Category: Devotion of the Day

Subtilty and Simplicity

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3.

Strictly speaking, what is in mind here is the simplicity of our faith in Christ rather than the simplicity of the Gospel, but we need not stop there. What stands out most is the contrast between subtilty and simplicity. Satan deals in subtilties. Our Lord deals in simplicities. There is sublimity aplenty but the sublimity is revealed to the simple, kept from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes. We have let our minds be corrupted by Satan’s subtilties away from the Saviour’s simplicities. Beware of any teaching, any movement that is sneaking and insidious. The truth is frank and honest and aboveboard. Satan’s subtilties bear the mark of the serpent—“the snake in the grass.” Our Lord stood in the public place and invited men to Him. The Early Church came out in the open. Paul said, “This thing was not done in a corner.”

It is part of Satan’s program to make our faith and practice complicated and involved. Now and then we need a rediscovery of the simplicity that is both in and toward Christ, in Him and in our faith in Him.

The daily devotions are from Day by Day by Vance Havner. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1953.

And Others

And others were tortured,…
Hebrews 11:35

This “Westminster Abbey of the Bible” rises through a glorious galaxy of faith-heroes, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and many more, until it reaches a pinnacle in a summary of those who wrought righteousness, subdued kingdoms, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, of women who received their dead raised to life again.

But not all fare that way. Suddenly the verse changes gears: “And others were tortured, mocked, scourged, put in bonds and imprisonment, were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, wandered, being destitute.”

Faith is not a sure road to the headlines, success, earthly victories, and deliverance from harm and danger. Some move grandly through in that first procession—and who wouldn’t like to be in that crowd? But there are others for whom things go the other way.

One thing they all had in common: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith…” We can do that, no matter which procession we are in!

The daily devotions are from Day by Day by Vance Havner. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1953.