Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 11th

Now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22:12.

So spake Jesus to his friend of old. What! did not God know that Abraham feared him before this? Doubtless he did. But now in the exercise of faith and love he approved himself to God. He gave full evidence that God’s commandments are not grievous: that it was his joy and delight to obey his God. Lord, give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt, is the breathing of faith and love! Thus was the faith of Abraham justified by its fruits. Seest thou how his faith wrought by his works? And by works he gave full proof that he possest the faith of God’s elect. Thus he obtained this glorious testimony to his own soul from the mouth of the Lord: "Now I know that thou fearest God with a loving, filial fear. Thy faith worketh by love: it has influenced thy heart to this eminent act of cheerful, unreserved obedience to me." His faith consulted not flesh and blood; it surmounted carnal reason. The command of the Lord was the only rule of his conduct. He both sacrificed and enjoyed his Isaac. Thus saith Jesus to every believer, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."- John 15:14. The Spirit of God, by St. James, styles him a "vain man," who thinks he may have faith destitute of works.- James 2:20.

It is the wisdom of a Christian to know that his justification in the sight of God, through the blood and righteousness of Jesus, is "perfect and entire, lacking nothing." This is received by faith only. But this belief cannot exist without its object, Jesus; therefore it cannot be alone in the heart without love.

Faith works by love, and love lives by faith. This inward principle manifests itself by obedience, as an outward evidence. Thus the believer’s works are manifest that they are wrought in God, and that the soul walks in the light of God’s truth and love. But alas! it is an awful case amongst professors, as Paul said on another occasion, "Many are sick and weak among you, and many are fallen asleep," through the intoxicating draughts of the love of this world, and living after the flesh. Such have no inward testimony that they please God. They possess not joy and peace in believing. They give no outward evidence that they are married to the Lamb, and live by faith on him. "Examine thyself, O Christian, whether thou art in the faith; prove thy own self. Knowest thou not thine own self, how that Jesus Christ is in thee, except thou be a reprobate."- 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Grace, like an uncorrupted seed,

Abides and reigns within;

Immortal principles forbid

The sons of God to sin.

Not by the terrors of a slave,

Do they perform his will;

But with the noblest pow’rs they have,

His sweet commands fulfil.

My son, be strong in the grace that is in CHRIST JESUS. 2 Timothy 2:1.

St. Paul had known what it was to be strong in vain confidence and self-righteous hopes: to be strong in rage and persecution against Christ and his people. But his soul had severely smarted for that. Now Christ had taken possession of his heart. He was all in all to him. He thought he could never enough recommend him and his grace to his dear friends. O let us imitate him. (1st.) The grace that is in Christ Jesus. Because of our low, mean, scanty thoughts of his rich grace, we are low in courage against our enemies, and weak in the comforts of our souls. Know, there is much more in this, than many weak Christians suppose, who unscripturally think Christ came into the world, to procure some grace for us, that he puts it into us, as men do seeds in a hot-bed, but leaves us to be faithful to it, and so to secure our own salvation. What kind of grace is this? Not saving grace. If this be all, it would end in our certain destruction. But the grace, or favour, that is in Christ towards us, is nothing less than the everlasting love of God to us: an everlasting atonement for our sins: an everlasting righteousness to justify our persons: an everlasting salvation for our souls: and the everlasting consolations of the Holy Ghost, all promises to us in the everlasting gospel, and enjoyed in faith. Those who diminish aught of this, from the grace of Christ, are open enemies to God’s glory in Christ, and to the peace, holiness and comfort of our souls. Ignorance and unbelief are our Lord’s enemies and ours. Against these, (2d.) Be strong in this grace. Fortify your mind: fence yourself round with it: entrench yourself in it. Let your confidence be strong in it, against all opposing enemies. Be bold in faith: strong in hope: confident in the grace of Christ. Rest not in any degree of grace received: but be strong in the fulness of the grace that is in Christ. Are your lusts and corruptions strong? Oppose the Almighty grace of Christ to them. Are your doubts and fears strong? “Be strong in the precious promises which are in Christ Jesus, Yea and Amen to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20.) Are your conflicts, temptations, and distresses strong? Flee for refuge to Jesus, the hope set before you. There is strong consolation for you! God, knowing our distress and dejection, through the prevailings of unbelief, has graciously confirmed his counsel and promise (O astonishing!) by his oath. Can you, dare you think it possible for God to lie, or be perjured? Then, whatever in nature, sense, and feeling oppose, stagger not at the promise of God, through unbelief; “but be strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Romans 4:20.

With strongest love, and sufferings great,

Christ manifests his grace:

Then let’s be strong, in Christ complete,

And we shall see his face.