the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.- Isaiah 12:3.
Why, therefore? What had the church done to procure such an inestimable promise? O the joyful day of her public espousal to Jesus is come. THAT DAY, that blessed day of power, when the loving bride claims her beloved bridegroom, Jesus. Therefore she sings this joyful song, "Behold God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid, for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." The claims of the faith of poor sinners are well pleasing in the sight of God; they honor his word, glorify him, and cause joy in heaven among the angels; while the humble claimants obtain the consolation and joy thereof. "Them that honor me I will honor, saith the Lord," "therefore with joy shall they draw," etc.
This was not to be a transient fit of comfort, but an inexhaustible fountain of joy. Believers are to come daily and draw water with joy out of the wells of salvation. Jehovah, the Father, is "the fountain of living waters."- Jeremiah 2:13. Salvation takes its first spring from his everlasting love, is secured by his unalterable covenant and unchangeable promises. The Spirit and his grace are called "a well of water, springing up to everlasting life."- John 4:14. He shews poor sinners their want of Jesus this living water, its freeness and sweetness; supplies them with the bucket of faith to draw with joy, and drink with pleasure. This well of salvation by Jesus was opened in paradise: its streams have run through every successive age of the church. Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, believers in all ages have had their hearts made glad, and their souls joyful thereby.
The everlasting love of the Father, the rich grace of the Son, the exuberant joy of the Holy Ghost, compose these wells of salvation. Yet it is but one fountain of grace, flowing from the unity of the divine essence, and is communicated to us out of the fulness of the man Jesus: hence we are invited by Jesus, "O friends, O beloved, drink! yea drink abundantly."- Song of Solomon 5:1. This fountain is ever free, full, and inexhaustible. Why, O why then are we not always joyful? Why do we ever complain for want of comfort? This well is ever open, this fountain ever near. Why do we so much neglect, so often forsake this fountain of living waters? Where is our faith? Why is that precious grace given us, but for use and exercise? So shall we the more glorify the God of all consolation, be refreshed in our spirits, and made fruitful in our lives; and our thirst allayed after the perishing comforts of time and sense. For saith Jesus, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst."- John 4:14.
Thy God reigneth. Isaiah 52:7.
Christ commissions his ministers, to proclaim this joyful true to Zion, his church, that every member of his might receive it in faith, change the pronoun and say, my God reigneth. Christ’s reign is his people’s glory, their triumph on earth; and the shouts of disembodied saints in glory. Listen to their acclamations of joy. “Allelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come.” Revelation 19:6-7. Are we married to the Lamb? Has he our hearts and affections? Then we shall constantly rejoice, and give honor to him, that he, who is our God, reigneth. Where? Where he dwells. In heaven for us: and in our hearts over us. For, as he dwells in our hearts by faith, he spiritually reigns over all within us. O what matter of joy and consolation is this! For (1st.) If our King has set up his throne in our hearts, what enemy can hurt us?
They must conquer the Lord God omnipotent, before they can subdue us. If Christ reign for us, and in us, we are sure of reigning eternally, in glory, with him. (2d.) Consider his rich grace in thus reigning. We were once under the reign of a dreadful tyrant. “Sin reigned in and over us unto death.” (Romans 5:21.) Though we have sin in our nature, though it war in our members, yet it cannot reign, and get the victory over us. It is under the feet of Christ. It is his vanquished enemy. He reigns over it. We are under the reign of his grace. “Grace reigns through righteousness unto”-what? Present peace, comfort and joy? Yes, and infinitely more, even unto “eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Is sin our grief and burden?
That is a proof that Christ reigns in our heart. Do we long for perfect freedom from all sin? That is a sign that we are partakers of his holiness. Are we afraid sin will destroy us in death? It cannot. Jesus reigns to give us victory unto eternal life. (3d.) “Behold Jesus, our king, reigns in righteousness.” (Isaiah 32:1.) “His people shall be all righteous.” (Isaiah 60:21.) Christ’s righteousness is upon us to justify us: his Spirit within us, to make us love righteousness and hate iniquity. If we do not, we only talk of Christ’s reign, but have never felt its power. “For he must reign, till he hath put every enemy under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:25.) Therefore, (4th.) Rejoice, for all your troubles, temptations, conflicts and distresses, are under Christ’s reign. No one can hurt you. And the last enemy death, shall bring you to reign with him eternally in life. Romans 5:17.
The Lord on high doth ever reign,
For his dear people’s good;
They soon shall see their foes all slain,
And shout the Lamb of God.
Then why my soul, my friends, those fears,
Which daily us annoy?
Look up to Christ, wipe dry your tears,
Rejoice with holy joy.
