Lectionary Calendar
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Good Friday
There are 2 days til Easter!
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: May 24th

Resource Toolbox
Morning Devotional

The Father himself loveth you.- John 16:27.

The history of the life of sorrows, and death of shame, curse and agony, which Jesus sustained for sinners, was it believed perfectly in the heart, would fill the mind with the strongest affection, and inflame the soul with the most fervent love. But alas! all have reason to complain for want of greater love to Christ, and stronger faith in him. O unbelief, what an enemy to love! Our love keeps pace with our faith. As the one grows stronger, the other increaseth. But if faith grows weak, love declines. Yet no one poor sinner that believes the record of Jesus’ love and salvation, as his only hope and confidence, but love, in some degree, is drawn out to Jesus; for "faith worketh by love." The soul in its first love, and for a season perhaps, sees and knows only the love of Christ, and thinks little about the "love of the Father." It may be, he considers, that what the Saviour did and suffered for sinners, was to procure the love of the Father to them, and to appease the fury of his wrath against them. But this is not right. Let no disciple think so. For, saith the Saviour, "The Father himself loveth you." Yea he teacheth us the love of the Father, as the only source and spring of his coming in the flesh to save us- for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."- John 3:16.

Hence it is plain, God the Father loves sinners-loves them inexpressibly-with the greatest affection. For he gave, who? an angel? an archangel? myriads of the heavenly host? No; but one infinitely more dear to him, his Son, his only begotten, his dearly beloved Son, who lay in his bosom from all eternity, that we might "believe on him, and live in him." So, the effect proves the cause. It is plain the love of the Father to his people, is prior to the Son’s coming into the world to save them, or to their belief on Jesus. For, says our Lord, "No man can come unto me, except the Father draw him."- John 6:44. And because the Father "hath loved us with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness he draws to Jesus." "Behold, (O ye followers of the Lamb) what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us."- 1 John 3:1.

Trace his love to the fountainhead. The holy Spirit of truth teacheth, that "God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, and hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, and hath predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself." To what end is this? even "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."- Ephesians 1:6, etc.

Evening Devotional

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66.

Thus was fulfilled that word, “How can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3.) This chapter is like a touch-stone. Herein our Lord tries his disciples, to see who are real sterling, and who not. Many are his professed, but few his real disciples. Sifting times will come. They make manifest. The hottest place in hell is prepared for those who turn their backs upon the Son of God on earth. Lord, grant that our faces may be set like a flint towards thee. For, blessed be thy name, thou hast said of those who continue with thee in thy temptations: “I appoint unto you a kingdom: ye shall eat and drink at my table.” (Luke 22:29-30.) But those who are not agreed with Christ, have not the mind of Christ: will not walk long with him. See this exemplified. (1st.) “Some of these disciples followed Christ for the loaves and fishes,” ver. 26. Those who follow Christ, to get food for their bodies, and the good things of this life, instead of food for the soul, will soon forsake him. Christ’s blessings are spiritual; their views are carnal. Such are not agreed with him. (2d.) Others murmured at, him, because he said, “I came down from heaven,” ver. 41. They were ignorant of his mission from the Father. Many people hear again and again of Christ, but have no solid, scriptural judgment of the divinity of his person, and humanity of his nature, nor the end and design of his coming into the world. For want of knowledge of him, and faith in him, they soon forsake him. (3d.) Others could not receive his saying, “Except ye eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you,” ver. 53. His words were spiritual, their notions carnal. They could not see how Christ could be the spiritual food of souls by faith. So many in our day exclaim, where mysteries begin, religion ends. These left following Christ. (4th.) His doctrine of his Father’s sovereign grace was a severe stroke, to the free-will pride of their self-righteous, self-sufficient hearts. “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father,” ver. 65. “From that (that speech, time is not in the original) many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” O how many professed disciples in our day are uttering horrid speeches against the electing love, and efficacious grace of God the Father, in drawing sinners to his Son for salvation! Poor souls, they have not the mind of Christ: they see not the special mercy of being under the efficacious influence of the Spirit of the Father. O disciple, let the falling away of others warn thee. Be strong in the Lord. Be diffident in self. Look constantly to him, who is able to keep you from falling. Judges 1:24.

“Lord, hast thou made me know thy ways?

Conduct me in thy fear;

And grant me such supplies of grace,

That I may persevere.”

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile