Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 31st

Christ’s house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end.- Hebrews 3:6.

The tabernacle, with its furniture-the ark of the covenant- the institution of sacrifices, etc. were appointed by Jehovah, to shew the nature of his house-to typify God’s dwelling in the human nature of Jesus-his sacrifice for and special presence with the household of faith. David asks, "Lord, who shall dwell with thee?"- Psalms 15:1. The answer is, Only those whose hearts are furnished with the graces of Jesus, and whose lives evidence it.

It bespeaks a person’s propriety of and delight of residence in a house, when he adorns and furnishes it. This Jesus doth by the hearts of all his members. He is our brother in flesh. He complies with his own command, When thou lettest a servant go free, "thou shalt furnish him liberally."- Deuteronomy 15:14. Out of the fullness of Jesus, most liberally, his members receive grace for grace. Hence they have the confidence of faith, the rejoicing of hope.

But why doth the apostle put an IF here? Is it to weaken our confidence and damp our joys, as though Jesus was not faithful to US? or that our own efforts could make salvation more secure than his blood and righteousness have? Is it to keep us always in a state of diffidence and uncertainty? Far from it; this would counteract the grace of Jesus, weaken faith and hope in him, and strengthen the pride and vain glory of us sinners, as though Jesus was the foundation, but our own arm, our own faithfulness was to raise the superstructure, and bring forth the head-stone of salvation with shoutings, not of grace, grace to him; but glory, glory to us. Most detestable thought!

We are assured that all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, shall enter into his glory.- Revelation 21:27. There are no Ifs, no doubt of this. But who is of that happy number? This we can only know by the Spirit given unto us, whereby we cleave unto Jesus in heart and affection, as our only hope; renounce both the righteousness and sinfulness of the flesh, and continue to hold fast and persevere in the faith of the gospel; "and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called."- Ephesians 4:1. "Wherefore, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."- 2 Peter 1:10.

Hold fast your trust, retain your hope,

In spite of Satan and of sin;

Thus honor Christ your Saviour’s word,

Till you his glorious kingdom win.

All of thy house shall persevere,

They of thy fulness shall partake:

Thy word is try’d, thy promise sure,

Thou, Lord, thine own wilt ne’er forsake.

This is our God for ever, and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalms 48:14.

Here is, (1st.) The joyful claim of faith. This God: Just as though the sinner saw him as visible, pointed to him, and exulted in him. “Is our God.” It is our special mercy, we do not serve an unknown God. Our God has manifested himself to us: is known by us: we have felt his sovereign grace and almighty power within us. Hence, we own him, come to him, and rejoice in him, as our covenant God in Christ. He came from heaven to earth, to seek and to save us. He has given us hearts to ascend from earth to heaven. There we view our reconciled God and Father, at perfect peace with us; our God Redeemer, ever living to save us; our God and Comforter, winging the joys of salvation into our hearts, and thereby sanctifying us unto eternal glory. “This our God, ever rests in his love to us.” (Zephaniah 3:17.) “He will never turn away from us to do us good.” (Jeremiah 32:40.) For, (2d.) He is “our God forever and ever.” Not only yesterday and to-day, while our frames are warm and lively, and our comforts are strong: but through every revolving period of time, and in every distressing circumstance. O, distressing thought, if God were ever to cease to be our God! Some say, God may be our loving God and Father today, but to-morrow may cast us off in his wrath, and become our implacable enemy for ever. What! does God beget children for the devil? Has Christ redeemed souls by his blood, which may be damned in hell? Does the Spirit quicken and sanctify souls, who may inhabit the bottomless pit? O! this is not the language of Scripture and faith, but of ignorance and unbelief. It comes from devilish pride, thinking we do something to cause God to be our God. It tends to dreadful presumption-thinking we can do something to keep him our God. It ends in awful desperation; for if we fail on our parts, we lose God and our souls for ever. No: but, (3d.) O joyful truth! “Our God will be our guide, even unto death.” Then, we cannot sin our souls out of his hands. “For Christ’s blood cleanseth from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.) “We cannot forfeit his mercy; it endureth for ever.” (Psalms 106:1.) “He will guide us into all truth.” (John 16:13.) His truth forbids all sin: everlasting love constrains from it: his promises excite to all holiness; and we are filled with all joy and peace in believing him, when he says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

The God we worship now,

Will guide us till we die;

Will be our God while here below,

And ours above the skies.