Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 8th

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.- Hebrews 1:3.

What St. Paul says of the resurrection of Jesus,-2 Corinthians 15, may, with equal truth, be applied to his divinity. If Jesus be not truly and essentially the self-existing God, ’all preaching is vain; all faith is vain;’ all the saints of God must perish in their sins. But we have not so learned Christ, if so be we have heard him, and know the truth as it is in Jesus. His eternal power and Godhead angels adore, devils tremble at, saints rejoice in, and only poor, blinded, proud sinners dare cavil against and deny.

That Jesus is both Lord and God, lies at the foundation of our faith. That he upholds all things by the word of his power, is the joy of our hearts. That, as man, he hath purged our sins, causes all our hope and comfort. That he is entered into heaven for us, and there pleads our cause, O this is the glory of our souls. For our hope entereth into that within the veil.

There Jesus our forerunner is FOR us entered. On this rock Christ’s church is built, and neither the "powers of earth and sin, nor the gates of hell shall prevail against it." When the Spirit brings the soul up to Nebo, the mount of prospect and prophecy, it has glorious views of the inheritance; it speaks of it; it fructifies; the grace of faith, hope, love, peace, and joy, abound in the heart. But, alas! all is barren as a wilderness; unfruitful as a desert, while sin in its guilt and punishment is not known and believed to have been purged by the blood of Jesus. This is the only physic for sin-sick souls, the most reviving cordial for drooping spirits. The same blood, which was all-sufficient to purge away sin in the court of heaven, is also all-sufficient to cleanse the guilt of it from the conscience. Sweet consolation for the members of Jesus! Their living head, in his human form, is at the right hand of the majesty in glory; the blessed object to whom we are ever to look, through whom every comfort flows, and on whom is our hope in every soul-conflict with sin and Satan. This is the reasoning of faith: "If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."- Romans 5:10.

There’s none can know the Father right

But those who learn it from the Son;

Nor can the Son be well receiv’d,

But where the Father makes him known.

Then let our souls adore our God,

That deals his graces as he please,

Nor gives to mortals an account,

Or of his actions, or decrees.

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, etc. Luke 10:30.

An awful down-hill journey! Here is a true picture of the woeful backsliding of a believer from his Lord. (1st.) “He went down from Jerusalem,” which signifies the visions of peace. These are enjoyed by faith, in communion with Christ, and close walking with God. When these are departed from, it is going down, indeed! The way of sin is down hill; the descent is easy; the event, dreadful! It is going down from the delectable mountains, into the dreary vale of Jericho. This place was cursed by Joshua, (6:26.) It was very wicked in the days of Christ; so is this present world now. (2d.) “He fell among thieves;” so the believer, when he gives up himself to sinful company, vain delights and carnal diversions. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, steal his heart from God, and strip him of his raiment of purity and peace. (3d.) “They wounded him.” O, the dreadful stabs which sin and apostasy give to the believer’s heart and conscience! (4th.) “Departed from him.” Having robbed the believer of his comfort in God, now the sense of carnal joys also forsake him. He cannot find those mighty pleasures in sin, which it promised him. (5th.) “Leaving him half dead.” Not totally dead to God, nor wholly alive to sin. He can be happy in neither. Awful state! But there is still a spark of spiritual life in the soul. This, all the devils in hell, nor all the men on earth, can never quench. But now, what misery he feels! what wounds, pains, and griefs he groans under! what loss does he deplore! (6th.) “The priest and the Levite pass by on the other side.” The law can neither ease nor cure him: it curses, condemns, and leaves him. But, lastly, who is he that says, “I will heal their backslidings, and love them freely?” (Hosea 14:4.) O! it is the good Samaritan; the precious, ever-loving Friend of sinners! He came where he was: he saw him, and had compassion on him: he bound up his wounds, poured in the oil of his precious grace, and the wine of his heavenly love; “and took care of him.” O, my soul! dread the danger of such a journey. Highly esteem the visions of peace. Remember Jericho. Forget not the snares of this wicked world. Beware of thieves. Never, never forget the compassion of the good Samaritan: bless him for his sympathizing heart: he is “touched with a feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:13.)

Sin’s promised joys are turn’d to pain,

And I am drown’d in grief;

But my dear Lord returns again-

He flies to my relief.

Wretch that I am, to wander thus

In chase of false delight

Let me be fasten’d to thy cross

And never lose thy sight.