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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: April 23rd

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Morning Devotional

Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, etc.- 1 Timothy 3:16.

The truths of the gospel are undoubtedly great mysteries to carnal reason. We have naturally no ideas of their existence; but being plainly revealed by the Spirit of truth, they cease to be hid from our knowledge. They are no longer secret mysteries, as to their matter, but plain and open truths to faith. True, the MANNER of their existence is incomprehensible to reason. So they will ever remain mysteries to us. Therefore the sons of natural pride and human ignorance reject and disbelieve them: but the children of wisdom and humility esteem the whole mystery of godliness, every bible-truth, as precious objects of their faith. Blessed be God, our comfort and salvation consists in believing, not in explaining. The Christian, like the prophet, being born of the Spirit, is a "man of strife and contention with the whole earth."- Jeremiah 15:10. All in nature and carnal reason are in arms against the truths he believes. Because he earnestly contends for them, he will ever find controversy and perverse disputings from men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth. His zeal here is always commendable, only let it be in LOVE.

What the Lord hath taught in his word, we receive as the food of our souls. This is our simple answer to the god of this world, and to the wise disputer of this age. We cannot comprehend how God dwelt in flesh, but we are fully assured he did. We have the fullest proof of it in his word; and his word is truth. And it is the very life of our souls, and the joy of our hearts, to believe our God. WHY God dwelt in flesh, and the glorious ends he hath accomplished hereby, we know. Of this also, we are perfectly assured; we believe it from the same infallible testimony. To the faith of this, we have the inward witness of the Spirit also. God, known in the flesh, beheld in human form, viewed in our nature, is the very essence of our faith; we now partake its blessings and experience its comforts. Hence springs the assured pardon of all our sins, the acceptance of our persons, the sanctification of our souls, and sure and certain hope of eternal life and glory. All this is by free promise, according to the purpose and decree of the everlasting covenant of grace, to the glory of the ever-blessed Trinity, and to the comfort and salvation of lost sinners. Thus saints are called into "one body, by one Spirit; have one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one atonement, one righteousness, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in them all."- Ephesians 4:4-6.

SENSE feels I am a sinner here:

REASON this truth could ne’er explore;

That God in flesh should cleanse my soul

By shedding his own purple gore.

By FAITH I view LOVE’S mystery,

GOD liv’d and dy’d in human flesh,

My hope, my heav’n, my joy is this;

No stronger proofs of love I wish.

Evening Devotional

God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:31.

Hezekiah was a great and a good man: he had rich experience in divine grace. Still he discovered, that he had a sinful nature, and a deceitful heart. Though an eminent saint of God, yet pride and vain-glory beset him. I have been led to think, there seems a little of the spirit of the pharisee, in his beseeching the Lord to remember how he had walked before him in truth, with a perfect heart, and done that which was good in his sight. (2 Kings 20:3.) At least, some of a self-righteous spirit, have been led to think from hence, that they have had somewhat in themselves whereof to glory. O! if we have walked well, and done well, we need not remind our Lord of it. If the heart be simple with its Saviour, it will not: for it was by his grace we did so. He who gives us grace, can never be unmindful of its effects.

We hear of Hezekiah’s sickness-of the Lord’s giving him a sign of restoration-of his sudden recovery-of his sweet experience-of the Lord’s dealing with him in his sickness. (Isaiah 38.) Should we not next expect to hear of his perfect love, supreme affection to the Lord, and of his deepest humility before him? But, alas! we are told, “he rendered not again, according to the benefits done unto him.” Why? Astonishing! For his heart was lifted up. O, what pride and vain-glory does he discover, in shewing to the princes of Babylon his vast treasure! Is this the man who so lately chattered like a crane or a swallow, and mourned like a dove; whose eyes failed, and whose tongue cried out, “O, Lord! I am oppressed; undertake for me”? This he, who said, I shall go softly all my years, in the bitterness of my soul? Yes, “God left him.” O! if God leaves, then Satan tempts, and corruptions rage. What evils may not the best of men fall into? Saint, know thyself. Consider this. Why did God leave him? Why does he leave any of his dear children? To try them.-That they may have full proof of their weakness and vileness; that they may know all that was in their hearts. We know but little of the latent seeds of pride and wickedness in us. The Lord withdraws for a season: he suffers devilish pride to rear its cursed head, that he may wound it by the power of his grace, and bring the poor sinner to his feet, with Hezekiah, to humble himself for the pride of his heart. (verse 26.) Happy those in whom such effects are produced! for in them the grace of God, yea, the God of grace, is glorified.

My Lord, how wond’rous is thy love,

So long with me to bear!

A wretch so proud, who oft hath strove

Glory with thee to share.

Search me, O God! and try my heart,

Its vileness shew to me:

Cause all self-glorying to depart,

That I may humble be.

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