Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 22nd

This is the true God and eternal life. Keep yourselves from idols. Amen.- 1 John 5:20-21.

It is a common objection with the men of this world against the ministers and members of Jesus: "You can preach and talk of nothing but JESUS." Truly we "consider him as the end of all our conversation."- Hebrews 13:7-8. Conscious of what he hath done FOR us, what he is TO us, and what he hath done IN us; verily, Jesus is all in all to our souls. We know that the Son of God is come in our flesh. We are sure that by the blood of his cross "he hath made an end of sin, finished transgression, made reconciliation for iniquity;" and by his holy life "hath brought in an everlasting righteousness,"- Daniel 9:24. All this we poor sinners wanted. Nothing short of this could save us. Yea, eternal life we have in our WONDERFUL friend, the God-man, Christ Jesus. Blessed be his infinitely precious name! he hath given us an understanding heart to know him. We desire to be eternally indebted to his name, his grace, his love; for we see our union to him, and oneness with him. Marvel not then, that we speak so highly of OUR BELOVED; "for if we should hold our peace, the very stones in the street would cry out against us." Say, ye first-born sons of light; say, ye children of grace, of whom should we glory, if not of Jesus our true God and eternal life? We disclaim all other gods. "We know and believe that the Father is in him, and he in the Father."- John 10:38. He teaches us the Father’s love in him to us; and he sends the comforter, which proceedeth from the Father, to shed his love abroad in our hearts.

But alas! how did we live before we knew Jesus, the only true God! Truly, though we talked of God, though we knew God, worshipped and feared him; yet we were all the while like the rest of the whole world, "lying in wickedness:" fast asleep in the arms of the wicked one: for we were without Christ, Atheists: "without God in the world; and consequently had no hope,"- Ephesians 2:12. How deluded are the wise and learned of this world with their notions and worship of an unknown God! While little children are truly wise and best learned, who know Jesus as their Lord and their God, and abide in him. The truth of their faith, the uprightness of their hearts, and the sincerity of their love, are best evidenced by keeping themselves from the ensnaring vanities and bewitching idols of time and sense. "Adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, etc."- Titus 2:10; Titus 2:13-14.

Jesus my God, I know his name,

His name is all my trust,

Nor will he put my soul to shame,

Nor let my hope be lost.

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. 2 Corinthians 6:7.

What sign shewest thou? Shew us a miracle, and we will believe you are inspired, says an evil and adulterous generation. A sign and a miracle! Why, every regenerate soul is both a sign and a wonder to carnal men. They are born from above-They live above-their views, end, and aims are to things above. They study to approve themselves to God, who is above. These words, though peculiarly applicable to the ministers of Christ, yet are true also of every disciple of Christ. He studies to approve himself, (1st.) by the word of truth. What is that? Where is that to be found? God’s book, the Bible. O the Bible! Say some weak heads, and deceived hearts, the letter of scripture is not God’s word. Find a surer testimony of God, and from God, if you can. We will be content to fix our faith upon this word of truth, for it testifies of our beloved, who is the truth. He therefore bids us “search the scriptures;” and we find them lively oracles to our souls.

As we find Christ in the word of truth, we live upon him according to the word of truth, and desire to frame our whole conduct by the word of truth. Its doctrines we submit to-its threatenings we fear-its precepts we obey. (2d.) “By the power of God.” That accompanies the word of truth to our hearts-causes it to be believed in our hearts-brings joy and peace to our hearts in believing the word-and fills our souls with a hope full of immortality, promised in the word-it is reserved for us, and we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, according to the word. (1 Peter 1:5.) (3d.) “By the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left.” What is this? Not a fancied righteousness of our own; that is at best but filthy rags; a wretched armour, either on the right hand or left. None but fools would appear in such an armour. Those who do are the sport of fools, and contempt of devils. Not an inherent righteousness which some talk of. What is within, cannot be an armour for without, on either hand. This righteousness has never fulfilled the law of God, therefore cannot defend from the face of enemies. But the perfect, spotless righteousness of the Son of God has: therefore, that can defend from every assault, and every accusation, from every quarter, on either side. This is the cry of faith-this, the armour of the soul, “that I may be found in Christ, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is having the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:9.) Take the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, in one hand, and the shield of faith, the righteousness of the Son of God in the other, and what shall stand against you?

All my trust on Christ is stay’d,

All my help from him I bring,

Cover my defenceless head,

With the shadow of thy wing.