish.” I cannot stand in myself. I can stand only in Him who has stood so willingly a surety for me, who is still at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, presenting my name and my prayers and my plea before the throne.
I have no other confidence, and I need no other. Jesus, I am complete in You. Let me not look inwardly on myself, where there is everything to sink me in despondency and dismay; but let me look with the undivided and unwavering eye of faith to Your bleeding sacrifice. I rejoice to think of the many robes in the church triumphant Your blood has already made white. I rejoice to know that the same blood is free as ever, the same invitation is addressed as ever, the promise and He who promised remain “faithful” as ever: “Him who comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Adapted from the Rev. John McDuff, D.D., The Morning Watches, 1852.
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