the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.- 1 Timothy 3:9.
From a seeming zeal and regard to the ark of God, when it shook, and as he thought was in danger of falling, Uzzah put forth his hand to save it. It seems a very rational act, but it argued distrust of God’s power to preserve what was for his glory and honor; therefore the Lord highly resented it. If the displeasure of Jehovah was thus displayed in regard to the type of the covenant, how jealous is the Lord of hosts of his own glory, contained in the truths of the everlasting covenant, laid up in the sacred ark, Jesus, for all his people! If a trembling ark, touched by an officious hand, was death; one should fear and tremble to attack the revealed truths of God’s everlasting love to his people, power to preserve them, and grace to enable them to persevere in the faith unto eternal glory. Human efforts often spring from unbelieving hearts. The hand of nature is often stretched forth to assist when it only counteracts divine purposes. Carnal reason ever opposeth the mystery of the gospel, but faith is supported by God’s truths. The conscience can only be purified by Jesus’ blood. This mystery of faith is only known to enlightened minds. To hold by it, and to hold it fast in the conscience, is the life and joy of our souls. So the Holy Spirit maintains vital, living union between Jesus and his members. So love is excited to him. A life of dependence maintained on him. A throne of grace is delightful to such. Sin becomes more and more hateful in their sight, and the fruits of righteousness are increased to God’s glory. O, this is an amazing mystery of our faith! That we, who are guilty sinners in ourselves, yet are in Christ pure and free from all sin; unrighteous in ourselves, yet in Jesus clothed with perfect righteousness; filthy and polluted by nature and practice, but in Jesus, all fair, without spot, beautiful and comely in God’s sight. In ourselves, no right to God’s love, no title to his inheritance; but in Jesus our right is clear, our title legal, our enjoyment of it infallibly certain. Hold fast this mystery of faith: all thy peace and comfort depend on it. Thus, disciple, fix thy steady eye on Jesus; daily view the promises in him; look constantly for the Spirit’s power through him. So shalt thou have "the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus."- 1 Peter 3:21. "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually."- Psalms 119:117.
Why does your face, ye humble souls,
Those mournful colours wear?
What doubts are these that waste your faith,
And nourish your despair?
Awake our hearts, adore the grace
That buries all our faults,
And pard’ning blood, that swells above
Our follies and our thoughts.
Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom. Proverbs 4:7.
In Joseph’s visions, the sun, moon, and stars, made obeisance to him, and all the sheaves bowed to his sheaf. (Genesis 37:7.) So wisdom is honoured and exalted above and beyond every thing beside. This wisdom is the Son of God, “to whom every knee shall bow.” (Philippians 2:10.) Jesus under the character of wisdom, is said to cry-to utter his voice-behold I will pour out my Spirit into you-and wisdom is said to enter into the heart. (Proverbs 1:20-23; Proverbs 2:10.) All this can be applied to none other but Christ, who is of God “made unto us wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:30.) He cries after us miserable sinners- he utters his voice of love to us-he pours out his Spirit upon us-he enters into our hearts, and dwells there by faith. This truly is the principal thing. This, infinitely above all others, demands the whole of our attention, labour and diligence. Get what we may, yet without this, we are not wise. We cannot be happy. We shall be only foolish, deluded and miserable.
There will always be a vacuum in the heart, and a cry of what lack I yet? Get wisdom. What, get an interest in Christ? What can we poor, miserable sinners do to get that? It is a foolish phrase. It is unscriptural advice. Solomon reproves it when he asks, “Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?” (Proverbs 17:16.) As though he had said, none but a fool thinks his own works and doings the price of wisdom, and that by these he is to purchase an interest in Christ, and a title to his kingdom. Such have no understanding of the grace of Christ: no real love of heart to Christ. He invites, “Come without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1.) This is the way to buy and to get wisdom. Seek to enjoy the knowledge of wisdom in Christ-labour after more and more experience of his grace, and fellowship with him in your souls. Be not satisfied, not a day nor an hour without tasting his sweetness, and feeling his preciousness. O Jesus, I am foolish, be thou my wisdom. I am sin, be thou my righteousness. I am poor and miserable, be thou my riches and my consolation. I have many wants to be supplied-many miseries to be relieved-many corruptions to be subdued- many graces to be strengthened-many enemies to be conquered. O may I possess thee in all thy fulness to-night and for ever. This is the principal thing: the one thing needful. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom.” Colossians 3:16.
Jesus, thou my wisdom art,
Make and keep me wise of heart;
Thee to prize above all things,
Who to me salvation brings.
What are all things here below?
Foolish toys and empty show;
May I live above with thee,
And thy glory daily see.
