Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: March 10th

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.- Hebrews 12:14.

"He that believeth shall be saved." This is the immutable decree of the God of truth. As no man shall see the Lord without holiness, so no man can be holy without faith in Jesus. But this is the peculiar blessedness of every believer, he is holy, he is "sanctified by faith which is in Christ Jesus."- Acts 26:18. All such are "called to be saints,"- 1 Corinthians 1:2 - called to holiness of life and conversation. There are no holy unbelievers, nor unholy believers. Gospel-exhortations are suited to the spiritual state of regenerate souls. They are subjects of the Prince of Peace; are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. As agreeable to their character, to the will of God, and to the peace of their own minds, they are ever to study and endeavor to follow peace with all men, consistent with faith and a good conscience. So of holiness; being holy members of the holy Jesus, beloved children of a holy God, subjects of a holy Spirit, called by a holy gospel, partakers of a holy faith, heirs of a holy kingdom; therefore all the way of their journey, thither they are to follow holiness. Partaking of the root of holiness, by union with Jesus, all the fruits of holiness spring. Christ is the way wherein we are to walk: conformity to his image is the delight of new-born souls; but we are subjects of a nature which is averse to this. Still we know that holiness and happiness are ever inseparable. Holiness is our vocation, our business, and is ever to be our constant aim; though not to recommend us to God to procure his favor, or as a condition of our acceptance in his sight, but that we may GLORIFY him "who hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Saints are not to indulge themselves on the bed of sloth, dream of heaven, big with hopes of a fool’s paradise, and vainly wish to cast themselves out of Delilah’s lap of worldly pleasures and sinful gratifications, into Abraham’s bosom of heavenly joys: but we are studiously to avoid every thing which is contrary to the nature of true holiness, and ever to be diligent in the use of such means, which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, may increase our love of holiness, and cause us to abound in the practice of it. True, we have innumerable enemies from within and without to oppose our progress in holiness. So much the more need of diligence and activity. We know that the delicious fruits of happiness grow only in the paths of holiness; and the Lord’s strength which is for us, is greater than all that is against us. Ever remember a throne of grace is always open to us, and we are exhorted to draw nigh to God with boldness. Great and precious promises are given us. All are to encourage us "to serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life."- Luke 1:74-75.

All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37.

By how many ways does Satan gain advantage over us? Though he cannot engage us in his drudgery, as cooks and scullions in a kitchen, yet he often employs us, to nurse those peevish, deformed, ill-favoured brats, corrupt reason, unbelief, slavish fear, etc. And he gives us no other wages for our service, but distress, dejection, and discontent. O ye children of God, instead of nursing such a vile brood, why do you not rather poison them by divine truths, and dash them in pieces in divine promises, flowing from God’s everlasting love to you. Mark the process of it. (1st.) Because the Lord loved you, he gave you to his Son. This implies some secret transaction between God the Father, and his Son Jesus, in covenant purposes. ALL, whom the Father loved with an everlasting love, and chose in the morning of eternity, he committed into Christ’s hands, to be saved by him, with an everlasting salvation. Came the Son of God from heaven upon an uncertainty? Died the Lamb of God, as a fool dieth, to no fixed end or purpose? No, he died to redeem, he rose to justify, he ever lives to save, ALL whom the Father hath given him, etc. (verse 39.) Believest thou this? Yes, says a poor sinner, and I tremble, lest I should not be one of this blessed number. You have reason to tremble, if you have not come to Christ. For, (2d.) he saith, “they ALL shall come to me.” What! as dragged by the hair of their heads? So some impiously sneer at the doctrine of efficacious grace. No, but they come willingly and cheerfully to Christ, as drawn by the bands of love, and the cords of reason. We see ourselves in all the filth of sin, in utter ruin and distress; feel guilt in our consciences, the curse of the law on our heads, self despair in our hearts, and with this cry in our mouth, Save, Lord, or I perish. I am lost, but thou hast died. There is no Saviour, no salvation but in thee. I believe this, and come to thee. Is this thy case? Then rejoice, thou wast given to Christ, by the Father in eternity, and the Spirit hath quickened thee, to come to Christ in time. Hear what our dear Saviour saith of such, (3d.) “I will in no wise cast out.” This blessed negative is the strongest affirmative! This precious word has been a sheet-anchor to many a soul, in storms of distress. In no wise. Though black as hell, deformed as a devil by sin, yet whenever such a soul comes to me, my loving heart will most freely receive, my gracious arms most cordially embrace, my precious blood perfectly cleanse, my glorious righteousness everlastingly justify, and I will for ever save him to the uttermost. Hebrews 7:25.

Thy words, dear Lord, have won my soul,

So full of love and grace:

They conquer all my prejudice.

And lead me to thy face.

God says they all shall surely come,

Drawn by my Spirit’s pow’r;

The Saviour saith, I will receive

E’en at the latest hour.