Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: May 1st

Doth the ploughman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?- Isaiah 28:24.

"The Lord of hosts hath decreed to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth."- Isaiah 23:9. Therefore his word sends us to the common transactions in life, that we may gather instruction in humility, and be taught to bow to his sovereignty. Every dispute against the latter is a strong evidence of the want of the former. When the mouth is not stopped, but daringly opened against sovereign purposes and eternal decrees, it is an awful sign that the plough of God’s law hath not cut deep into such sinners’ hearts; for, instead of pleading guilty and being speechless, the pride of nature urges vain pleas against freegrace truth, everlasting love, the finished salvation of Jesus, and the certain glory of all his chosen members. But verily, as the ploughman plows at a proper season, and sows his seed at the appointed time, and as harvest shall not fail, so the church of Christ is "God’s husbandry."- 1 Corinthians 3:9.

By the ministry of the word the Lord plows up the uncultivated ground of unfruitful hearts, he opens and breaks the clods of pride and lust, he casts in the seed of eternal life in the knowledge of Jesus, then the graces of faith, hope, love, and holiness, take root downward and spring forth upward.

But alas! the seed is exposed to many dangers; weeds may grow up and choke it; if refreshing showers, the warm sun, or the purifying air is withheld, it will rot, and bring forth no fruit unto perfection. The poor heart is not without its fears, yea is at its wit’s end at times, lest so it should be. And what can he do? He cannot command the clouds, call forth the sun, or cause the wind to blow. Boasting in self is at an end; trusting to inherent grace is cut off; hence the soul is led in humility to see that all things are of God; that if ever he reaps the harvest of eternal life, it is wholly and solely owing to God’s free gift by Jesus; that all present fruitfulness is by the Spirit’s energy and influence, in consequence of the Father’s love and faithfulness, and the Son’s perfect work and salvation; therefore look not so much within, nor around thee, as above to Jesus. Doubting disciple, from this inexhaustible fountain, hope and encouragement flow. Though all within seems gloomy and distressing, all without opposing and discouraging, yet our God is over all and above all. Ever remember there is as great a necessity for the heart to be deeply rooted in humility downward, as for the pleasing fruits of peace and joy to spring upward. Our heavenly husband knows which is best for us. As the ploughman minds his work, and does his duty; so do thou. Be diligent in thy work; be humble in thy heart, knowing "God giveth the increase."- 1 Corinthians 3:7.

They shall take to them every man a lamb. Exodus 12:3.

This was God’s appointed means of salvation, in a night of sore destruction. It was a display of the sovereignty of God, and the obedience of faith. Lord, enable us to bow to the one, and to learn more and more of the other. Consider, (1st.) The sovereignty of God in his severity upon his enemies, and in his goodness to his people: in destroying all the first-born of the former, and in preserving every one of the latter. And this was in a way appointed by his sovereign mercy. There is no mercy from God to any sinner, but in the way he himself appoints. This was a lamb. “They shall take to them every man a lamb.” His flesh was to be their food, his blood their salvation. Would not taking the flesh and blood of any other creature have answered the same end? No: To attempt it would have been a direct act of unbelief of God’s word, and disobedience to his will. Such a soul would have brought upon himself swift destruction. O beware, lest you turn your eyes from the Lamb of God. There is salvation in no other. See, (2d.) The obedience of faith. We do not find one Israelite destroyed. They believed God’s word, and obeyed it. They did not dare to reply against God and say, What doest thou? Why wilt thou destroy so many souls in one night? Why take a lamb, and sprinkle his blood as our protection? Why institute this sign to us only, and not to the Egyptians also? Why not give them at least a chance of salvation? Is this just? O the power of faith! It prevents such arrogant speeches. The grace of faith in the heart, subdues the enmity of the carnal mind, bows the rebellious will, stills the turbulency of nature, brings peace to the conscience, and love to the heart: For it takes and feeds upon the flesh, and trusts alone in the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. This is God’s appointed way of salvation. O how simple, how happy is the believing soul! God and he are perfectly agreed. God says, “Take the Lamb, my beloved Son, as my free gift for your whole salvation.” The Lamb says, “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” (John 6:55.) And the obedient sinner says, Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.

Dost thou believe? Hast thou experienced this? Then bless the loving Spirit, for the gift of precious faith! Faith is the gift of God. Feed by faith on the Lamb of God. Thus take, thus receive, thus live upon Christ and his fulness every day on earth, till you see his face in glory. Yet a little while and he shall come. Hebrews 10:37.

There is salvation in the LAMB,

For sinners doom’d to die:

I glory in his precious name,

And to his blood I fly.

Christ is my food; my robe, my joy,

I take him thus by faith:

No foes can e’er my soul destroy,

I credit what he saith.