Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: May 19th

Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.- Isaiah 40:10.

What was foretold in prophesy, is fulfilled in the faith and experience of saints. Here are two notes of attention. "Behold;" it highly concerns thee. Take special notice. When the Lord God, our Immanuel Jesus, came to his temple, he found the beautiful building in sad disorder; his spiritual worship lost; and "his house of prayer turned into a den of thieves." Behold, with a strong hand and stretched-out arm, with no weapon, but an insignificant scourge of small cords, he drove the multitude from the temple. Amazing miracle!

The meek Lamb is also "the lion of the tribe of Judah." So he came not only with a strong hand, but against the strong, as some render it. So, behold, he comes to take possession of the temple of his people’s hearts. This temple he finds in woeful plight. All the powers of earth and hell are engaged against him. "The strong man armed keeps possession." But precious, powerful Jesus, casts out Satan, enters by his love, and rules by his Spirit, where Satan reigned. But he comes not by power only, but by grace also; behold, he brings his reward with him. The distressed soul he pardons. He clothes the naked soul with the robe of his righteousness-he feeds the hungry soul with good things-he giveth his flesh to eat, and his blood to drink. Then how do their souls pant after Jesus! how do they hunger and thirst after righteousness, and cry, and pray, "Lord, increase our faith, that we may eat as thy friends, and drink larger draughts, as thy beloved, and be more abundantly satisfied with thy love!"

Thus our Lord Christ rewards his people with the fruits of his own toils, and the blessings of his own finished work and salvation; even with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. But, O Jesus, cries the poor sinner, "What a vile, sinful, carnal, earthly-minded wretch am I still by nature!" Fear not saith Jesus, thou art called to look unto me. Behold, "my work is before me." Have I vanquished the powers of death and hell for thee, and can I not conquer sin in thee, and subdue thy flesh under thee? Was his blood the price of thy soul, and the atonement of thy sins? Then, must thou wait in faith for the total destruction of the last enemy sin and death, at his second coming; when in the triumph of thy soul thou shalt proclaim the perfect victory of Jesus, and say, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain," etc.- Revelation 5:12.

Jesus, my Lord, is come;

My heart now feels his pow’r:

He rules by his almighty arm,

Bless’d be the joyful hour.

How precious is thy work!

How glorious thy reward!

Faith reaps thy spoils, my conqu’ring love,

And glories in thy word.

Building up yourselves on your most holy faith. Judges 1:20.

Instead of going on comfortably in this work, many are questioning, I do not know whether I have obtained a most holy faith or not. Bring this to a point to-night. Has the ruinous fabric of nature’s self-confidence, self-righteousness, self-complacency, and self-pleasing ever been pulled down? Has the Spirit convinced you of sin? Do you see yourself a lost, ruined sinner: so lost and so ruined by sin, that no one but the Son of God can restore and save you? Do you believe that he came to save sinners? Is it the desire of your heart, to be saved from ALL sin by him? If so, you as surely possess a holy faith as you enjoy natural life. And you will get stronger evidence, and greater assurance of it, by using every blessed means to prove that you have this most holy faith, while you build up yourself on it. (1st.) This will appear to be a holy faith, by leading out your soul after a holy Saviour, that you may be rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith of his perfect love to you, and finished salvation for you, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:7.) You will not live a day, but praise will ascend from your heart to the Father, for his unspeakable gift of Christ; to the Son, for giving himself for you; and to the Spirit, for the gift of his most holy faith to you. (2d.) As you believe sin has made you miserable; that it causes God to hide his face; clouds your views of the Sun of Righteousness; grieves the Holy Spirit, and damps the joys of faith,-you cannot, you dare not seek happiness in the pleasures of sin. You will hate it, strive against, it, that you may grow in grace, and be built up in your most holy faith. (3d.) As you believe that the earth, and all things that are therein, are doomed to be burnt up, you cannot love the world, so as to set your affections on it, and seek your happiness from it. You hear the voice of the Lord, “My son, give me your heart.” When tempted by the honors, riches, and pleasures of a bewitching world, you will say of all, You bid too little to purchase me: I have a holy faith: I believe that my holy God can make me infinitely more honorable, rich, and happy, than all your toys and baubles. For, the Lord is my portion, saith my soul. I can say so, in the confidence of my most holy faith. O, Christian! bless the day, and bless the Lord, when this holy faith was given you. Be assured, a holy heaven is prepared for you, and that you shall enjoy it, so surely, as if you were now in possession of it, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul.” 1 Peter 1:9.

The Lord directs what means to use,

To build us up in holy faith:

Then let us daily seek and choose

To follow after what he saith.

Christ is the sure foundation laid-

Be careful that on him you build:

Your work shall prosper, and be made

Each joy and comfort for to yield.