Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 27th

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?- Luke 18:7.

This question implies the strongest assertion. Thus our Lord concludes a parable he had delivered to this end, "that men ought always to pray and not to faint." Our Saviour well knew how ready his disciples’ hands are to hang down and their hearts to grow languid and faint, so as to be remiss in this duty. Therefore his loving heart would stir up and encourage them to a constant perseverance in prayer; assuring them that God’s ears are ever open to their cry, and his omnipotent arm would most certainly avenge the enemies of his own elect, and surely deliver them from all their troubles. Hath the Lord loved his people with an everlasting love? hath he chosen them in Christ Jesus from before the foundation of the world? hath he given them the precious faith of his own elect, and the cry of his children, Abba, Father? and shall an unjust judge deliver one whom he cares not for, and the just and holy Lord leave any of his beloved little ones to the power of any adversary? O, believer, never indulge such a hard thought of thy heavenly Father! Doth sin make thee cry? Satan cause thee to call? the world excite thee to complain? Blessed be God for a throne of grace to go to, and an all-powerful King to protect and conquer for us. Duty is thine; be careful not to neglect it. Deliverance is the Lord’s; be assured in his own time, way and manner, thou shalt receive it. Remember, one moment before thy Lord’s time would not be thy mercy.

Thy prayers, however frequent or fervent, do not influence the Lord to elect and choose thee to salvation. No; but the cry of a heart believing in Jesus is an evidence of election. Therefore thou art in Christ always acceptable to God; so are thy prayers through him: "The prayer of the upright is his delight."- Proverbs 15:8. Though thy comfort may be often damped through the coldness and deadness of thy prayers; yet art thou to persevere conscientiously in thy duty. Why? To profess thy subjection to the Lord: "He is thy Lord, worship thou him."- Psalms 45:11. Therefore prefer a cold prayer before none at all. Better to bring words that want a soul, than neglect to bring our bodies which have souls in them: "Take with you words."- Hosea 14:2 -and say, if you cannot take the spirit and pray. This is the only foundation of hope of being heard, not our frames in duty; but the prevalency of Christ’s intercession for us before the throne, and the faithful promises of God in him by the word and Spirit of truth. "Continue in prayer."- Colossians 4:2.

I will walk before the LORD, in the land of the living. Psalms 116:9.

When the king confers the honour of knighthood, he bestows an empty title, and nothing more. But when the King of saints calls a poor sinner into his presence, he confers on him not a mere title of an empty sound, but he dignifies him with a nature: he makes him a new creature. These two different kinds of spirits are to be avoided. (1st.) Such as under a great shew of holiness, deny the fundamental doctrines of grace. (2d.) Those who make a vile abuse of those doctrines. In the former pride reigns. Over the latter, lusts have the dominion. David reproves both. Under the lively sense of distinguishing mercy and sovereign grace, he here makes a holy resolution. “Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” What then? Now all is safe and well, I will flee to the tents of ungodliness, and gratify my lusts. Is this his language? No, nor his conduct neither. Many would be ashamed to say so, but are not [ashamed] to do so. But hearts truly alive to God, under the influence of Christ, are as dead to this conduct, as to the language.

“ I will walk.” Not lie down to rest in supine indolence, and indulge carnal sloth; but be in motion and activity for God and his glory. “Before the Lord.” (1st.) In humility, knowing he sees how imperfectly I am in all I do. (2d.) In peace and joy, believing I am accepted in the beloved-my sins freely pardoned, and my soul fully justified in the blood and righteousness of the Lamb. This is the walk of faith. So we enjoy the sense of peace, the comforts of love, the jealousy of fear, and the prospect of hope. “In the land of the living;” among living and lively saints: not with spiritually dead, or formally alive souls: not in the land of riot, among the scenes of vanity, upon the devil’s enchanted ground. But in the land of light, liberty and love, where the sun of righteousness shines, and “the voice of the turtle-dove is heard,” (Song of Solomon 2:12.) The loving Saviour speaking affectionately to the soul. O believer, as you value the sense of God’s peace, and the comforts of his Spirit: as you dread a hell in your conscience, distress in your soul, the hidings of God’s face, the terrors of the law, and the tauntings of Satan, be careful of your walk: be watchful over your conduct. O study to keep Christ in the eye of your faith: his love in the view of your soul: his heaven in the prospect of your hope, and his glory the end of all, looking and praying for his grace to enable you to perform all this.

While Christ the Lord, dwells in my heart,

It makes me walk in love:

By faith, I know I have a part

In promis’d joys above.

Then, O my soul forsake the ways

Of folly, sloth, and sin:

Walk now before thy Saviour’s face,

His grace abounds within.