Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: March 1st

That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.- John 17:2.

Deism, or a rejection of God’s revealed truth, is natural to us all. Hence some have said, ’The religion of nature is the religion of Satan;’ for it affects a spirit of pride and independence of God, and rebellion against his will. Why does a Deist reject the way of salvation by Jesus? Truly, because it is contrary to his natural notions: he cannot reconcile it to the attributes and perfections of Deity. Upon the very same footing many professors abhor, with the utmost indignation, the scripture-doctrines of God’s everlasting love, unconditional election of sinners, and the final perseverance of his saints to eternal life, by Jesus. Now, both Deists and Pharisees proceed upon the same principles; carnal reason, pride, and selfrighteousness, reign in their hearts, and blind their eyes.

But it is the believer’s mercy to see the truth: his humility to submit to it; and his duty to contend for it in love. Thus our elder brother Jesus ever acted, and thus he prays in submission to the will of his Father, and our Father. Though he had power over all flesh, yet only to those "the many, whom the Father had given him, was he to give eternal life." They were given to him as his charge, to redeem, sanctify, and save: they were given to him as the reward of all his toils and sufferings: they are the precious jewels which compose his mediatorial crown: not one of them can be lost. This is impossible. Hence he glories of them, "Behold, I, and the children whom the Lord hath given me."- Isaiah 8:18. Hence they are distinguished by special grace; they possess the gift of precious faith, "called the faith of God’s elect,"- Titus 1:1 -it being peculiar to them only. By this they enjoy the sense of the Father’s electing love, the knowledge of the Son’s redemption, and the comforting witness of the Holy Ghost.

One of the most excellent of all human compositions; full of truth and sweetness, and well worthy the constant study of every Christian, is the 17th Article of the church of England- ’Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ, out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honor: wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God’s purpose, by his Spirit making in due season. They, through grace, obey the calling; they be justified freely; made sons of God by adoption; made like the image of Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God’s mercy they attain everlasting felicity.’ "Hold fast the form of sound words."- 2 Timothy 1:13.

That also he should gather together in one, the children of God that were scattered abroad. John 11:52.

These words are like Sampson’s riddle, which, some read thus: “Food came from the devourer, and sweetness from that which is violent, or fierce.” (Judges 14:14.) Caiaphas the high-priest, though a devourer of Jesus, yet holds forth precious food; though violent and fierce against Christ, yet he delivers sweet truth. Truth is truth, though from the tongue of an enemy: yea, it is a double confirmation of truth. If Christ be preached, let us rejoice, though even by bad men, and from bad principles. Judas preached; the Holy Ghost causes this wicked high-priest, to prophecy of Jesus. By these words, the Holy Ghost plainly instructs us in these precious truths.- O that we may receive them in love! (1st.) That though the whole world is become guilty before God, yet he has a peculiar, chosen number, who are here called, “the children of God.” They were not so by nature, but children of wrath, even as others. But God “predestinated them unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ, to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Ephesians 1:5.) Simply to believe this, is to bow to the will of God; to object to it, is to cavil against God’s good pleasure, as well as his mercy. (2d.) These children are all scattered abroad. Every one of them is turned to his own way of cursed sin, and shameful folly. They delight in their distance from God: they hate the knowledge of God, and are at enmity against his law. They say unto God, “Depart, depart! we desire not the knowledge of thee.” They sport themselves in their own delusions: they would fill up the measure of iniquity, till their souls dropped into hell. But (3d.), They are to be gathered into one. O, the amazing mercy! the astonishing grace of this! Christ is this blessed One. He, like a good shepherd, gathers his poor, scattered, lost sheep unto himself. “Unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10.) “He gathereth the outcasts.” (Isaiah 56:8.) “for they were given to him of the Father.” (John 17:2.) Now, you are deeply concerned to know, what all the world care nothing about, whether you are a child of God or not? Here, it is come to a point. Has Christ gathered you? Has he called you by the grace of his word, and by the power of his Spirit, to come to him? Have you seen misery and destruction in yourself, and mercy and salvation in Christ? Can you say from your heart, ‘Jesus! save me, or I perish?’ If so, you are surely gathered by Christ; you are really a child of God, by faith in Christ. Let sin, Satan, and unbelief ever so much object against it, doubt not of it. Here are two little words, worth the study of your own life, in one. O! ever meditate upon the glory and blessedness of being one in and with Jesus Christ.