April 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)" (Matthew 1:23).

Devotional

When people reject the doctrine of the supreme Godhead of Jesus Christ, then upon what mere sand do they build their hope of heaven! What dreams, what shadows are all their expectations of eternal life! When the Divinity of Jesus is denied or rejected, then all that is precious and valuable in his death is cancelled out. If it were a mere finite obedience, then what would be his obedience to the law? If a "creature" only were suffering, then what would be his endurance of its penalty upon the cross? How could either meet the claims of God's moral government, uphold his holiness, satisfy his justice, and present him as both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom 3.26)? Never!

If your acceptance as a sinner with this holy Lord God is based on any righteousness other than the "righteousness of God" (Rom. 1:17; 3:21–22; 10:3; 2 Cor. 5:21), then you are lost, and that for all eternity! A "created" Savior! Oh, wretched fantasy! A finite Redeemer! Oh awful and malignant scheme of Satan to drown men's souls in perdition!

But to the true believer how glorious, invaluable, and precious is this truth! What a rock he stands upon whose faith rests upon the Godhead of Christ! He sees in his blood and righteousness the infinite dignity and worth of the God-Man Mediator. Here he finds everything that he needs as a poor, guilty, undone sinner—a righteousness that fully acquits him from all the charges of law; a fountain that cleanses him from all the pollution of sin; a Savior who is not only mighty, but almighty, to carry his sorrows, bear his burdens, and strengthen him for the conflicts and difficulties of his pilgrimage.

Look up, then, O believer! Fix the eye of your faith on the eternal glory of your covenant Head. Your salvation is secured by an Almighty Redeemer who is able to guard what you have entrusted to him for that Day when he comes to make up his treasured possession (2 Tim. 1:12; Mal. 3:17).

My heart does overflow,
a goodly theme is mine;
my eager tongue with joyful song
does praise the King divine.
Supremely fair you are,
your lips with grace o'erflow;
his richest blessings evermore
does God on you bestow.

Now gird you with your sword,
O strong and mighty One,
in splendid majesty arrayed,
more glorious than the sun.
Triumphantly ride forth
for meekness, truth, and right;
your arm shall gain the victory
in wondrous deeds of might.

Your arrows pierce the hearts
of those who hate the King,
and under your dominion strong
the nations you shall bring.
Your royal throne, O God,
forevermore shall stand;
eternal truth and justice wield
the scepter in your hand.

Since you have loved the right,
and hated wickedness,
your God anointed you with joy;
you are supremely blessed.
Your garments breathe of myrrh
and spices sweet and rare;
glad strains of heavenly music ring
throughout your palace fair.

Amid your glorious train
kings daughters waiting stand.
And fairest gems bedeck your Bride,
the Queen at your right hand.
O royal Bride, give heed,
and to my words attend;
for Christ, the King, forsake the world
and ev'ry former friend.

(from Psalm 45:1–10, The Psalter 1912; mod.)

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.