Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: October 14th

I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.- Matthew 10:34.

Is not our Saviour the prince of peace? Hath he not made peace between God and man, by the blood of his cross? Doth he not give peace in the conscience, and establish peace among his people? Is it not the essence of the gospel to preach peace by Christ? All this is true. Why then doth my Lord say, "I came not to send peace, but a sword?" Conceive not of the meek Lamb as though his soul delighted in war, and that the sword of slaughter should be drunk with human blood. No: he came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. Therefore this sword is no other than the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God." It is rendered in St. Luke, DIVISION. This sword divides and separates a Christian from his carnal friends and relations; yea, divides asunder flesh and Spirit. Hence open war commences, and hostilities begin; for there never, never can be any peace, harmony, and agreement, subsisting between carnal and spiritual men, no more than between flesh and Spirit in the Christian. These are contrary to, and at continual war with each other. "Wars and fightings come from your lusts." Sin is the cause of all contention and division among men: every Christian is a soldier; the sword of the Spirit, the word of God is one blessed part of his armour. By this he is enabled to resist Satan, subdue his lusts, cut down unbelief, and to stand his ground against every enemy from the world, flesh, and devil, which are always in battle array against him.

Thus the weapons of thy warfare, O soul, are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty, through God, "to the pulling down the strongholds of Satan." Though earth and hell are at war against thee, yet strengthen thyself in thy God, he is on thy side. Fortify thyself by the word of his truth. This, for thy comfort, assures thee, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn."- Isaiah 54:17. By "this sword of the Spirit thou shalt prevail: by the blood of the Lamb thou shalt overcome." "Not by might or power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."- Zechariah 4:6. Alas! the poor sensible soul is ready to say, my strength is small, my arm is weak; though such a weapon is put into my hand, I have neither skill nor courage to use it aright; sin, Satan, and the world will be too strong for, and overcome me at last. No; that is impossible. Though weak as infancy, feeble as childhood, this blessed word exactly suits our state, and is a cordial to our spirits, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them." Why so? Because "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."- 1 John 4:4.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. Philippians 3:15.

Speaking of righteousness unto justification of eternal life, St. Paul says, “The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded,” (Romans 11:7.) What were they blinded by? Their own righteousness. This, like a cloud, intercepted the glory of the sun of righteousness from their minds. Their own righteousness prevented them from feeling the want of the righteousness of Christ, to justify them before God. So of perfection. Many are so blinded with their own fancied perfection, that they see not the glorious perfection of Christ, and the way in which sinners in themselves, are absolutely perfect in him. St. Paul just before said, he was not perfect. Now he says, he is perfect. What can he mean? Ironically, say some; by way of severe sarcasm upon those who fancied themselves perfect. Say others, comparatively perfect, with respect to those who were ignorant of Christ: perfect in part, but not in the whole. But, I humbly presume, it is most agreeable to the analogy of faith, to suppose, he here means, what he elsewhere speaks of, “perfect as pertaining to the conscience, by the work of Christ,” (Hebrews 9:9.) How are some weak minds puzzled, and others deluded, about perfection! Mind. Here is a perfection, which every believer is possessed of: pertaining to the conscience. This is received and enjoyed there by faith, in the atonement and righteousness of the Son of God. “By whom we have now received the atonement,” (Romans 5:11.) It is received by faith, and applied to our consciences, so that we have no more conscience of sins, but what we have the perfect atonement of Christ’s blood to plead, and to cleanse us from. So of the condemnation of the law. We have the perfect righteousness of Christ to answer it: hence there is now no condemnation to us. Thus, being delivered from wrath, guilt, and condemnation, by the perfect work of our Immanuel, our consciences are at perfect peace with God; perfectly reconciled to him. We are made perfectly acceptable in the Beloved. Thus we are perfect: for our title to glory is perfect and complete. The Spirit who thus perfected us by faith, bears witness of it in the word, and to our consciences. O glorious state! O blessed perfection! Thus our Lord’s prayer is answered upon us, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” (John 17:23.) Hence St. Paul exhorts, “Be thus minded.” We must reserve this for the next meditation. Ever remember, “The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God,” Hebrews 7:19.

Perfect in Christ, we stand complete

Before God’s holy throne,

Justice acquits, grace maketh us meet:

Glory to God alone.