the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
He is our peace.- Ephesians 2:14.
When Jehu came to take possession of the crown of Israel, Jezebel put this (as she thought) cutting question, "Had Zimri peace who slew his master?"- 2 Kings 9:31. As Jehu was called and anointed to be king of Israel, according to the word of the Lord, so is every Christian called and anointed by the word and Spirit to the kingdom of Jesus. "He hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory," etc.- Revelation 1:6.
But ere we take possession of our crown of glory, we must expect many severe and aggravating questions from the mouth of the adversary on earth. Verily, he hath great reason to urge the most cruel treatment, and to charge upon us the vilest behaviour to our master, Jesus; that bloody deed of crucifying the Lord of life and glory was caused by our sins. Not a transgression a disciple of Jesus commits, but the precious blood of his master was spilt for. The life of sin, and love of sin, is in our nature; and the law of sin is in our members, and while we are daily exposed to sin in our practice, Satan like a powerful Assyrian army, will invade our land of nature, and attack the peace of our souls. What can we do? If we deny his charge, and say, "We have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Acknowledge his accusations we must; all in nature, reason, and conscience, unite to witness against us. But shall this destroy the comfort of our minds, the hope of our souls, and the peace of our hearts? Then how small our knowledge! how feeble our faith! how weak our hearts in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! All the power of darkness, all the curses of the law, all the accusations of sin, blessed, for ever blessed be the grace of our God, cannot, shall not overthrow this soulcomforting, Christ-exalting, love-exciting truth; this man, even JESUS, who was born in Bethlehem, and died at Calvary, "he is OUR PEACE, he hath made peace by the blood of his cross."- Colossians 1:20. The everlasting gospel proclaims it; the eternal law of love confirms, it; by faith we receive the joyful news of it; by the Spirit our souls enjoy the sweet sense of it; by the word, the blessed Spirit stirs up our pure minds by exhortations and examples to look unto Jesus, look off from every other hope, turn from every other object. His name, his nature, his offices, his work, all speak PEACE to poor, guilty, self-condemned souls, whose only hope is Jesus. The work of (Jesus’) righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of (his) righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.- Isaiah 32:17.
O, let our voices never cease
To sing the Saviour’s name;
Jesus, the ambassador of peace,
How cheerfully he came!
It cost him cries and tears
To bring us near to God;
Great was our debt, and he appears
To make the payment good.
The GOD of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5.
An affectionate wife cannot bear to hear her loving husband traduced and spoken contemptibly of. It must hurt her mind. The church of the faithful, “is the Bride, the Lamb’s wife,” (Revelation 21:9.) Her Redeemer is here said to be her husband. These four names are given to him. Thy Maker-the Lord of hosts-the Holy One of Israel-the God of the whole earth. Now if, after this, any should dare to deny, that Jesus Christ is not truly and essentially God, they must be quite blind, exceeding bold, and abominable wicked. Jealous of our dear husband’s honour and glory, we cannot bear to hear him so vilely traduced and blasphemed. While we pity, we would flee from such, and take shelter under the wings of our Redeemer, and the protection of our Husband. The Godhead dignity of his person is the glory of our souls. The humility of his appearing in flesh, adds charms to his matchless beauty. Though he is our husband in our nature: our Redeemer incarnate: though we have free access to him: sweet converse with him: and are indulged with holy fellowship by him as MAN, still we honour and adore him, as “The God of the whole earth.” A poor sinner can never get near God in his mind, enjoy God in his heart, have any peace with God in his conscience, or comfort from God in his soul, but when he has simple believing views, by faith, of an incarnate God-God in Jesus, his Redeemer, and his Husband. And is he thy Maker? Then give him the glory of thy existence. Is he the Lord of Hosts? Then glory in him and rejoice, for thou art more than conqueror over all the powers of darkness and the hosts of hell, through him who hath loved thee. Is he the Holy One of Israel? Then study to be like him, pray for conformity to him, walk in holy fellowship with him, so as to derive all holiness from him. Is he “The God of the whole earth?” Then be assured, that being married to him, and redeemed by him, thou shalt want nothing, which his infinite wisdom sees best to give: for his everlasting love will supply all. Live daily upon the fulness of thy Husband, and the grace of thy Redeemer. Behold your precious, free-grace charter. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17.)
True faith will Jesus’ Godhead own,
For faith’s the gift of heaven:
Christ is God’s co-eternal Son,
He’s blest to whom its giv’n.
This is the God of the whole earth,
Christ is his sacred name;
We know this by our heav’nly birth,
And glory in the Lamb.
