Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 10th

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.- Matthew 14:12.

Thus was extinguished that burning and shining light, John Baptist. It is very staggering to the eye of sense, and the judgment of carnal reason, that the "Lord, whose eyes are over the righteous," should yet suffer his faithful ministers, and dearest children, to fall a sacrifice to the rage and malice of cruel, and unreasonable men. This puzzled the royal prophet David; this was an exercise to patient Job; and it has put disciples to the stand in all ages. We are ready to cry out, "Where is the God of Elijah!" When it comes nearer home, and we ourselves are the subjects of insults and injuries, from the power and malice of enemies to Jesus and his truths; this is a trial of faith. If this exercise is continued, if the enemy triumphs, and God our friend appears not, as our deliverer, how does Satan, who has stirred up fightings without, industriously aim to inject fears within; with, "where is now thy God?" ’Why dost thou vainly imagine thyself a child of God, while thy Father leaves thee to this cruel treatment? If thou wast in his favor, thou wouldest surely find his protection. The want of his care proves thou hast no part in his love.’

Now thou art called, O Christian, to fight and resist Satan stedfastly in the faith. Judge not of thy Father’s love by present dispensations. Strengthen thyself in thy God. Consult his word. Wait on him. Take up the deceitful, unclean body of sense, and carnal reason, bury it, and go, and tell thy Saviour. He is thy wisdom, thy counsellor; and a perfect match for thy subtlest adversary. It is very alleviating to a distressed mind, to pour his complaints into the sympathizing breast of a faithful friend. What is the cause of thy sorrows, make the subject of thy free converse with thy Saviour. If thou art smitten on earth, tell him who feels for thee in heaven. Here is thy comfort, he always hears, ever loves, and can instantly deliver. But if he does not; rest assured, love delays for thy profit. Afflictions are blessings in disguise. We do not, so heartily, think of our home above, while richly furnished with earthly comforts below. Our Lord strips us of them, to turn our thoughts homeward. But, we shall surely find, "as tribulation abounds, consolation shall much more abound." Our Lord advises, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."- Psalms 50:15.

Prize it as your greatest blessedness, to live near the Lord, and maintain humble converse with him: pour out your complaints, and shew him your trouble- Psalms 142:2.

Lord, we adore thy vast designs,

Th’ obscure abyss of providence!

Too deep to sound with mortal lines,

Too dark to view with feeble sense.

When thou array’st thine awful face,

In angry frowns without a smile:

We, thro’ thy clouds, believe thy grace,

Secure of thy compassion still.

Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17.

It is but lost labour, that poor sinners rise up early, late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness, in order to make themselves righteous. The Lord makes his beloved people righteous, in a very different way. Righteousness is already perfectly wrought out, to the honouring and magnifying God’s law: it is fully brought into the court of heaven, to the satisfying God’s justice. It is clearly revealed in the gospel, for the hope and encouragement of poor sinners. Observe, (1st.) By way of eminence it is styled “the righteousness of God.” Not as it is essential to his divine nature. For what comfort, what hope can a guilty sinner take from that? The more plainly that is revealed, the more clearly that is known, so much the more miserable must it make the unrighteous sinner. But it is the righteousness with which God is well pleased, and for the sake of which he can be just, while he justifies the ungodly sinner. It is the righteousness which the Son of God wrought out in our nature, to clothe and adorn, and make us poor naked sinners, righteous and comely in God’s sight. (2d.) This righteousness is revealed in the gospel. Blessed gospel! It brings glad tidings of an infinitely perfect, and everlastingly glorious righteousness. Soul, where art thou looking for righteousness? In thyself? Poring over thyself; thy frames, and thy works, to find righteousness? As well expect to find a saint in hell, or a devil in heaven, as to find righteousness in thyself. Search the gospel. There thou wilt find it revealed. The gospel is God’s testimony of Jesus. He is the only righteous man, that has ever been upon earth, since sin entered into the world. “His name is The Lord our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:6.) (3d.) It is revealed from faith to faith. From the doctrine of faith in the word, to the grace of faith in the heart-it runs through every page of the sacred word, down from the patriarchs, prophets, and Old Testament saints to New Testament believers, to Gentile sinners in every age. This divine and glorious righteousness is unto all, and upon all that believe. (Romans 3:22.) Equally alike, whether faith be weak or strong. For, (4th.) The just shall live by faith. This is quite different from living by working. For the law is never satisfied with our doings, because we can never fulfil it.

Therefore we can never enjoy peace of mind, but condemnation of conscience. But by faith we live, from day to day, upon Jesus our law-fulfilling head. Hence we have peace of conscience, love of heart, joy of spirit, and holiness of life. O what a sweet life is this! None know the glory of it but the faithful. It is living above nature, out of self, and beyond sin. One step more, and we shall be with Christ in glory.