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Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for
today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)
Bible Verse
"I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned" (Ex. 3:3).
Devotional
Contemplate a surpassing and precious truth—the church is not consumed! Why not? Because he who dwelt in the bush dwells in the church. The believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19–20). The High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, dwells in him (Isa. 57:15). Christ is in him, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). It is impossible that he can perish!
Why has the poor feeble bush not been consumed? Why has grace not utterly declined? Why has faith not completely failed? Why has love not become totally extinguished? Why has the "fiery dart" of Satan not prevailed? Why has the fierce and hot flame of persecution and trial not utterly consumed? Because greater is he who is in the believer than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Believer in Jesus! Do not tell me only of the sin that dwells in you, often bringing your soul into bondage and distress. Tell me also of the grace that dwells in you, which as often gives you the victory, and sends you rejoicing on your way.
Do not tell only of the burning fiery furnace seven times heated. Tell also of the Son of God who is with you in the furnace, and who has brought and who will yet bring you through with not a hair of your head singed, not a garment harmed, nor the smell of fire come upon you.
Do not tell only of the "trial of your faith," "though it is tested with fire" (1 Pet. 1:7). Tell also how, through the ceaseless intercession of Jesus within the veil, that faith never yet has failed.
Do not tell only of the burden that has oppressed. Tell also of the grace that has sustained.
Do not tell only of the sorrow that has wounded. Tell also of the divine sympathy, tenderness, and gentleness that have soothed, comforted, bound up, and healed that wound.
Oh, to hear more frequently the shout of victory, the prayer of thanksgiving, and the song of praise breaking in sweet music from the lips of the redeemed! How much more would Jesus be glorified!
Through the cleansing blood of the dying Lamb,
through the pow'r of grace and the precious Name,
through the light that beams from the Morning Star,
more than conquerors, conquerors we are.
Refrain:
More than conquerors, more than conquerors,
through the cleansing blood of the dying Lamb,
more than conquerors! more than conquerors,
through the pow'r of grace and the precious Name.
Who shall sever us from the Savior's love,
or shall blot our names from Life's book above?
Neither present things, nor the things to come,
shall defraud our souls of the heav'nly home.
(Refrain)
More than conquerors! There our Captain stands,
while our names are graven upon his hands;
though the pow'rs of darkness against us frown,
we shall win the fight, and shall wear the crown.
(Refrain)
(Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1828-1904)
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.
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