Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 3rd

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.- John 10:27.

All our mercies in time and eternity flow from Jesus’ knowing us as his sheep. To all such salvation is certain; both as to present grace and future glory. As a shepherd knoweth every sheep committed to his care; so doth our good shepherd. All his sheep were everlastingly beloved of the Father, "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world," and given to Jesus in the eternal counsel. He became surety for them, he redeemed them to God by his own blood. Hence he calls them "MY SHEEP,"-mine by gift-mine by redemption. Thus he hath a distinct knowledge of them, and special property in them. For "died Jesus as a fool dieth?" spilt he his precious blood at uncertainty? paid he the dreadful debt of law and justice at a peradventure, whether any soul would receive the eternal benefit or not? Surely no: for his undertaking was in infinite wisdom and counsel, as well as wonderful in grace and love. Jesus well knew the nature-state of his sheep. They were all gone astray and turned every one to his own way.

They would all count their shepherd an enemy and fly from him as a destroyer, if left to themselves. But Jesus saith, I am the good shepherd. He inclines their ears to hear, and their hearts to believe in him; to come to him as such; and to follow him. They have the properties of his own sheep; they give evidence of it. They live upon his word and feed upon his love. O alas! what deplorable circumstances were we all in when this sweet voice first reached our ears! when this powerful voice affected our hearts! It was a sound of glad tidings, love, and salvation to lost sheep indeed. It proved effectual to recall our souls from the dangerous and destructive paths in which we had lost ourselves. Truly we also may say of Jesus, "never man spake like this man." The power of his voice begets obedience; and, like the blind man restored to sight, we follow Jesus as the shepherd and bishop of our souls. We know he hath the words of eternal life. To whom then should we go but to him? and it is the delight of our souls to see the footsteps of our shepherd, that we may tread therein. Though, O soul, thou canst not see whether thy name is wrote in the Lamb’s book of life; yet in the light of the Spirit thou mayest read thy name in the book of grace, if thou hast heard the voice of Jesus, and art following him. Thou mayest safely conclude, "the Lord is MY shepherd, I shall not want."- Psalms 23:1.

The Lord my shepherd is,

Since he is mine, and I am his,

I shall be well supply’d;

What can I want beside?

He leads me to the place

Where living waters gently pass,

Where heav’nly pasture grows,

And full salvation flows.

The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son: for he should not stay long in the place of breaking forth of children. Hosea 13:13.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15.) Though God’s children are made wise unto salvation, yet folly is bound up in their nature. Their conduct discovers it, and proves the necessity of the rod of correction to drive it from them. Here is a threatening-a charge-the reason for it-and a most precious promise from the Lord. (1st.) The threatening. God loves his children too well, to spare the rod and spoil them. “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:12.) Therefore painful sorrows, like those of a travailing woman, come upon them. Nature’s pains prove nature’s remedies. The painful visitations of love, prove spiritual remedies to the soul: they bring forth abundant blessings. O ye children of God, beware of construing love tokens of afflictions, into black marks of hatred. (2d.) The charge. “He is an unwise son.” My dear heavenly Father, what great reason hast thou for this charge against me? O in how many ways have I displayed my folly! Though thy wisdom sees it, yet thy loving, gracious heart does not disinherit, but thou sayest son, still. “Faith works by this love,” all hope and peace in the conscience, and holiness of life. (3d.) See the reason of the charge. “He should not stay long in the place of breaking forth of children.” This was fulfilled in the conduct of the disciples. Christ compared them to a woman in travail: told them they should “weep and lament, and be sorrowful,” but adds, “your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (John 16:20.) Yet they were unwise sons. They staid too “long in the place of breaking forth of children.” Instead of being delivered of their pains and sorrows, by faith in their Lord’s death, they indulged them. Hence our Lord upbraids them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe.” (Luke 24:25.) Do not fall under this reproof also. Do you act as a wise or an unwise son? Where are you? Has faith in your Lord delivered you of your pains, and brought forth joy? Or, are you still staying in the chamber of labour, sighing and sorrowing under bondage to fear, instead of rejoicing as children of God? This is really the case with many disciples now: they walk not in the glorious liberty of the children of God: they do not in their minds and consciences stand fast, triumph and rejoice in Christ’s finished salvation; but are poring upon what they are in themselves. (4th.) Look at the precious promises of your Lord, “I will ransom and redeem them,” etc. (Hosea 13:14.)