April 23 Daily Devotional

There is a false "peace": ask Him for the true

The people who had cast out devils and done many wonderful works in the name of Christ were quite sure of their salvation. They had no vestige of doubt about it. They believed that they were forgiven; they seemed to be at peace and to be enjoying the comforts of religion; they seemed to have spiritual power and were living a better life; they said, "Lord, Lord"; and they wanted to spend their eternity with Him. Yet He said to them: "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Do you realize that it is possible to have a false sense of forgiveness? Do you realize that it is possible to have a false peace within you? ... You can have false peace, false comfort, false guidance. The man who never knows what it is to have certain fears about himself, fears which drive him to Christ, is in a highly dangerous condition. The devil can give you remarkable guidance. Telepathy, and all sorts of occult phenomena and various other agencies, can do so too. There are powers that can counterfeit almost everything in the Christian life....

According to our Lord's teaching, therefore, the similarities between the true and the false can include such matters and extend even so far as that. Nevertheless our Lord's teaching is that though there are many similarities between [the] two men and the two houses in the parable [Matthew 7:24-7] and in the realm of Christian profession, yet there is a vital difference.

It is not obvious on the surface; but if you look for it, it is perfectly clear and unmistakable.... I can sum it up in the form of a question: What is your supreme desire? Are you out for the benefits and blessings of the Christian life and salvation, or have you a deeper and profounder desire? Are you out for the fleshly carnal results, or do you long to know God and to become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you hungering and thirsting for righteousness?

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, ii, pp. 303-4

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“Text reproduced from ‘A First Book of Daily Readings’ by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, published by Epworth Press 1970 & 1977 © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Used with permission.”

Comments on D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, A First Book of Daily Readings

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