the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.- Acts 7:56.
’Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.’ As the trial and exercise of our day is, so shall our strength be. Saints shall have suffering grace for suffering times. Hours of great outward calamities often prove seasons of the greatest abounding of inward consolation. It is said, "Stephen fell asleep." What! fall asleep under a shower of stones? Yes: the sweetest sleep he ever experienced. It was preceded by a supernatural sight of glory; he awoke in the full enjoyment of glory; he suffered first for Jesus, he is the first who is favored with a view of the glorified Jesus in his kingdom. How faithful is the Lord we serve! how great are his compassions! how reviving to the soul is the spiritual sight of him! Whether patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and confessors, as believers in all ages, the same Lord was the object of their faith; they were comforted by the same Spirit, whose blessed office is to glorify Jesus in the views of believing souls. True, "no man shall see me and live, saith the Lord."- Exodus 33:20.
Even highly favored Stephen saw not the essential glory of Jehovah but through the medium of the man Jesus. Whether with his bodily sight, or in the full visions of faith and the Holy Ghost, he saw the glory of God in the person of the glorified, exalted Son of man, Jesus, this discovery fired his soul with heavenly joy, and inflamed his heart with holy transport.
Faith’s views of Jesus have a transforming influence upon the soul. While he is beheld, love is communicated. Ascending hearts to Jesus are favored with descending love from Jesus.
Love, received in the heart, cheerfully diffuseth its sweet savour around us; it enlarges the bowels of compassion, and opens the mouth in prayer even for its worst enemies. Thus Stephen prays for his very murderers. When for himself he stands; when for them he kneeled down, as though more importunate for them than for himself. What hath Jesus done for sinners! What doth he in them! How precious is he to those who believe! How should our hearts long for clearer views of him by the Spirit! As in his love, so in his person he is WONDERFUL; he is ever the same, a MAN; he appears in his human form before the throne, interceding for sinners. The same suffering, crucified man, who loved our persons and bore our sins, still lives and pleads our cause as our triumphant conqueror in our nature over all our enemies.
Thus daily conceive of, look to, and embrace in the arms of faith, thy Lord and thy God, O soul, as man and mediator, as having once atoned and is now interceding for thee; so mayest thou ever comfortably say, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth."- Psalms 31:5.
Strong meat belongeth to them who are of full age, even those who, by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14.
It is almost impossible for any who are called to minister in holy things, or who write about the truths of God, to please every one. Babes, who are unskillful in the word of righteousness, can only like milk. They cry out against strong meat, it offends their stomach. But such should consider, (1st.) That they are not always to continue babes, to feed upon infant nutriment. The tender mother tries her infant, again and again, with meat, though its stomach heaves against it, and it has not the art to swallow it. So they must learn to eat strong meat, that they may grow thereby. (2d.) God’s children are not all of equal age, therefore strong meat is as necessary for adult men, as milk is for babes; those of full age, or perfect. Not so, compared with the perfect law of God. There is no one upon earth perfect, in this sense, though many, through perfect ignorance of the law, and themselves, pretend to it. But perfect in comparison of babes, respecting the knowledge of the everlasting, electing, immutable love of God in Christ, to sinners-of his freely and fully justifying, and eternally glorifying them, through the blood and righteousness of his Son-and of his effectually calling and sanctifying them, by his Spirit, etc. Therefore, (3d.) The most deep and strong truths of God, are held forth in scripture, as strong meat to nourish, comfort, and build up such, who are of full age. Hence it becomes those who labour in the word, to give each their portion; that neither babes on one hand, nor strong men on the other, should have reason to find fault. Babes should not expect the strong to come back to their food; but they should press forward to maturity. How is this to be attained? (1st.) “By reason of use.” Constantly searching the scriptures, and hearing them opened and explained. Just as a learner uses his grammar, which contains the rudiments of the language he wants to attain. He cannot get forward without it. He must be perfect in it. He is never to forget its rules. (2d.) “By the exercise of the senses.” The internal ones of understanding and judgment. “Seeing Jesus.” (Hebrews 2:9.) “Hearing his voice.” (John 10:3.) Smelling the sweet odour of his love. “His name is as an ointment poured forth.” (Song of Solomon 1:3.) “Tasting that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:3.) “Handling the word of life and salvation as held forth in the Gospel.” (1 John 1:1.) Thus exercising our senses on Christ, we grow strong to trust him. We discern that all good is in him, and all evil is without him.
From blest experience may we prove
The wisdom of God’s righteous ways,
Who feeds with meat that’s from above,
According to our strength and days.
