Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 1st

Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.- Isaiah 62:2.

This is predicted of the church of God; which, according to covenant-transactions of the glorious Trinity, stands in the nearest and dearest relation to JESUS her head. She is here spoken of as a single person, THOU: she is called "Christ’s body,"- Colossians 1:24, and "the bride, the Lamb’s wife,"- Revelation 21:9, of whom, saith God the Father, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love,"- Jeremiah 31:3. Yea, saith the Son of God to his Father, of all his beloved members, "Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. . . .and thou lovest me before the foundation of the world,"- John 17:23-24. O most comforting truths of God’s word! how ancient is the love of God to his church! That God should love us miserable sinners at all is amazing; but that he should love us with the very same everlasting unchangeable love, wherewith he loves his own beloved Son, this surpasseth all knowledge! This love is the source of all blessings in time; this love secures all happiness in eternity.

The Son of God has manifested his infinite love to his church, by conflicting with and overcoming all the powers of earth and hell for her sake. He most clearly purchased her, in a way of strict justice, with his most precious blood. But he finds every one of his ransomed ones branded with this old name of infamy, a SINNER: it being near six thousand years since first entailed. By nature we are all old in sin, and dead in sin: but being predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, and to be conformed to his image, to the praise of the glory of God’s grace, therefore we shall be called by a new name.

This the Lord, the Spirit, effecteth. Being born of the Spirit, and baptized with the Holy Ghost into the faith of Jesus, the Lord calls us by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. This is it, Isaiah 62:12, "The holy people. . . .the redeemed of the Lord. . . .thou shalt be called SOUGHT OUT." O the blessedness of being sought out! how precious is HE who sought us out! He sought us in the ruins of the fall. He found us in a most miserable condition; but he calls us by a NEW NAME, which signifies new creatures in our living head, who is the NEW MAN. This he makes us. Then we experience the blessedness of a new state in, and of a new life from JESUS. He is a new and living way to us. By faith we walk with God-live upon Jesus-feel sweet fellowship with him- enjoy comforting communion from him-and have joyful access to the Father through him. Thus the Lord writes "a new name upon his members, which no man knoweth, saving he who receiveth it."- Revelation 2:17.

Thus, as Luther testifies, "a Christian is a new creature in a new world." He is a subject of a new King, whose name is LOVE; and of a new kingdom, wherein dwelleth righteousness. He is possessed of new hopes-new pleasures-new desires and new joys. Yes, and he finds new fears-new sorrows-new conflicts, yea, and new enemies too. Though that old serpent the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world, is cast out of us, he still wageth war against us. What then? every trial we meet with, every temptation we are beset with, shall only glorify the riches of God’s love to us, and the power of the grace of Jesus in us- shall learn us the use of our spiritual weapons-deaden our affections to earth-quicken our longings for glory-endear Jesus more to our hearts, so as with ardency to cry out, O that I may be found in HIM! how glorious the privileges! how animating the prospect of all such new-named souls! they are interested in all new covenant blessings. New wine of gospelpeace and love is put into such new bottles. A new song, "Salvation to the Lamb that was slain," inspires their tongues.

Such are lovingly called, by the word of their Father, and powerfully enabled, by the Spirit of his grace, to serve and glorify him, "not in the oldness of the letter," but in newness of the Spirit, in "righteousness and true holiness before him all the days of their life:" happy new year to such new-named souls! every revolving year on earth brings them nearer their Father’s house, their Saviour’s kingdom in glory. Thus, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."- 2 Corinthians 5:17.

My Jesus, my almighty friend.

When I begin thy praise,

Where will the growing numbers end!

The numbers of thy grace!

Still has my life new wonders seen

Repeated ev’ry year;

Behold my days that yet remain,

I trust them to thy care.

Thou art my everlasting trust,

Thy Person I adore:

And since I knew thy graces first,

I speak thy glories more.

My feet shall travel all the length

Of the celestial road,

And march with courage in thy strength,

To see my Father God.

When I am fill’d with sore distress

For some surprising sin,

I’ll plead thy perfect righteousness,

And mention none but thine.

