February 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Looking to Jesus" (Heb. 12:2).

Devotional

If Jesus is especially glorified in the faith of his people, then let yours be a life of faith in every little detail. Lean on him for spiritual supplies; lean on him for temporal supplies. Go to him in dark providences, that you may be kept from sinking. Go to him in bright providences, that you may be kept from falling. Go to him when the path is rough, that you may walk in it contentedly. Go to him when the path is smooth, that you may walk in it surely. Let your daily history be a traveling to Jesus empty, and a coming away from Jesus filled.

Keep the truth constantly and prominently before your eye, "The just shall live by faith." If this is so, do not expect that God will ever permit you to live by sight.

Bend your whole soul submissively to him in this matter. Let his will and yours be one. If, in the course of your wilderness travels, he brings you into a great difficulty, yes, to the very edge of the sea, still, at his bidding, go forward, even though it be into that sea. Trust him to divide its waters, making a dry passage for your feet, and causing those very waves that threatened to engulf you, now to prove as a cloud covering you above, and as walls of strength fencing you in on every side.

I need thee, precious Jesus,
for I am full of sin;
my soul is dark and guilty,
my heart is dead within.
I need the cleansing fountain
where I can always flee,
the blood of Christ most precious,
the sinner's perfect plea.

I need thee, precious Jesus,
for I am very poor;
a stranger and a pilgrim,
I have no earthly store.
I need the love of Jesus
to cheer me on my way,
to guide my doubting footsteps,
to be my strength and stay.

I need thee, precious Jesus,
and hope to see thee soon,
encircled with the rainbow
and seated on thy throne.
there, with thy blood-bought children,
my joy shall ever be,
to sing my Jesus' praises,
to gaze, O Lord, on thee.

(Frederick Whitfield, 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.