Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 15th

We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.- 2 Corinthians 5:4.

It is a sore temptation, that saints of God in all ages have fallen under, that, upon a survey of the outward ease, pleasure, and prosperity of the ungodly, "they have called the proud happy,"- Malachi 3:15 -and under a sense of their inward groanings, burdens and sorrows, have been led to think, it is vain to serve God, and call in question his love to them and care for them. Such sentiments as these, at times exercise their minds: ’I called by grace! Is my soul quickened and made alive to God? have I fled to Jesus for refuge? am I a child of God by adoption, through the faith of Jesus? Surely it cannot be. Was it so, should I be thus plagued all the day, and chastened every morning? should I groan thus under oppression from Satan, tribulation from the world; and be thus burdened with the lusts of the flesh, and the carnal workings of corrupt nature? Surely if ever I have known any thing of Jesus in spirit and power, it is all come to an end: verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency to no purpose.’ Thus doth the subtle serpent artfully steal into the mind, and borrows the tongue of saints. But this is very injurious to the soul, as we see in the experience of the Psalmist, 73rd Psalm. And it is highly resented by our loving Lord and Saviour, as very dishonorable to him. See Malachi 3:13.

Saints’ burdens are creature allotments; believers’ groans are Jesus’ concerns; children’s sorrows reach the Father’s heart; they are the lot of God’s people in every age. Prophets, apostles, martyrs, and confessors of Jesus, none exempt while in this tabernacle. Yea, they evidence the life of the soul: and also, under the Spirit’s influence, work for the profit of the soul. Hereby it is instructed in self-knowledge, so as to bow to the sovereignty of God in humility and dependence on Jesus. Prayer is excited, faith is called into exercise, God’s word is searched, promises are prized, exhortations become pleasant, carnal hopes are cut off, worldly joys become irksome, earth is less loved, and a sinful body groaned under, makes perfect freedom in glory longed for. O there is a blessed writ of ease and rest, issued out from the court of heaven! Soon it will be served upon us. Then, down tabernacle: up soul to the presence of thy Lord. Farewell groans. Welcome eternal triumphs. Here is a sweet portion of comfort; drink of the brook by the way, and lift up thy head; "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."- Psalms 55:22.

Now let my Lord my Saviour smile,

And shew his name upon my heart;

I would forget my pains a while,

And in the pleasure lose the smart.

O why, my soul, why these complaints?

Still while he frowns his bowels move;

Still on his heart he bears his saints.

And feels their sorrows and his love.

Should such a man as I flee? Nehemiah 6:11.

Nehemiah was engaged in a great work. His God was with him, and gave success unto him. Friends and enemies unite against him. By base insinuation, craft and stratagem, they strove to dishearten and deter him from going on with God’s work. Opposition is the Christian’s lot: courage is honour: perseverance is his jewel. Look at this man of God: he boldly repels all fear. Instead of fleeing from his work as advised, he flees to his God, and cries, “O God, strengthen my hand.” Faith inspires prayer: prayer brings courage to the heart. Then he boldly demands, Should such a man as I flee! A man so greatly favored, so highly honoured, as to be employed by God, to work for him? No, I disdain such mean cowardice: I will work on: It is God’s cause: let God see to the event; I fear it not.

Christian, know your calling: it is to work for God: expect opposition from within and without. This may call up fear and dismay. But, consider your dignity: maintain and assert it. “Should such a man as I flee?” A man called by the grace of Jesus, to resist the devil-to face carnal men-to vanquish sin-to overcome the world-to glory over death, and to receive a crown of righteousness in endless happiness: shall I flee? What I, who am called to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus? O my soul, put on Christ, and put off fear: put up prayer, and put down dread. From whom should such a man as I flee? Of whom should I be afraid? Doth not my Lord say, my grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in thy weakness? O Lord, strengthen my heart, to resist Satan, that he may flee from me, and to overcome the fear of man, which is a snare to me. I bless thee for thy precious word: strengthen my heart in the faith of it. “Fear not, neither be faint-hearted, for the tails of these smoking fire-brands.” (Isaiah 7:4.)-Hearken unto me-fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings. (Isaiah 51:7.) I, even I am he who comforteth you. Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be made as grass, and forgetest the Lord thy Maker? “The Lord God will help me: I shall not be confounded: I have set my face like a flint: I shall not be ashamed: the moth shall eat up my adversaries.” Isaiah 50:7; Isaiah 50:9.

Courage, my friends, Christ’s strength is ours:

Tho’ of ourselves we’ve none:

Why should we dread our hostile pow’rs?

They’re conquer’d ev’ry one.

Look up and see our Saviour stand,

Pleading your cause and mine

Before the throne, at God’s right hand:

Courage, our aid’s divine.