Devotional - 99-09-21 - Port's Faithful Shepherd, Chapter 3

Ephesians 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all into Him, how is the head, Christ.

"Labor to draw, and derive from Christ, by the pulling attractive force of faith, ability sufficient for the day.

1. To perform all duties, Philippians 4:12.
   
2. To exercise all graces, 2 Corinthians 3:5
   
3. To resist and overthrow all temptations and corruptions, Romans 8:37.
   
4. To undergo all the trials and afflictions of each day, Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 3:5, John 1:16.

Thus make your provision of grace and strength from Christ every morning. Fetch so much as you have occasion to use all the day long, yes, and upon all the occasions that you fall into each day. Go to Christ steadfastly for the wisdom that must direct you; for the holiness that must change your character; for the shoulder that must uphold you, if they be crosses; for that strength to resist them, if they be temptations; for ability to perform them, if they be duties. To this end, perfect your faith daily in the promises of grace and strength, as John 1:16, Ezekiel 36:26,27, Isaiah 44:3, Zachariah 10:12, which are the security given to you by God, that you shall receive grace as conduit pipes, or instruments of conveying the same from Christ unto you. This is the manner of doing all in the strength of Christ, taking forth a great deal of Christ into the soul, that not you, but Christ may live in you, Galatians 2:20." --Robert Port

Port is admonishing us to draw our strength from the deep supply that is in Christ. We all know that we should rest in Christ and we all know that the Lord is able to supply all our needs, but so often we don't live as if we believed these things. Rather than draw upon Christ we are often tempted to rest in our own strength and we attempt to resist temptation through our own fortitude. How unfortunate that this is true when we have such a great provision for our needs in Christ. May the Lord grant that we would learn to draw upon and rest in the wonderful provisions that are our in Christ.

However, Port does one thing more here, and we must not miss it. He places a great emphasis upon our need to rest in Christ "daily". He knew what we also know. He knew the need for fresh supplies and reminders of God's grace towards us each day, and even throughout the day. Port knew it, we also know it, and how wonderful it is to see a link and to admire the unity that exists in the Christian faith between those of us today and those who lived almost 350 years ago. Our need to perfect our faith daily and to seek fresh supplies of grace from the Lord are much the same needs that Port and Christians from all times and in all places have both longed for and sought after. "...with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." (James 1:17, Malachi 3:6)

"No folly is greater than to suppose that God is optional for daily living." Edmund P. Clowney

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

comments@papercutpress.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.papercutpress.com