April 8 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14–16).

Devotional

The weaknesses of believers are as varied as they are numerous.

Some are weak in faith and are always questioning their interest in Christ.

Some, superficial in knowledge and shallow in experience, are ever exposed to the crudities of error and to the assaults of temptation.

Some are slow travelers in the divine life, and are always bringing up the rear; while yet others are often ready to quit altogether.

Then there are others who groan beneath the burden of bodily weakness that exerts a morbid influence upon their spiritual experience—a nervous temperament, a state of perpetual depression and despondency, the constant erosion of mental anxiety, physical ailments, imaginary forebodings, a facile yielding to temptation, grumpiness of spirit, unguardedness of speech, gloomy interpretations of providence, an eye that can only see the dark and somber hues of the cloud.

Ah! from this dismal catalogue how many, making their selection, may exclaim, "This is my weakness." But whatever your weakness is, let it endear to your heart the grace and sympathy of him who for your sake experienced weakness that he might have compassion upon you who are so infirm. All the fullness of grace that is in Jesus is for the very weakness over which you sigh.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
ev'rything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness—
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge—
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
in his arms he'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.

(Joseph Scriven, 1855)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.