Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 9th

Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.- 1 Timothy 4:8.

While under the law, we naturally think, for so much work, so much wages-God will be faithful to his word of promise, if we perform those terms and conditions he requires of us. Such are the notions of a legal spirit-they are the result of pride-they swell with a vain conceit of doing something to make God a debtor to our works; they are founded in ignorance, both of ourselves, and of the word of God’s rich grace and free promises; not one of which is made, absolutely, in respect to us, or to any thing we either believe or do; but only as we are in Christ Jesus, members of him, our blessed head-For "ALL the promises of God are in Christ Jesus yea and amen, unto the glory of God."- 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Every believer in Christ is a holy, godly soul; he is exhorted to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. He has all cause for daily comfort and joy. He is fully assured of his interest in that blessed catalogue of mercies, "ministers, the world, life, death, things present, or things to come, all are yours." Why? wherefore has he property herein? "Because ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s,"- 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 -therefore he shall want nothing; he shall enjoy every thing he can will, or desire, as a godly person: for true holiness is profitable to bring the will into cheerful acquiescence with the will of God, and to enable the soul to say, "Thy will be done." All the blessings of Providence, all the riches of grace, all the glories of eternity, are secured by Jehovah’s promise to the godly in Christ.

Through the faith of Jesus, godly souls are profitable to their fellow-sinners, and fellow-members in him: Their good conversation, their holy walk, the Lord owns and blesses, to win others to the knowledge and love of God, to a hatred of sin, to renounce the vanities of the world, and quit the slavery of Satan.

Oh, Christian, remember thy calling-be careful of thy walk- watchful over thy conduct-see to it, lest Jesus be wounded in the house of his friends. Pray earnestly, and study daily that thy profiting in godliness may appear to all, to the glory of him "who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Are you ambitious? are you covetous? do you love gain? are you earnestly desirous to enjoy it? Hear, believe, and rejoice. "Godliness with contentment is great gain."- 1 Timothy 6:6.

O my Lord, how strange the grace

Which ungodly godly makes!

I have found this matter true,

All the glory is thy due.

Now the promise is enjoy’d,

Hope of greater is employ’d:

All is mine by gift of grace;

Make me long to see thy face.

Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Luke 23:42.

When Joseph had interpreted the chief butler’s dream, how pathetically does he plead with him! Think of me, when it shall be well with thee. (Genesis 40:14.) But, alas! such is the base ingratitude of man, all was in vain. When restored to his dignity at court, he thought no more of poor Joseph in prison. Exalted stations often elevate the mind above feeling for the distressed. But it is not so with the King of kings. He is ever the friend of poor sinners. He remembers us in our low estate. Behold! for us he now hangs on the accursed tree, between two cursed sinners. One was taken, the other left. See your own state in both. Behold the marvellous power of the Lord’s sovereign grace in one! Consider, (1st) Here is a reviler of Jesus changed into a petitioner to him. There was no alteration in any outward circumstances. All things continued just the same. Christ hung, to all appearance, as a mere man dying at his side. What, then, caused the change in him? O! hide your heads, and blush at your proud notions of your own free will, ye boasting pharisees!-fall down and adore distinguishing grace. One malefactor is left to his free will, and expires, blaspheming Jesus; the other dies, believing in him, and praying to him. He was snatched by grace from the gates of death and hell, as a brand which our Saviour would not suffer to be burned. Now, do you see your nature as wicked, and your state equally as desperate, as this thief’s? then you will be humbled. Do you see that nothing but the same undeserved grace can save you? then, you will exalt the free grace of Christ. (2d.) See the effects of it. He owns the justice of his sentence, reproves his free-will brother, and proclaims the innocence of the dying Saviour. O! fall down, and own that the sentence of the law, which curses you for sin, is just. Repel the pride and self-righteousness of your heart. Exalt the love and grace of our Saviour. (3d.) Hear his prayer. Lord, though thou diest as an ignominious man, yet thou art the Lord of life and glory. Remember me. There is no Saviour, but thee; no salvation, but by thee. I am a hopeless, helpless sinner: unless thou save me, I must be damned eternally. Thou art a King. Thou hast a kingdom. O, bring my soul into it! Now, have you just the same plea this thief had? Have you no other? Do you desire no better? Do you expect salvation from the same Saviour-on the same terms? Then, you are taught by the same Spirit, have the same faith in, and shall soon be in glory with the same Lord, who is rich in mercy unto all who call on him. (Romans 10:12.)

“The dying thief rejoic’d to see

That fountain in his day;

And O may I, as vile as he,

Wash all my sins away.”