August 21—Morning—2 Kings 6:16

"Fear not; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."—2 Kings 6:16.

My soul, never lose sight of what was shown to the prophet's servant in his fear. Although you do not see, with bodily eyes, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire in your defence; yet with your spiritual eyes, you may see, infinitely beyond all this, as surrounding you at all times and in all places, God your Father, with all his divine attributes and perfections, all engaged, all made over, all pledged in covenant engagements, in Jesus, for your defence, protection, comfort, security, and guidance in all things. There is more in that one assurance than in a thousand worlds: "I will be your God"—and all in Jesus, yes and amen. Then, moreover, you have God your Redeemer with you, with all his fullness, all his grace, all his love—his whole heart, his whole soul yours. And you have God the Holy Spirit with you, with all his influences, gifts, teachings, quickenings, consolations, and strength. All these are with you; not to mention angels, who are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation. Surely God's attributes, Jesus's graces, and the Holy Spirit's comforts, being all your own, and always with you; let whatever armies of men, or legions of evil spirits assault you—unbelief, or fear, or doubt, or misgiving; let nothing drive out the recollections or remove your confidence. "Fear not, for those who are with you are more than all who can be against you." Hallelujah. Amen.

August 21—Evening—2 Kings 4:40

"And it came to pass as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, 'O man of God, there is death in the pot!'"—2 Kings 4:40.

It was during a time of great famine that the prophet Elisha ministered among the sons of the prophets at Gilgal; no wonder, therefore, that their diet was reduced to a meal of herbs. During the season of persecution in our kingdom, somewhat more than a century and a half ago, there was a spiritual famine—not of bread or water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. So precious was the word of the Lord in those days that our good old fathers used to remark, "bread and water, with the gospel, was choice fare." We find, in the household of Elisha, that wild gourds, gathered ignorantly by one who collected the herbs, were served up in the people's stew, which, as soon as they were discovered, prompted the cry to the prophet, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!"

And is there not death in the pot when anything poisonous is mixed and served up to God's people with the word of his grace? Surely, the springs of all spiritual food and life are in Jesus: his blood, his righteousness, his finished salvation, the graces of his Holy Spirit, and the rest and dependence upon God the Father's covenant love and mercy in him—these are the only food of the soul by which it can be nourished. To drop these rich and savoury truths, whereby the soul is kept alive to God and brought near to God in Christ, or, what is the same thing, to mix, like the wild gourds of the field, the righteousness of human effort as partly the means of salvation with this only wholesome food of the soul, may surely cause the believing soul to cry out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!"

I charge you, my soul, this evening, in light of this scripture concerning the sons of the prophets, to take heed not to accept mixed things for the good old fare of the gospel. The smallest introduction to error is like one who lets out water. Where the person of Jesus, his work, and glory are neglected to be set forth, there will be death in the pot, whatever else is substituted in its place. A real believer cannot sustain the health of their soul for even a day, no more than a labouring man can sustain his body, if the appropriate food for each is not provided. And it surely would be a pity, when there is such infinite fullness in Christ, to substitute anything for him. Ensure, then, my soul, that all your food is Jesus, and let "all your fresh springs be in him." Remember the promise, for even in the saddest times of dearth, if Jesus is looked to, it can never fail: "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house, and you shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures: for with you is the fountain of life;" Ps. 36:8-9.

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Source:The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portion by Robert Hawker (today's blog post lightly modernized by Monergism)