the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways: to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.- Luke 1:76-77.
The day of gospel-truth, like the light of the morning, breaks forth gradually upon the benighted soul, and it increaseth to midday brightness and glory. "The path of the justified is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Thus it is in the experience of enlightened souls. The light of God’s word manifests the truth as it is in Jesus, gradually; it discovers condemnation and guilt by the law, and grace and pardon by the gospel. The baptist dispensation prepares the way in the heart before the soul enjoys the sweet sense of pardon of sins through the faith in Jesus. The law is a voice only of wrath and terror to the soul; it leaves the poor sinner in the dreadful state it finds him; it pronounces nothing but curses upon him; it can shew him no remedy; it points to no hope; to work wrath in the conscience and to condemn, is all the broken law can do.
The voice of the baptist cries to the soul in a wilderness state; but it is rather the hoarse cry of austere severity than the charming, melodious voice of peace and love; it calls to baptism of repentance, a confession of sins, a change of mind concerning former hopes of salvation, and also a change of life and practice. The poor sinner is hereby "warned to flee from the wrath to come"-is pointed to "the LAMB OF GOD, who taketh away the sin of the world." Most souls seem to be brought under this dispensation; some continue for a long season in it; they are in suspense between hope and fear concerning their state. The Spirit of wisdom sees meet it should be so. The name of Jesus is precious to them; his word is their hope; his promises the stay of their souls. The kingdom of Jesus is at hand in knowledge and comfort.
Salvation by Christ is made known to them: but as yet they do not enjoy the assurance of their interest in, and the knowledge that their sins are forgiven through the blood of Christ. They are the people of God, though they are not fully assured of it, not having yet received "the baptism of remission of sins" by the Spirit of adoption; but pardon is the certain privilege of believing souls; it is sure, by the promise of a faithful God; it is obtained by the precious blood of Jesus; it assuredly shall be enjoyed as the gift of the comforting Spirit. "The vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. "The just shall live by faith."- Habakkuk 2:3-4. As sure as John the baptist has prepared the way in thy heart, "the Lord whom thou seekest shall suddenly come to his temple."- Malachi 3:1.
Judge O LORD according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me. Psalms 7:8.
What! is David become a self-justifier? Does he trust in, and depend upon his own righteousness? Does he plead it, even before the Lord, and expect justification by it? Hath he not elsewhere declared, “In thy sight shall no man be justified”? (Psalms 143:2.) Why then does he here talk of my righteousness? and why does he say, “The Lord reward me, according to my righteousness?” (18:20.) It was far from David’s heart, to make his own righteousness the ground of his acceptance before God, or to place his hope of eternal life on it. He was a poor sinner. He knew it well. He confesses it constantly to the Lord. He declines it in point of justification, “I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine ONLY,” (Psalms 71:16.) Why then does he here talk of his own righteousness? Let not this puzzle thy mind, nor pervert thy judgment, O Christian! You now also do the same, in the same sense. Consider, David is here speaking of false calumnies, and unjust against him by Saul, his cruel and unkind enemy. Hast thou not met with the same treatment? Has thy conscience acquitted thee of what has been laid to thy charge? Hast thou known, that thy hands were clean, thy heart pure, and thine integrity free from base imputation? Then thou hast a right to carry thy cause to the Lord, and to plead thy righteousness, uprightness, and integrity of conduct, in this sense before him: thank him for his grace which kept thee from doing, as thy enemies unjustly charge thee, and enabled thee to do what was just and right: and to beseech the Lord to save thee from them, who unjustly persecute thee: to pity their cruelty before him: to pray to thy Lord for them. All this is perfectly consistent with thy faith, thy hope, and thy love. Study to profit by thy enemy’s treatment. Cease ye from man. Like thy Lord, learn obedience by the things which you suffer, (Hebrews 5:8.) Commit thy cause unto the Lord. “For all men have not faith.” (2 Thessalonians 3:2.) A Christian’s moral character should be held most sacred by him. Righteousness, integrity, and uprightness to all men, should ever be practiced by him, that the way of truth be not blamed on his account. O it grieves one to the very heart, when professors give cause to the enemies of Christ to say, See, here are your saints! they pay no regard to moral righteousness and integrity! Be careful to “give no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.” 2 Corinthians 6:3.
The rule of right, the way that’s just,
O may I ever prize!
Tho’ in my works I dare not trust,
Yet works faith justifies.
Dear Lord, I daily need thy grace,
Each duty to fulfil.
Blameless to walk before thy face,
Tho’ charged with ev’ry ill.
