Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: March 11th

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.- John 15:10.

Do any reproach us concerning our hope of eternal life, that we do not expect it by free grace and promise only, but clogged with terms and conditions which we must fulfil? Do they say we are only dreaming legalists, under the legal yoke, and not Christ’s freemen? We answer-We not only talk of, but we enjoy Christ; we do not merely prate about faith, but we partake of its power; not only hear of love described, but we feel its influence; not barely look for salvation from sin, but we enjoy it by the faith of Jesus NOW; and we know that we shall partake of salvation with eternal glory. For he who never spoke one word in vain, hath pronounced of all his members, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love." And the loving heart of Jesus is so set upon our being always happy, that he directs us how to act, so as constantly to abide in the sweet sense of his love; that so we may enjoy still greater measures of it in our hearts. If ye keep my commandments, so shall it be with you.

Jesus ever abode in his Father’s love; this he manifested by doing the Father’s will, and keeping his commandments. In his work of obedience he received this testimony from the Father, "This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." So Abraham had this blessed witness borne him by the Lord. "Now I know thou fearest God." And also a repetition of the grand promise given him upon the obedience of his faith,- Genesis 22:15-18.

So also shall disciples find the testimony of the comforting Spirit, in the way of keeping the commandments of Jesus. Though not for, yet "in keeping thy commandments there is great reward."- Psalms 19:11. This David well knew by happy experience. So saints do experience.

Faith and love are the commandments of Jesus. To believe in, rely upon, confide and trust in the Lord Jesus from hour to hour, this is to honor him. To love God and one another as his children, is the true badge of the disciples of the loving Saviour; this is to obey him. The more loving faith, and faithful love to Jesus abide in our hearts, so much the more will peace, consolation, and joy be increased in our souls.

Do any deem this legality? May the God of grace fill our hearts, with such legality day by day! so shall we be truly evangelized. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."- Colossians 2:6-7.

Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Happy for ministers, when their mission from Christ is called in question, they can appeal to their people’s hearts, to prove that Christ is spoken to them. Happy for Christians, to examine, prove, and know themselves, and to find Christ is in them. Ignorance of ourselves lies at the bottom of all error, and self deceit. Lord help us deeply to consider of this important question. (1st.) Know ye not your own selves? Come you are very ready to judge ministers, find fault with them, and call their gifts and graces in question. Look at home. Know yourselves. Be not puffed up. Consider yourselves. Be humble. Your hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Your nature is totally corrupt and abominable. In your flesh dwelleth no good thing. Its motions are, to bring forth fruit unto death. Its lustings are, continually unto sin. Know, there is no difference in your nature, from that of the most vile and abandoned sinner upon the face of the earth. If left to yourselves, there is not the most atrocious sin, but you might commit. There is not a hell in which others are eternally suffering for sin, but what you justly deserve, and would fall into. For your sinful nature is as reprobate, corrupt, and adulterate as others, even as the most vile. Yea, and your state is also by nature, as bad as others, even children of wrath. Know ye not your own selves? Has the Spirit of truth made you thus acquainted with yourselves? Be not afraid to see and know the very worst of yourselves. For. (2d.) “Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Blessed distinction! In this the elect differ from the reprobate. The former have Christ in them. The latter reject Christ, and are without any true knowledge of him, faith in him, and love to him. What is implied in Christ being in us? (1st.) Dwelling in our hearts by faith. A clear knowledge of him, cordially receiving him, heartily believing on him, stedfastly cleaving to him, constantly abiding in him, steadily looking to him, as he is revealed in the word, the righteousness of sinners, the atonement for the guilty, justification for the ungodly, and the Saviour of the hopeless, helpless, and desperate. Therefore, (2d.) He is precious, as being suitable to us, in his glorious person, and his blessed offices. Hence our hearts go after him, our affections are placed on him, and it is the desire and delight of our souls, to honour, serve, and obey him. Thus self knowledge, and the knowledge of Christ, are the very criterion of salvation. O that we may sink into the depths of the deepest humility by the one, and rise into the heights of the highest comfort, peace and joy by the other. So shall we prove, that we have true Christian experience of the love and grace of Christ.