Daily Devotionals

Devotional: September 22nd

Morning

“Father, I have sinned.”

We will now look at the third of the three pictures which make up our Lord’s parable: it represents the divine Father’s part in salvation.

Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11-16

This is the best the world can do for an awakened sinner. Its richest joys and its best religious teachings are only swines’ meat, and cannot satisfy the soul’s cravings.

Luke 15:21

He did not say, “Make me as one of thy hired servants:” his father smothered that legal prayer with a kiss.

Luke 15:25 , Luke 15:26

He was in a bad state, and had grown self-conceited, as even good people are apt to do.

Luke 15:29 , Luke 15:30

He complained that his religion brought him but little joy, and yet the newly converted sinner was made the receiver of great delights. We have often heard this from grumbling professors who have sunk into an ill condition of heart.

Luke 15:31

If we do not rejoice, it is our own fault for living below our privileges, for all things are ours.

Luke 15:32

Joy over new converts is most proper and seemly, and it is unlovely for any to grudge them the delights of new found grace. Let us imitate the heavenly Father, and not the elder brother.

Who can describe the joys that rise

Through all the courts of Paradise,

To see a prodigal return,

To see an heir of glory born?

With joy the Father doth approve

The fruit of his eternal love;

The Son with joy looks down, and sees

The purchase of his agonies.

The Spirit takes delight to view

The holy soul he formed anew;

And saints and angels join to sing

The growing empire of their King.

Evening

“How much owest thou unto the Lord.”

Luke 16:1-17

Luke 16:8

And the lord not Jesus, but the steward’s master

Luke 16:8

It was not his dishonesty which was commended, but his shrewdness. The steward’s business was to get as much as he could for his lord out of the tenants; and finding that he was to be dismissed he used his remaining tenure of office to earn their friendship, by remitting their rents. In this he was sharp and far seeing; and we, though we must never act dishonestly, should also look before us, and act with our worldly treasure in such a way as to win the friendship of others. Money is never belter used than when we do good to others with it, so that in persecuting times, even the ungodly may think of us in a friendly spirit, while the gracious will love us, and welcome us into the mansions above. Hoarding gets poor interest; giving is true thrift.

Luke 16:10 , Luke 16:11

A man who does not use money well will not employ higher gifts discreetly. To use wealth to promote the good of others is wisdom, and he who fails in this, does not know how to use the true riches, and will not be trusted therewith. It needs much grace to use money well, and those who make it their care to. do so, are among the best of Christians.

Luke 16:12

If you are not faithful when you are under obligation to be so, you will be far more unwise in matters in which you think that you may do as you please. The bad steward of another will make a bad manager for himself.

Luke 16:13

Two principles cannot both be master in the heart. God and mammon will neither of them accept a divided empire. We must serve the one or the other; the two will never agree.

Luke 16:14

Men are very apt to pretend to ridicule that which troubles their consciences. No person is more hopeless than the man who jests at the Word of the Lord.

Luke 16:15

This we should always remember, for it will save us from loving the fashions of the day, or trembling at the frowns of men. If God abhors what man esteems, man’s judgment should be of small account with us.

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