How will my lips in glory tell

Thy vict’ries, O my King!

My soul redeem’d from sin and hell,

Shall thy salvation sing.

We see Jesus. Hebrews 2:2.

Fine sights of human pomp and worldly grandeur captivate carnal minds, and delight natural senses. It is common to hear persons say in an ecstasy, O, I could sit all night to see a fine play! But one sight of the matchless charms, and dazzling glories of our Saviour, makes all things appear mean and contemptible. We turn our eyes from them, and say, I put away these childish things: I have an heavenly object, infinitely superior to such low, mean, perishing vanities. I know one, who, having heard that faithful minister of Christ, Mr. Whitefield, when he first preached in the fields, upwards of thirty years ago, on being asked which he liked best, to hear him preach, or see Vauxhall? profanely replied, “Whitefield only preaches of heaven, but Vauxhall is heaven itself.” Poor soul! he was then blind to his want of Christ, and to his glory and excellency. But, to the praise of his rich grace, that poor sinner is out of hell, and can now happily join the faithful in saying, We see Jesus. So then, the once profane sinner is changed into the visionary enthusiast. Enthusiasm to see Jesus! “Enthusiastic this? then all are blind but rank enthusiasts:” for the essence of the gospel, the joy of sinners, and the cry of faith consist in this sight. What is life itself without it? For, alas! we have lost all righteousness, holiness, and happiness in ourselves; but we see all these, with heaven and glory, restored to us in Christ. O, blessed day! happy hour! joyful moment! when the sight of our inestimably precious Saviour first saluted the eyes of our mind, and became the object of our faith! It was the beginning of days; yea, our birth-day to eternal blessedness. This sight is a feast to our souls all the year. We delight to begin the year with seeing Jesus. We salute one another with, “I wish you a happy new year.” What mean we, but I wish you to see Jesus? What can make the year happy without this? This creates heaven in the soul. Then, it is a happy year, indeed. But without this precious view of faith, we can obtain no ease from the burden of sin; therefore, our souls must be miserable. This world can afford us no real happiness. The thoughts of death will torment us; and the view of judgment, fill us with dread and terror. But, O, happy sinners! who can bless God with Simeon, and say, “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation!” (Luke 2:30.) I see Christ: He is all my salvation, and all my desire. Ye heaven-born, high-favoured souls, well may ye say, time hasten on, years roll round, moments fly swiftly, and bring me to the full enjoyment of my beloved Saviour, in his kingdom of glory. For,

We see Jesus, who saw us, loved us, pitied and saved us, when dead in our sins, cursed by the law, and polluted in our blood. We look back and see him, an outcast babe-a despised man-crucified as a vile malefactor-bearing our sins on the cross-made a sacrifice for our souls, and redeeming us to God by his blood. We glory in him, as the only atonement for our sins, and our one righteousness to justify our souls: for he is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:6.) We look up, and see Jesus crowned with glory and honour, pleading our cause, and interceding for our persons at the right hand of God, and ever living to save us to the uttermost. We look forward to judgment; awful day! we see

‘A trembling world and a devouring God.’

But, O! how bright the prospect shines! we see Jesus coming, with power and great glory, to receive us to his kingdom, that where he is, there we may be also.

Do we thus see Jesus, by faith, as revealed in the word of truth? Then, we are new creatures in him. We are called, with Moses, “to endure (every fight of affliction) seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27.) We are exhorted to “lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and to run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2.) Thus, we obey the will of God our Father, who commands us, “Behold mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, (Isaiah 42:1.) “My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.

Jesus is the chiefest good,

He has sav’d us by his blood;

Let us value nought but him,

Nothing else deserves esteem.

Jesus, when stern justice said,

“Man his life has forfeited,

Vengeance follows by decree,”

Cried, “Inflict it all on me!”

Jesus gives us life and peace,

Faith, and love, and holiness:

Ev’ry blessing, great and small,

Jesus for us purchas’d all.

Jesus therefore let us own;

Jesus we’ll exalt alone:

Jesus has our sins forgiv’n:

Jesus’ blood has bought us heav’n.