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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: January 11th

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Morning Devotional

Jesus said, Ye know not what ye ask.- Mark 10:38.

Strange! what, James and John, two disciples of a despised and rejected Master, who had not where to lay his head, yet dreaming of earthly pomp and worldly grandeur, and petitioning for the highest pitch of worldly glory? yes, nothing less than the right hand of preeminence, and the left hand of power, would suit them. Human nature, how earthly, carnal, and selfish! How low are we fallen! yet how lofty in pride! What are the best of men, when left to their own spirits? Truly, we know not what to pray for, as we ought. Jesus, Master, instruct us, what we are called to! Teach us what to pray for. Let thy word, "My kingdom is not of this world," be ever uppermost in our minds!

Poor Baruch could not be honored of God, and commissioned to read the roll to the princes of Judah, but he thinks, now I am somebody; I have got in the way of earthly honor and preferment. But his brother Jeremiah is sent to him, with this question and reproof, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not."- Jeremiah 45:5. How many distresses were brought upon the children of Israel by the mixed multitude that went with them! So the swarms of corrupt lusts, earthly affections, and carnal desires, which are found with us, are ever opposing the glory of Jesus, and exciting us to seek that happiness, in nature and sense, which can only be found in the spiritual reign of Jesus, in the heart.

But so kind and gracious is our dear Saviour, that he crosses our wills, and denies our request, when contrary to our spiritual interest. Thus in love he answers our prayers: he withholds what we ask; he gives what he knows is best for us. If disciples ask what is unfit to receive, or unlawful to beg, shall we complain of God’s love if he denies? Granting is not always the effect of love. If so, Paul had been less loved than Satan. Satan asked but once concerning Job, and his request was granted. Paul besought the Lord thrice, that the messenger of Satan might depart, yet was denied in that. Yea, blessed Jesus thrice prayed his Father that the cup might pass from him; but that could not be. The Lord delights in the prosperity of his people; therefore withholds no good thing from them. Not our judgment, but his wisdom must determine this. We pray to be in the height of comfort, and on the pinnacle of joy. But love answers by keeping us in the safe vale of humility and self-abasement. Lord, what proud, aspiring creatures are we! enable us to obey thee! "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God."- 1 Peter 5:6.

I’m heard, when answer’d soon or late,

And heard, when I no answer get:

Yea, kindly answer’d when refus’d;

By Jesus lov’d, when harshly us’d.

Peace then, my soul, for Christ knows best,

Either to give or to withhold;

On him still wait, on his word rest;

Against thy fears be firm and bold.

Evening Devotional

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9.

This is one of the most awful truths in the Bible. He who hath not the Spirit of Christ, doth not know Christ, will not believe on him, cannot love him. Then that dreadful sentence stands out against him, and living and dying so, will certainly fall upon him. “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha,” that is, under the most dreadful curse, till the Lord come to execute the severest vengeance of it. (1 Corinthians 16:22.) Jesus, Master, save us from this. Holy Spirit, rather let us be destitute of every blessing, than want love to Christ. O shed a Saviour’s love abroad in our hearts, and that shall kindle ours. What is it to have the Spirit of Christ? How may we know that we have the Spirit of Christ? Consider, (1st.) the appellation here given, the Spirit of Christ. This will greatly help us to solve these questions. You may perceive what spirit a man is of, by his temper and conduct. The men of this world have the spirit of this world. Their walk and conduct show it. They set their affections on, seek all their happiness in, and expect all their comfort from the riches, honors, and pleasures of this world. So it is with us all by nature. We have not the Spirit of Christ. But when the fulness of time comes, according to his covenant engagements with God the Father, and God the Son, God the Spirit is pleased to visit our souls. Then he opens our eyes, to see both our sin and misery, and to behold the righteousness and happiness there is in Christ. He enables us to believe in Christ, to savour the things of Christ, and to cry out, None but Christ, none but Christ be my portion, in time and to eternity! Have we a sigh in our hearts after Christ, to be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? This is of the Spirit of Christ. Do we groan under a body of sin and death, and cry out, O wretched that we are, who shall deliver us? Do we thank God for Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour, justifier, and deliverer? We have the Spirit of Christ. Can we come to a throne of grace, seeing ourselves miserable sinners, yet believing the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, and the righteousness of Christ justifies from all condemnation, and therefore cry, God be merciful to me a sinner-Jesus save me or I perish? This is from the faith of Christ. This is the prayer of faith. The Spirit of Christ has inspired it. We have the Spirit of Christ. Do we delight to hear of Christ, to have fellowship with Christ, to live upon Christ, to walk with Christ, and to have the power of Christ’s grace subduing the power of sin in our hearts, lips and lives? Verily we have the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit lusteth against the flesh, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17.)

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