Category: Devotion of the Day

The Christ of Experience

Last of all he was seen of me also.
I Corinthians 15:8

In this marvelous and classic statement of the Gospel, Paul sets forth the Christ of history: “Christ died”; the Christ of doctrine: “Christ died for our sins”; the Christ of the Scriptures: “Christ died…was buried…and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Then he moved further to declare the Christ of experience, the experience of others, to begin with. “He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, of above five hundred brethren at once, of James, of all the apostles.” And finally he reaches a climax in the Christ of his own experience: “and last of all he was seen of me also.”

It is possible to know Christ as a fact of history, of doctrine, of the Scriptures, of the experience of others, but it avails nothing if we cannot add, “Last of all he was seen of me also.”

It was said of Thomas Chalmers that he had “an original experience of Jesus Christ.” Have you seen Him for yourself?

Blessed With an Invisible Presence

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

Here is still another negative –positive that provides help in our dilemma. If there are hosts against us, there are also hosts on our side. The King of Syria sent a host against Elisha, but “behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha.” No wonder he assured his servant, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

If we are beset by an unseen foe, we are also befriended by an Unseen Friend. Great is our adversary but greater is our Ally. “The battle is the Lord’s” If there are evil angels there are also good angels. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

I noticed recently a repair shop operated by a man named Angel. His sign read, “Angel Service.” I laughed and said, “I’ve head angel service for years. ‘Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’”

Joshua, before the battle of Jericho, met the captain of the host of the Lord. The conquest of the hosts of evil depends on the Captain of the hosts of God. Before Jericho, meet Jesus!