Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: May 2nd

That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.- Romans 3:19.

In our natural state we are ever most backward to take guilt to ourselves, most skilful at self-excuses, most averse to selfexamination, because we dread self-condemnation; hence we are ever prone to pass judgment at the bar of pride and carnal reason upon the truths of God, because we think they are against us. O what is there in such stout-hearted rebels, who are far from righteousness, to invite down the blessed Spirit to enlighten our minds! It is by his special mercy we see the spirituality and extent of God’s holy law: though in it we see nothing but justice with a drawn sword, and mercy with a veiled face, yet it cuts off all glorying in the flesh, stops the mouth of pride and arrogance, and leaves the poor sinner under a sense of guilt, and subjects him to the judgment of God. To such, the sound of mercy how welcome! the proclamation of grace how joyful! the name of Jesus how precious! the way of salvation by him how acceptable! How willingly do such desire to be eternally indebted to free grace! How dead do such become to former legal hopes! Expectation from their fulfilling terms and conditions is cut off; grace freely given, mercy richly bestowed through Jesus, becomes the subject of all their hope, the matter of all their glorying. Now it is not, What have I done? How have I behaved? but, "What hath Jesus done! What a glorious salvation hath he wrought! ’I am a poor sinner, stript of all, now bow to the sovereignty of God, adore his electing love, admire God’s salvation, sit humbly at the feet of Jesus, dwell on the wonders of his love and sufferings on Calvary’s mount, thankfully receive the testimony of Jesus from the Spirit, and give the ever-gracious THREE all the glory of what I am in time, and of what I hope to be in eternity.’ When the soul is become guilty in its own sight, the mouth is thus stopped: every self-righteous plea is silenced. When the sinner thus sees himself, he is quite out of conceit with himself.

Thus the law is good if a man use it lawfully; but if the Lamb’s wife seek to the law, as a woman to her husband, to get comfort from it, and life by obedience to it, verily this is not continuing a chaste virgin to Jesus. We shall then cease to bring forth fruit unto God; but we shall be, as God complains of Israel of old, "an empty vine, who bringeth forth fruit unto himself." Hosea 10:1. We shall grow delighted with ourselves, and imagine we have that within us to talk of and glory in, instead of the work of Jesus, for us. But thus saith the Lord, "Thou shalt remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done."- Ezekiel 16:63.

If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Peter 4:16.

“ The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26.) It is a blessed name. We ought ever to glory in it, and never be ashamed of it. But the bare name will no more avail us in life, death, and judgment, than to be called rich, while we are feeling the pinching hand of want. Christ signifies anointed. He was anointed to be our Saviour. (; Acts 10:38.) All who are saved by him, and come to him, are his anointed ones. So St. John speaks of all Christ’s living members. “Ye have an unction from the Holy One.” (1 John 2:20.) To anoint, is to consecrate and set apart for holy and spiritual purposes. Christians are consecrated and set apart from the rest of the world, to be a people peculiarly devoted to the glory of Jesus. They are the jewels which compose his mediatorial crown. Are you thus highly honoured by the Lord of life and glory? Is your soul anointed by the Spirit of Christ?

Then verily the world will also anoint you with their spirit. The more the unction of the Holy One is manifest, in your walk and conversation, so much the more will the wicked one and his children traduce and blacken your character with reproach and infamy. Thus you will be sure to suffer as a Christian; at least in your good name. This must be cast out as evil. Only take heed that you suffer as a Christian. That it be for confessing Christ, and adorning his gospel. As you love Christ, and have a tender concern for his glory, O let him not be wounded, and his cause dishonored, by any unholy, unjust, immoral actions, etc. Remember, the men of the world are vulture-eyed to your faults, glad to espy, and eager to proclaim them, with an air of triumph, saying, “See here, these are your Christians.” But if you really do suffer as a Christian, who have given up yourself, to be a disciple of Christ, art following him in the regeneration, and therefore are the butt of contempt, and a mark to be shot at, by the profane wit of ungodly men, be not ashamed: Be not confounded: Do not hang down your head with fear, but look up to God with joy. Glorify him for thus honoring you.

Remember on whose behalf you suffer. Put all your sufferings for Christ to his account. You have Christ’s note of hand: He will surely pay it. But, if you are ashamed, it is a sign you cannot credit him. What! is the credit of Jesus, the God of truth, bad in your eyes? Be ashamed, for want of faith to trust him. Meditate often on that day, when Christ shall come, in the glory of his Father, to confess them, who now confess him. Luke 12:8.

Dear Lord, who suffered once for me,

Upon the shameful cross,

So fill my mind with love to thee,

To count no shame my loss.