May 21

Morning

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. — 1 Pet 2:3 BSB

"If"—then this is not something we can assume applies to everyone. "If"—then there's a possibility, maybe even a likelihood, that some have not yet tasted that the Lord is gracious. "If"—then this is not a universal truth, but a special mercy, and it’s worth asking ourselves if we have truly experienced God’s grace in our hearts.

No spiritual blessing should go unquestioned within us. And while it’s right to examine this earnestly and prayerfully, we should never settle for uncertainty about whether we’ve tasted the Lord’s grace. A humble, holy distrust of ourselves may raise such questions, even in the hearts of believers, but to continue in doubt would be a serious problem. We must strive with all we have to grasp hold of the Savior by faith and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him."

Do not rest, believer, until you are fully assured of your relationship with Jesus. Let nothing satisfy you until the Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are indeed a child of God. Don’t settle for "if" or "maybe." Build your faith on eternal truths, and truly build on them. Seek the sure mercies of David and don’t rest until you’ve claimed them. Cast your anchor behind the veil and ensure that your soul is bound to that anchor by an unbreakable chain. Move beyond the "ifs" and leave the wilderness of doubts and fears behind. Cross the Jordan of distrust and enter the Canaan of peace, where the land flows with milk and honey.

Evening

“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” — Gen 42:2 BSB

Famine struck all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family would face terrible poverty. But the God of providence, who never forgets those He loves, had already prepared a storehouse for them. He warned the Egyptians of the coming scarcity and led them to save the grain from the years of plenty. Jacob could never have imagined that his deliverance would come from Egypt, but there it was—grain in abundance, waiting for him.

Believer, even though everything seems to be going against you, trust that God has already made provision for you. In your struggles, there is a hidden clause of grace. Somehow, He will deliver you, and somewhere, He will provide for you. Your rescue may come from a place you never expected, but it will come in your time of need, and you will praise the name of the Lord. If people don’t provide for you, God can send ravens. If the earth doesn’t give you bread, heaven can send down manna. So take heart and rest in the Lord. He can turn distress into delight.

The grain in Egypt was in the hands of Joseph, who had the power to open or close the granaries. In the same way, the riches of God’s providence are in the hands of our Lord Jesus, and He generously provides for His people. Joseph was eager to care for his family, and Jesus is even more faithful in caring for us, His brothers and sisters. Our job is to seek the help that’s been prepared for us—we must not sit still in despair. Prayer will bring us into the presence of our royal Brother. Once before His throne, all we have to do is ask, and we will receive. His storehouses are far from empty; there’s still plenty of grace to go around. His heart is never hardened toward us. He will give us what we need. Lord, forgive our unbelief, and tonight, help us to draw deeply from Your fullness, receiving grace upon grace.