April 2 Daily Devotional

Abraham "staggered not...."

the Rev. David Freeman

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God"
"Romans 4:20.

Devotional

(conitnued)

How often do men try to fulfill God's promises? Yet God has not entrusted that to men. Is not that God's work alone? Men must not do the least wrong to produce a good. No work is good in God's sight which needs an evil course to accomplish it.

Faith must answer all politic suggestions with an abiding assurance that what God ordains can never in its ultimate issue produce anything but good. Blessings come only upon obedience.

Abraham did not stagger. God does not want a hesitating obedience. Conscience grows hard with halting between two opinions. When God's command is no longer felt to be a duty, conscience is well nigh dead. Men's feelings are not of God when they dull the edge of the sword of heavenly obligations.

Even prayer is out of place if this exercise keeps men from doing God's bidding immediately. Prayer was never meant to frustrate God's revealed will. God's gift of prayer through which He accomplishes His mighty purposes must never be used as a cloak for unbelief. Abraham does not seek further guidance from God, but without a murmur he sternly and resolutely obeys. He found no excuse for drawing back.

Is not this obedience of Abraham the exhibition of faith? Does faith mean anything without such obedience? Brethren, our faith must be brought to this or it is not worth having. The only necessity to us is to obey the command of God even though it should bring shame, the hatred of the world and death itself.

The grace of God is confirmed to them who prove their fidelity by obeying Him at all risks. The quickest and easiest road to full assurance of salvation is perfect obedience. Was Abraham first in trial? So was he first in blessing.

"Lord, give me such a faith as this,
And then, whatever may come,
I taste e'en now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home."

"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.

David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.

There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.

We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!