Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 16th

The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.- 1 Peter 3:4.

Godly parents are delighted at their very hearts, if they see their dear children partakers of the grace of God. How joyful to hear those, who are part of one’s self, enquire after Jesus and his salvation! Love and duty unite to constrain us to teach our little ones the knowledge of Jesus; to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. And if the spirit of grace is pleased to crown such endeavours with success, infinitely more precious is the adorning of grace to their immortal souls, than all the gaiety of dress to their perishing bodies.

As we to ours, so doth the Lord rejoice over all his dear children in Christ Jesus. He takes pleasure in their dress, which is the robe of his Son’s righteousness. Their ornaments, which are the graces of his Spirit, are delighting to his eyes. "He makes them all-glorious within:" he loves his own image, which he hath formed by his Spirit, "in the hidden man of the heart." Both the inward graces and the outward fruits are an ornament to them; and are "of great price in the sight of their heavenly Father." By daily fellowship with our God and Saviour, we get more and more "conformed to his likeness." By close walking, constant communing, free conversing with Jesus, love is maintained in the heart: and a meek and quiet spirit ever accompanies love. Where the former is wanting, the declinings of the latter are evident. As faith works by love, so love shews itself by meekness of spirit and quietness of behaviour. There is a sweet harmony in the graces of the Spirit. By faith the soul abides in Jesus, and receiveth out of his fulness. By love the heart is comfortable. And as Peter and John said to the beggar, "What we have received of the Lord, that we give unto you." So the Christian dispenses out of his heart, love to his brethren, and is peaceable and quiet to all mankind. Love controls the boisterous passions of nature. Love constrains to meekness of temper and quietness of spirit. We sadly mistake, and are greatly deceived by our corrupt nature, carnal reason, and the subtlety of Satan, when we act with any other spirit, and attempt to find an excuse for it. Nay, but it is unbecoming our character, a disgrace to our profession, a dishonor to our Saviour; it grieves the Spirit; is a badge of Satan’s livery; a fruit of the flesh, and is contrary to the Spirit. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God, peace of men, nor the comfort of the soul. "Put on as the elect of God, meekness."- Colossians 3:12.

Bless’d are the meek, who stand afar

From rage and passion, noise and war;

God will secure their happy state,

And plead their case against the great.

Bless’d are the men of peaceful life,

Who quench the coals of growing strife,

They shall he call’d the heirs of bliss,

The sons of God, the God of peace.

We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe, to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:39.

There is somewhat implied in this text, which is not expressed. It was not out of the apostle’s thoughts. It ought never to be out of ours. Why do we not draw back unto perdition? Is it because of our own might, power, and faithfulness? No. “But because we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” (1 Peter 1:5.) Why do any draw back unto perdition? Because they do not believe the word of God: do not live upon the power of God: their hearts are not renewed by the grace of God; and they do not choose for their portion, in time and eternity, the Son of God. But they must have made some progress in the way of salvation, else how can they draw back unto perdition? Many go great lengths in profession and expressions. They are like a new moon that shines bright at the beginning, but does not last all night. They seem to begin well, to run fast, and to bid fair, with Christ in their hearts, and heaven in their view. They talk of the views of faith, and the joys of faith. But alas! time discovers, that their hearts are not vitally united to Jesus the author and finisher of faith. Therefore they obtain not the victory of faith. An unconquered world prevails against them. Unsubdued lusts get the dominion over them: and Satan makes a complete conquest over them. The lamp of profession goes out, and they draw back to perdition. Awful state! How much to be dreaded! How earnestly to be deprecated! O consider soul, there is perdition, in the least drawing back. Though you may be kept so as not to finally perish, yet you will awfully suffer loss, if you lose the presence of Christ, the comforts of love, and the joys of faith. O this is dreadful loss! Remember, Jesus is a loving Saviour. The soul is to be saved from all evil and sin, from day to day. Faith is a living grace in the heart. By it come to Christ continually. Believe his love, his power, his willingness to save you to the very uttermost, from the power of sin, the corruption of nature, the love of the world, the snares of hell, into all the happiness and glory of heaven. O may the thought, of a possibility of drawing back from Christ, quicken us to watch and pray to him, to be kept. Study, what are the best means of strengthening your faith. Use them. What things are contrary thereto, avoid. It is by believing, we hold on and hold out. For that brings the grace and strength of Christ into the soul.

Still let our souls be passing on,

Nor ever think of drawing back:

Redeem’d and sav’d by God’s dear Son,

Supplies of grace we ne’er shall lack.

God keeps us by his mighty pow’r

Thro’ faith, eternal joys to see:

Tho’ hard beset in some sad hour,

He’ll set our souls at liberty.