Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: April 24th

I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.- 1 Corinthians 9:27.

The neglect of this brings on leanness of soul. If this enemy gains ground, it is alarming; if he prevails, it causes mourning; but when he is kept low, and supplies are cut off, his power is weakened, and victory over him is easily gained. Such are the sensitive powers, carnal affections, and sinful inclinations which compose part of our present frame, the body; a body of sin and death. To gratify and fulfil them is very pleasing and delightful to nature and sense. But how awfully subversive of the comforts of faith, the peace of the mind, and the joy of the soul, thy own sad experience, O disciple, hath proved. Nor can it be otherwise; let us not deceive ourselves; we cannot indulge and pamper the life of the flesh but to the hurt and injury of the life of the soul.

There is an irreconcilable enmity between the flesh and the spirit, the old man and the new. The variance and strife will ever subsist while we are in the body. It is the Lord’s sovereign will to leave the Canaanites still in the land, and to drive them out by little and little. For "behold, a King shall reign in righteousness."- Isaiah 32:1. This is our beloved Jesus. Here is the exercise of faith in him, the touchstone of our love, and the proof of our allegiance to him, in striving daily for the mastery, to conflict with and fight against every inordinate affection and corrupt lust of our fallen, sinful nature, and to keep them under, and bring them into subjection to him. It is hard work to fight with an enemy that is part of one’s self; but Jesus’ banner hath this motto: "Deny thyself, take up thy cross daily, and follow me." Though the work is ours, yet thine, O Jesus, is the power.

Faith in Jesus not only accepts his imputed righteousness for justification, but has also a lively dependence on Christ for every supply of his Spirit for further sanctification. It leaves not the soul in a lazy languid state, but causes it to aspire after greater delight in and conformity to God; it eyes God as its centre; enjoyment of him as its happiness, and full conformity to him as its perfection. To indulge, pamper, and gratify the flesh, is contrary hereto; therefore mortification and self-denial, and subjecting the flesh to the spirit, will be the exercise of living, believing, loving souls. But why all this? not from legal principles: not from slavish fear of hell and damnation; not through dread of being reprobated and cast away for ever. No: Paul had not so learned, nor did Christ teach so. Believers act from love to Jesus, being assured of perfect salvation by him. "Eternal life is the gift of God."- Romans 6:23.

What diff’rent pow’rs of grace and sin

Attend this mortal state!

I hate the thoughts that work within,

And do the works I hate.

Thus will the flesh and spirit strive,

And vex and break my peace;

I long to live a glorious life,

When sin shall ever cease.

Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. Genesis 42:8.

How affecting is the history of Joseph! Who can read it without emotion of soul? What amazing scenes of Providence open to our view! Spiritual minds may see many things in it typical of our beloved Saviour. Here, Joseph’s brethren are introduced to him, as governor of Egypt. He knew them: they knew not him. How does he deal with them? Does he instantly make himself known to them? No: though he had the most tender affections of heart to them, and wept tears of joy at the sight of them; yet he speaks roughly, and sends them to prison. Why this? to bring their sin to their mind, and to affect them for their cruelty towards him, with a deep sense of their guilt. See we not somewhat typical of the conduct of Christ, our brother in the flesh, in all this? (1st.) Christ knew us before we knew him: he knew us from eternity, when we were chosen in him, and given to him. (2d.) We never seek after him, or come to him, unless we find a famine in our hearts, and are ready to perish for want of the bread of life. (3d.) When we do come to him, does he instantly make himself known to us, and assure us that he is our Saviour? No: for a season he speaks with the authority of a Governor, causes his law to treat us roughly, threatening us with the prison of hell. Why? deeply to affect our souls with a sense of our sins and deserts. (4th.) It was some time, and many trying and afflicting scenes Joseph’s brethren passed through, before he said, “I am your brother.” Did Joseph do them any real harm by all this? so our Jesus, though he proves us and tries us, and shews us what is in us, before he gives us full assurance of his love and salvation; yet herein he intends nothing but real good to us. By all this, he teaches us humility. (5th.) Joseph’s brethren did not at first come to him as their brother, but as the governor of Egypt: so we come perishing sinners to Christ; not as knowing that he is our brother, but believing him to be a Saviour, and praying him to save us. We have faith in him, before we have the assurance of his love to us, and know that we are his brethren. Lastly; All the blessings and comforts of Joseph’s brethren flowed from his knowledge of them: so does all our safety and comfort, in time and eternity, spring from Christ’s first knowing and loving us, as his brethren. Though true faith may be without special assurance of interest in Christ, yet Christ assures us, “I will manifest myself unto you.” (John 14:21.)

‘Tis all my comfort here below,

To know my Saviour’s love:

This world, with all its pompous shew,

I leave for joys above.