May 3 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).

Devotional

The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ by revealing what Christ is to an emptied, lowly, penitent soul. And he does this by unfolding the great truth of the Bible—that Jesus died for sinners. Not for the righteous, not for the worthy, but for sinners, as sinners; for the unrighteous, for the unworthy, for the guilty, for the lost.

Precious moment, when the Eternal Spirit, the great Glorifier of Jesus, brings this truth with power to the heart! "I thought," exclaims the overjoyed soul, "that Jesus died only for those who were worthy of so rich a sacrifice, of such immense love. I intended to bring some price of merit in my hands, some self-preparation, some previous fitness, something to render my case worthy of his notice, and to propitiate his kind regard. But now I see his salvation is for the vile, the poor, the penniless. I read that 'while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly' (Rom. 5:6), that 'while we were still sinners, Christ died for us' (Rom. 5:8), that 'while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son' (Rom. 5:10), that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (1 Tim. 1:15), that it is 'without money and without price' (Isa. 55:1), that it is 'by grace we are saved' (Eph. 2:8), and that 'it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace' (Rom. 4:16)."

When this good news, these joyful tidings, this glorious message of free mercy for the vilest of the vile is believed, received, and welcomed, then in a moment the clouds all vanish, the fogs all disappear, the face of God beams in mild and softened luster, and, amid light and joy, gladness and praise, the jubilee of the soul is ushered in.

Oh, what glory now encircles the Redeemer! That soul venturing upon him with nothing but the faith of reliance, traveling to him in all weakness and in the face of all opposition, brings more glory to his name than all the hallelujahs of the heavenly choirs ever brought.

Just as I am, without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt.
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am! Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am! Thy love unknown
has broken ev'ry barrier down.
Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(Charlotte Elliott, 1836)

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.