Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 27th

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.- 2 Corinthians 12:8.

Our Saviour represents God’s own elect as crying day and night to him- Luke 18:7. Sore temptations, soul-burdens, Satan’s buffetings, are peculiarly felt by them. Their crying under them is a proof of spiritual life; their crying to the Lord only, is an evidence of the faith of God’s elect; their entreaties to be delivered from them, shew the sanctified, holy disposition of their souls. Thus the Lord draws out into exercise the graces of his children. His eyes are ever upon them, his ears, open to their prayers, and his almighty power and grace sufficient to deliver them. But "he that believeth, must not make haste." We must tarry the Lord’s leisure, and be strong in hope. His time is best. It is God’s will we should tell him of our trials and temptations. After we have done this, "we have need of patience;" we must wait for the fulfilment of his promise. This is our duty.

Paul prayed again and again, still the buffetings were continued; his mind was uneasy, his soul distressed, the enemy triumphing, the Lord making as though he heard not. Prayer and patience must go hand in hand. Murmurings are the offspring of unbelief. Fretfulness ariseth from pride. To lie humble at the feet of Jesus is our wisdom. Indulge no hard thoughts of the Saviour’s will to make thee holy, or power to make thee happy, though sin and Satan, like unwelcome visitors, daily intrude-appear in various shapes-attack from different quarters, and seem in some sort to gain upon thee in thought, word, or action. When inwardly discomposed by unholy tempers, and outwardly harassed by various temptations, poor souls are ready to think the war will end in their destruction; that Jesus will never give complete victory. But most assuredly he will. In due time we shall reap, if we faint not. Let it suffice, "My grace is sufficient for thee," saith the triumphant head in glory, to each of his militant members on earth. Importunate praying, humble waiting, confident believing, comfortable hoping, are the very life and essence of a Christian. And let his besetting temptations or conflicting trials be what they may, it is his blessed privilege to write with the pen of faith, "What shall separate from the love of Christ? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."- Romans 8:35; Romans 8:37.

Let me but hear my Saviour say,

Strength shall be equal to thy day;

Then I rejoice in deep distress,

Leaning on all-sufficient grace.

When I am weak, then am I strong,

Christ is my strength and Christ my song:

"Sufficient is my grace," he saith:

This is enough for pray’r and faith.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy. Zephaniah 3:17.

A truly gracious heart is restless and unhappy, when it experiences distance from the Lord. Notions in the head may satisfy formal, dry professors; but those who are alive to God, cannot rest without enjoying his presence. They will draw nigh to him, praying him, “Draw nigh to my soul, and say, I am thy salvation.” That precious word lives and abides in our heart: “Now, in Christ Jesus, we sinners, who, in times past, were far off from God, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13.) Hence, we are called upon, “Sing, shout, be glad, rejoice with all the heart.” Yea, thou God-fearing, soul-trembling sinner! even thou, the Lord has in his eye, and speaks from the love of his heart, “Fear thou not, let not thine hands be slack.” (Zephaniah 3:14-16.) Dread not thy mighty, thy many enemies. Put on courage. Lift up the hands which hang down. Take hold of thy Lord’s word. For, (1st.) “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” The might of the Lord his God, animated the heart of young David, when he went to fight the Philistine giant. Hence, you hear not one word of himself, of his own might and power, etc.; but, the Lord has done this and that-and the Lord will deliver now-I come forth in the name of the Lord. So St. Paul, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13.) Now, here is the nature and work of faith. When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, self-confidence is destroyed. Says the Soul, ‘I am weak and helpless: I am not sufficient of myself to think any thing as of myself, but my sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Corinthians 3:5.) This language is a proof, that the Lord is in the midst of that soul: he has proved that he is mighty in it, by “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every high thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5.) His mighty salvation is begun in that heart: it has no cause for dejection. For, (2d.) “He will save.” You believe the Lord’s power. He is able to save: you cannot doubt that; his word declares it; his work proves his willingness. Exercise your faith upon his will to save you, both from all your fears and all your foes. Cast away all vain and foolish notions of terms and conditions of salvation. See it all cast upon the will of Jesus. For, (3d.) “He will rejoice over thee with joy.” It was his joy to bleed and die, in agony and torture for thee. It is his joy that thou comest and criest to him, as a lost sinner, for salvation. He will rejoice in his work for thee, his grace in thee, and his salvation of thee. O! well mayest thou be called on, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4.)