April 14 Daily Devotional

God's Grace in Our Afflictions

the Rev. David Freeman

"Blessed is the man whom thou chasenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law"
"Psalm 94:12.

Devotional

(continued)

Ordinarily God never gives His spiritual favors until the soul feels its need of them. The Lord "will be inquired of." In answering to hungerings and thirstings of the spirit, the Lord manifests himself.

When does the soul know better than in affliction to cast itself upon the strength of God, and to feel deeply its need of Christ? In such moments the vague trust in Christ often indulged in is insufficient, and it learns what it really is to look unto Jesus. And has not an inestimable blessing been made ours when in our affliction God has led us to commence and persevere in a faithful and earnest application to Christ?

Have we not long slighted our kind Redeemer? Like Israel in prosperity, we have forgotten our deliverer and have grown rebellious in the rich pastures of His goodness. While the skies were clear, and all around us was smiling, we were remiss in duty, irregular in devotion and lukewarm in affection. By the worldly things on which we have doted, He to whom we had solemnly and unreservedly given ourselves has been put aside. We have been at ease in Zion. We have forsaken our first love, and declined from the path of strict piety. Oh child of God, do you not think that these afflictions were necessary to you?

Should we not thank God that He has brought us to the place where we feel that Christ alone is our portion? What grace has He manifested toward us when lie brought us to know that Christ alone is our peace!

"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!