August 11

They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn. — Jer 31:9 BSB

Oh, how much is required to bring the soul to its true rest and center! What trials and afflictions, what furnaces and floods, rods and strokes, as well as divine smiles, promises, and gracious drawings are needed! How much pride and self-reliance must we be delivered from! And how much love and the cleansing blood of Christ must we be drawn unto! What lessons must we learn about the dreadful evil of sin and the freeness and fullness of salvation! There are deep sinkings in self and glorious risings in Christ. There is guilt and condemnation because of sin, along with self-loathing and self-abasement. There is distrust of self, fear of falling, and many prayers and desires to be kept by God's grace. There is clinging to Christ, looking up to him, and fixing faith upon him as we view him seated at the right hand of the Father. There are daily desires to never sin against him again, but to live, move, and act in the holy fear of God. All of this is found, to one degree or another, in the soul of every living believer.

And where does all this inward experience come from, except from the fellowship and communion between Christ and the soul? As the Apostle says, “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” Being united with him, we share in his sorrows and joys. “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” He was “in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.” Therefore, he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and can pity us. As we cast our sins and sorrows upon him by faith, he supplies us from his fullness with grace and strength, so that we are ultimately brought through as more than conquerors.