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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: April 5th

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Morning Devotional

And the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness; according to the faith of God’s elect.- Titus 1:1.

St. Paul, though an eminently distinguished apostle of Jesus, yet, in regard to the salvation of his own soul, his extraordinary gifts procured it not; nor could his former hatred and persecution of Jesus and his members frustrate the electing love of God, or obstruct the sovereign operations of the Holy Spirit. But being chosen of God in Christ Jesus, his heart must partake of the precious faith of God’s elect. Love, almighty, wonderful love, seized him; Jesus challenged him as one of his redeemed souls; stopped him in his mad career; touched his heart, and brought him trembling and astonished to his feet: and the power of faith in his heart was manifested by the obedient cry of his lips, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"- Acts 9:6.

Thus election is a doctrine according to godliness. Faith in the heart is an evidence of interest in God’s electing love. It is a special gift of grace, and is connected with salvation.- Ephesians 2:8. Faith proves itself to be a genuine grace of the Holy Spirit, for it submits to and trusts in Jesus’ righteousness for justification; his blood for pardon; his all-prevailing merits and intercession for life. Thus faith glorifies Jesus as priest, to atone; honors Jesus as king, to rule and govern; and yields obedience to him as a prophet, to instruct in the truths of godliness. So the believing soul is stript of every self-righteous plea; brought as an humble, self-condemned sinner to the feet of Jesus; and glories in him as his only hope for life and whole salvation. If there is no election of sinners by God the Father, there is no true faith; for saving faith is peculiar to God’s elect only. Do any object, ’I do not believe the doctrine of election?’ We only say, we cannot help you, we pity you, you do not understand your bible, you do not yet "acknowledge the truth which is after godliness." The faith of God’s elect springs from God’s electing love; has Jesus for its author and finisher, his life and death for its object, the truths of God’s word for its warrant, God’s promise in Christ Jesus its support, love and holiness its evidence, sure and certain salvation is its end. Well may this be called precious faith indeed.

Whereas mere human faith, as it arises only from the power of the creature, it centers only in nature and self, talks high of terms and conditions, boasts much of human abilities, opposes free-grace, exalts the sinner, debases Jesus, denies the imputation of his righteousness, and renders salvation not only precarious and uncertain, but utterly impossible. O soul, study this truth daily! it tends to humility and rejoicing. "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."- Ephesians 2:8.

Evening Devotional

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your souls shall live. Isaiah 55:3.

Some cannot bear exhortations to be used, either to saints or sinners. O, dear! they sound so legal in their ears, they are quite disgusted with them. But why? Truly, such are wise above what is written; and they proclaim their folly in condemning the conduct of Christ, and his Spirit in the prophets and apostles. They have most need of exhortations, who see least cause for them: be not high-minded, but fear. A Chinese philosopher asserted, that a man had three ears: one differed from those two which are seen. This was counted a great absurdity. But it holds true in a spiritual sense; for naturally we have ears, but hear not. “The hearing ear, the Lord hath made.” (Proverbs 20:12.) This Christ calls for: “Incline your ear.” Act as sentenced rebels and condemned malefactors; be all ear to a sound of mercy, and a proclamation of a reprieve, from me. Though your hearts are bowed down under a sense of your lusts and corruptions- your consciences burdened with guilt-your minds pained with fears, and your spirits dejected with sorrows; yet listen not to the suggestions of Satan, the intimations of carnal reason, or the surmises of your legal spirits: but turn away your ear from all to me. O, it is precious living, thus to hear the voice of Christ! But this call from the Saviour carries conviction with it, that we do not enough incline our ear to him: therefore, we are not always happy in him. Sweet invitation! “Come unto me.” His love is the same: his words are the very same to poor sinners, whether he speaks by his prophets, or by himself in the flesh: his loving heart proclaims, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28.) Come, under all your load of guilt, weight of dejection, and burden of sorrow.

Christ gives us to feel all this, that we may see our want of him, come to him, and enjoy fellowship with him. Never misconstrue your soul’s burdens and spiritual distress, as black marks upon you: they are love-tokens from him who says, “Hear, and your souls shall live.” Not only live, but be lively; not barely live, but enjoy the vigor of life, the comforts of life, and bring forth abundantly the fruits of spiritual life. All this is by hearing the voice of Christ, believing the love of Christ, and living upon the fulness of Christ. “See then ye refuse not him who speaketh from heaven.” Hebrews 12:25.

Holy Prince of peace and love,

Thou who callest from above

Give the power to obey:

Keep us in the narrow way.

Thou would’st have us happy here,

In the faith and love of thee:

Fill our souls with godly fear;

Keep us to eternity.

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