Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 24th

In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.- Psalms 94:19.

Vain thoughts and carnal reasonings, like impertinent visitors, often intrude upon the Christian’s mind. In this depraved state it cannot be otherwise. Though born again of the Spirit, and our minds renewed by grace; still our old friends, our present foes, the world, the flesh, and the devil, will furnish us with various exercises, from troublesome thoughts. That they do cause grief, are prayed against, and resisted, is a blessed evidence of a regenerate soul; which is also fed, delighted, and comforted with the spiritual truths, of God’s gracious word.

There are frequent seasons when God’s dear children are exercised with distressing, gloomy thoughts. Afflictions are painful and grievous to the flesh; then how naturally do these murmuring and repining thoughts arise? "Are these the tokens of God’s love? how can I who am thus visited with such sorrow, pain, and trouble, think the Lord loves me with the love of a tender father, or that I am his child?" The sight of our vile polluted nature, corrupt lusts, sinful passions and affections, sink and discourage our spirits. A multitude of thoughts arise within; how can I have faith in Jesus, love to him, and delight in his ways, while I find so much in me contrary to his will, and unconformed to his image? If the Lord hides away his face, and withdraws the comforting sense of his presence, then these dejecting thoughts beset us: God is acting in wrath against us-his mercy is clean gone for ever. And with the church we are apt to think, "The Lord hath forsaken me: my Lord hath forgotten me."- Isaiah 49:14.

This is all very natural. But what says the voice of grace? Most cheering, most delighting to the harassed mind. "Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivers out of them all:" "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten."- Revelation 3:19. "Can a woman forget a sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, she may forget; but I will not forget thee."- Isaiah 49:15. "This man (Jesus) receiveth sinners."- Luke 15:2. "His blood cleanseth from all sin."- 1 John 1:7.

God’s immutable love, unchangeable covenant, eternal truth, sacred word, precious promises, and solemn oath, all stand engaged for the safety and salvation of souls redeemed by Jesus: who saith, "He that believeth on me shall NEVER perish."- John 3:15. Shall any or all the powers of earth and hell make Jesus, the God of truth, a liar? The bible is the Christian’s charter. It is our wisdom to study that, and to judge of God’s love from his word and promises, not by our circumstances, trials, frames and feelings: For,

Whate’er thou found’st him at the best,

He’s at the worst the same.

Christ rests forever in his love,

He never lost his fame.

For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10.

How hard to persuade a man, that there is any evil in that which he loves! Evil in money! what evil can there be in that which will purchase all things? Truly, we may say of money as one said of a pack of cards. Being asked, what harm there is in them? replied, None at all: they are very innocent things, if you will not meddle with them. So is money. But there is a curse in the love of it. There is the root of all evil. What mighty ills have not been done by this? Why, the love of money will dethrone God in the heart, and make a man an idolater. “Covetousness is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5.) Can there in all the world be a greater evil than this? Is not this the root of all evil? Do not all evils spring from hence? Love of money was the same in the apostle’s days as it is now. Some then, as well as now, coveted after it. Some! Who? Men who know nothing about the gospel, or faith? Not so; for, “They erred from the faith.” So that it is plain, they either had, or professed to have had, faith. How did they err? (1st.) They mistook the nature of faith: that brings God and Christ, and heaven into the soul, and creates perfect happiness there. Money, or no money, such a soul says, the Lord is my portion; and with St. Paul, I am full. (Philippians 4:18.) But some have only an empty notion, which they mistake for faith. This brings no spiritual enjoyment into the heart. Hence they seek it in money. (2d.) They erred, or went out of the way of faith. Faith sees every enjoyment as the gift of God-is satisfied with it, and thankful for it. But where there is a greedy, insatiable desire after money, if such persons really have faith, they will go out of the way of faith to obtain it. They will rack their very brains, distress their minds, and wear out their bodies in pursuit after riches. And what is the consequence, after all this erring from the faith? Wretched gain of riches! They pierce themselves through with many sorrows. Sorrows, to get riches; sorrows, to keep them; sorrows, how to dispose of them; sorrows, to think they must leave them. But, sorrow above all sorrows! a good God forsaken, a precious Christ despised, a glorious gospel rejected, an immortal soul neglected, for the love of money. O my dear Lord, let me see and enjoy thee as my best gain, my truest riches. May my heart cleave to thee in stedfast faith, abide in thee by sincere love, walk with thee in precious communion, die in thee with sweet tranquility, and reign with thee in eternal glory.

What harm in money can there be?

Then why not covet more?

Lord, it allures the heart from thee,

And binds it to our store.