September 27—Morning—Psalm 22:24
"He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him, He heard." — Psalm 22:24

My soul, behold Jesus, the Lamb of God, in this beautiful scripture. Isn't it said of Him that in the days of His flesh, "He offered up strong cries and tears and was heard because of His reverence? Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." And was Jesus, the Holy One, also the afflicted One? Was He truly afflicted when He bore your sins? And was this the time to which the scripture refers, when God the Father regarded the sufferings of Jesus and neither despised nor abhorred them?

Did the Father see Him through all of this as the sinner's Surety and graciously accept Jesus and the church in Him? Oh then, my soul, remember this in all your trials and afflictions. Bring all your sins and sorrows to the throne. Jesus knows them all, sees them all, and even appoints them. He is always looking upon you and presenting you in Himself to the Father.

You can be certain that as your afflictions are not only known by Him but also appointed by Him, He will measure out no more than He will sanctify. And far from abhorring or despising your affliction, He will grant you support in every sorrow and provide a way to escape every temptation. Go then, my soul, cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
 

September 27—Evening—2 Timothy 4:10
"For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." — 2 Timothy 4:10

Was this the same Demas mentioned by the apostle in Colossians 4:14? I hope not. But even if it was, this doesn't prove a man can fall from grace. The apostle never speaks of this man as someone who partook of grace. One cannot fall from grace if they never possessed it in the first place. There may be those who follow the means of grace, just as Demas followed Paul, but their hearts remain attached to the world.

My soul, let what the apostle has said about Demas serve as a lesson to you. If Jesus and the love of Jesus, with all His sweetness, beauty, suitability, and delight, have entered your heart, then the love for this present world will depart. Both cannot coexist within the same heart. A believer in Christ Jesus will carry his love for Jesus even into the world, wherever the responsibilities or duties of life, in providing for himself and his family, may lead him.

Whether he must go to the marketplace or work with his hands at home, the fragrance of Jesus's name remains upon his soul; and communion with heaven continues even while earthly tasks occupy his hands. "Holiness to the Lord shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses" (Zechariah 14:20), meaning that every aspect of life will be sanctified for the Lord’s purposes. When a soul has made Jesus his portion, his desire is to see and enjoy Jesus in everything, saying as one did long ago, "Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have held me by my right hand" (Psalm 73:23).

My soul, how does your experience align with this truth? If, like Demas, you love this present world, your enjoyment—even in religion—will rise and fall, depending on how the world approves or opposes it, just like springs of water connected to the sea; they rise with the tide and fall with it. But if Jesus, the living water, is the source of all your love and joy, then the tides of this world will have no impact on your delight. "The water that Jesus has given you will be in you a well of water springing up to everlasting life!"

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Robert Hawker