Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: March 18th

This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.- Jeremiah 33:16.

Before days began or years were numbered, in the book of God’s election were all the members of Jesus written, "which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them."- Psalms 139:16. God’s electing love would have remained an eternal secret to us had not the Spirit of truth made it known. But as it is revealed in the word, it is an object of our faith; and it ever will be the subject of glorying and triumph to those who possess the faith of God’s elect; for faith is a blessed evidence, that "God hath chosen them in Christ before the foundation of the world."- Ephesians 1:4. Was the man Jesus, God the Father’s "elect, in whom his soul delighteth?"- Isaiah 42:1. So are all his members loved with the same love as the head. God gave not the Spirit by measure unto Jesus, the glorified head of the church; but every member receives the Spirit through Jesus, "according to the measure of the gift of Christ."- Ephesians 4:7.

Unspeakably glorious, distinguishing grace! This is the rejoicing of simple-hearted, believing souls: they are beloved and chosen by God the Father, and partake of the same Spirit with Jesus: yea, and are also called by the same name with Jesus. Is Christ called "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS?"- Jeremiah 23:6. So the church, the Lamb’s wife, being married in faith and love, she is called by the very same name with her Lord and husband, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. But some render the words, ’He that shall call her, to be a peculiar people unto himself, is the Lord our righteousness.’ Then he clothes them with the glorious robe of his own righteousness. Then his name is called upon them, for they are one with Jesus.

Angels wonder, saints admire. O ye righteous, how astonishing is this! Ye, who by nature are children of wrath! ye, who by practice have been rebels and transgressors from the womb! yet exalted by Jesus to such an high and glorious state. Amazing love! ye can never, never enough dwell upon the Father’s love, the Son’s grace, and the Spirit’s vocation. Glorious days of gospel light and love! While others are left wretched in nature’s pride, free-will boast, and self-righteous glorying, ye not only may, but SHALL be saved by free-grace truth-ye SHALL dwell safely; for God your Father’s justice is satisfied, his law is fulfilled, your enemies are all conquered, God is at peace with you: What then can harm you? for "as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so Jehovah is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever."- Psalms 125:2.

Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. 1 John 3:21.

A text misapplied, is like a bone out of joint, which puts the body to pain. This text may have such an effect upon the soul. For what poor sinner is there upon earth, but his heart must condemn him for coming short of God’s glory, and perfect obedience of his holy law? Must he therefore give up his confidence towards God? Yes, if we so understand the text. But surely this was not the apostle’s design: for this would effectually destroy love to God, and distress his poor children’s souls, by taking away the comfort of faith, that, “there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1.) What meaneth he then? Plainly to establish our hearts in the faith of God’s love to us in Christ, and from this love experienced in the heart, in love to our brethren in Christ. This is an experienced truth-if faith and love abate, our hearts condemn us, and our confidence towards God grows weak. In proportion to our lively faith and warm love, confidence towards God is strong. (1st.) As to faith.-The apostle calls on us, verse 1. “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” Now, are you beholding, believing, and living upon this stupendous love of God in Christ? Are you dwelling upon it? Does it engage your attention? Does it captivate your affections? Does it swallow up the low, mean, inordinate love of the world? If not, your heart will condemn you. Your confidence in God will abate; you will not delight in him with the affection of a child, nor draw nigh to him with joyful gladness, as to your loving Father. So, (2d.) Of love. Love to the brethren of Christ, the apostle is here treating of. Lively faith in Christ ever begets warm love to our brethren. Then, we have strong confidence towards God, that he is our loving Father, and we are his obedient children. But if love be wanting, our hearts will smite and reproach us, and confidence in God forsake us. See hence, that all our comforts spring from our confidence towards God; and all our distress, from our hearts condemning us for want of faith and love. O! let us cry to the blessed Spirit, to enable us to live more upon the love, the matchless, everlasting, unchangeable love of God to us in Christ Jesus. Let us be thankful that he has given us feeling hearts, which are not like those of the wicked, hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: but are tender, to feel the least condemnation. And when our hearts condemn us, let us flee to our great High-priest, who is touched with a feeling of our infirmities. Hebrews 4:15.

My heart doth oft condemn,

When God condemneth not:

He justifies me in the Lamb,

And all my sins doth blot.

But still he bids me care

To walk in faith and love,

In him and to his children dear,

And taste his joys above.