Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: November 24th

The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe.- 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

A proclamation of grace from an earthly king has reduced the most desperate and hardened rebels to lay down their arms and promise true allegiance. But though the word of God is a proclamation of free grace, glad tidings of full pardon; though replete with the most tender expostulations and the most endearing invitations, yet so abominable is our perverseness, so daring our obstinacy, that we should remain deaf to every call, and continue hardened in our rebellion against the most high God, till we fall victims to his justly deserved wrath. For unbelief shuts up every avenue of the soul against the light, truth, peace, and love of the word of God. But, O amazing love! Lie in the dust, O my soul! adore the power of our allconquering Saviour! The gracious Spirit makes gracious words effectual. Hence faith esteems every portion of the gospel as the food, the life, the joy of the soul. By the agency of the Spirit the word becomes powerful to beget faith, and then works effectually in believing hearts.

Those speak unadvisedly who call the word of God a dead letter. Indeed St. Paul saith, "the letter killeth;" but this can never prove God’s word to be dead. That which is dead itself cannot kill. We should distinguish between the letter of the law that killeth all flesh, and the gospel of grace that worketh life and salvation in all who believe. When we read the word of God, we should never consider it distinct from the essential and personal word, JESUS. He is emphatically styled the word of God- Revelation 19:13. He who executed all the purposes of the word of truth, works effectually in the hearts of the children of faith. Hence, the once despised and lightly esteemed Nazarene is known, believed in, and loved as most precious; "the chiefest among ten thousand, yea as altogether lovely."

God’s precious promises in Jesus, once wholly unregarded, are now sweetly prized: they are beheld as sweetly ranged and profusely scattered through every page of the lively oracles. The Spirit’s holy gifts and sanctifying graces are pleaded as God’s blessed charter of free-grace. All his sovereign edicts and absolute declarations of grace and salvation, instead of being proudly caviled against, are bowed to with humility. In the word of our King there is power. Sin and Satan are dethroned in the heart, and Jesus rules and reigns in the soul. Thus the word of God is quick and powerful; thus it works effectually to salvation.

This is the word of truth and love

Sent to the nations from above;

Jehovah in his word doth shew

What his almighty arm can do.

May but this grace my soul renew,

Let sinners gaze and hate me too;

The word that saves me does engage

A sure defence from all their rage.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Isaiah 42:1.

Angels reproved disciples of old with, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:11.) How much do we deserve this reproof? Why stand ye gazing upon the vanities of the earth? Soul, what art thou looking at? What is the object of thy intention tonight? Be it what it may, God calleth to thee, and demands audience of him, and attention to him. It is for your comfort and his glory. The Majesty of heaven speaks to sinful worms of the earth. Behold. Take off your eyes and thoughts from every object; be all eye, ear, and attention to me. Ye poor, miserable, law-condemned, sin-distressed souls, look at, and take special notice of my servant. Wonder, adore, rejoice, and love. My beloved, my co-equal Son, who is Lord of all, becomes man, takes on him the form of a servant, to do my will perfectly, and to finish your salvation completely. Whom I uphold. Carnal reason bow. Satanic pride avaunt. High thoughts submit to faith’s mystery. Not a God upheld by a God: but a perfect man upheld by a perfect God. Christ, as perfect man, was too weak to sustain the ponderous load of a world of sin; and to support the suffering of divine wrath, in atoning for sin and satisfying divine justice. Therefore, all the fulness of the godhead dwelt in him bodily, to uphold his manhood. O sinners, in your precious Saviour behold the man: adore the God. Mine elect. Christ was chosen to the office of God’s servant and our Saviour. Chosen in the eternal council and covenant before time, to assume human nature in the fulness of time. In whom my soul delighteth. Says St. John, “We know that we are of God,” (1 John 5:19.) How? By this sure mark, this infallible evidence, we are of one mind with God. Doth God’s soul delight in the person and work of his beloved Son? So do ours. Is God’s soul delighted, that Christ hath satisfied his justice, magnified and made honourable his law, and finished salvation for miserable sinners? So are ours. Then, as surely as our souls delight in Christ, the Lord’s soul delights in us. We are called Hephzibah, that is, the Lord’s pleasure is in thee. Thou art married to him. His soul delighteth over thee. (Isaiah 62:4.) He hath given his Spirit to thee: for, says Christ, he shall receive of mine, my love, my atonement, my redemption, my righteousness, my salvation, my resurrection, ascension, and intercession, and shall shew it unto you. Thus he shall glorify me in your eyes and in your hearts. John 15:15.

God calls, my soul attend,

Behold his precious Son,

In form of servant he did send,

Salvation work he’s done.

This is the joy of faith:

This is the spring of love:

Behold this to thy latest breath,

Till thou shalt sing above.