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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: June 29th

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Morning Devotional

The Lord is in his holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before him.- Habakkuk 2:20.

What God’s people of old were favored with in type and figure, we now enjoy in reality and substance. The temple of old was an eminent type of the body of Jesus. In it Jehovah made his presence known. Here troubled consciences sought relief. The mercy-seat was set up for poor sinners to approach to. Here Jehovah was consulted. From hence he spoke in grace and love to his people, and silenced every guilty fear. Thus God was in his holy temple: thus God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself. Was this ministration glorious in the eyes of spiritual worshippers? How doth ours exceed in glory! The fulness of the godhead dwelt bodily in Jesus. This is the temple in which God delights to dwell. Hence grace is dispensed, peace communicated, mercy bestowed, life and salvation freely given.

Here, Christian, believe and adore; behold and wonder; look and admire; admire and love! Jesus is the Lord thy God, worship thou him-Hear the gracious words that are spoken from this living temple. KEEP SILENCE, at the last and most joyful words Jesus spoke, IT IS FINISHED: my Father’s work is done, my dear member’s salvation is completed. Hear this with joy, meditate on it with love, let the voice of pride and self-righteousness be exalted no more, hear the voice of Jesus only. So shall words of legal terror and wrath be silenced: conscience shall be at peace: the murmuring cry, and the lustful desires of the flesh shall cease. Thus attend the voice of Jesus. Silence every carnal cavil: every lofty word and proud imagination, which exalt themselves against him.

Doth the Lord thus speak in and from his temple to his children? Yea more, he dwells in them. Each sanctified member of Jesus is also called his holy temple.- 1 Corinthians 3:17.

What exalted honor are believers called to! "Your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost!"-chap. 6:19. Most powerful motive to holiness! Be attentive to the voice of Jesus within. The temple of thy heart is the throne of his residence. Here he speaketh comfort to the troubled conscience: like as Jesus spoke to the tempestuous sea, "PEACE, be still." And as he called to his affrighted disciples, "It is I, be not afraid:" so to the listening soul, who saith, "I will watch to hear what he will say"-to every waiting heart at his feet, Jesus will speak silence to the clamors of the law, the commotions of sin, and the accusations of Satan.

Send comforts down from thy right hand,

While we pass thro’ this barren land.

And in thy temple let us see

A glimpse of love, a glimpse of thee.

Evening Devotional

By one offering, he hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14.

We have two remarkable instances of St. Paul’s holy zeal for the glory of his Lord. (1st.) Against a gross sin in the church of Corinth. This brought a scandal upon the holy gospel of Christ. (2d.) Against a legal, self-righteous spirit, which obtained in the church of Galatia. This depreciated and dishonored the finished work of Christ, and perverted the faith of his members. It is hard to say, whether St. Paul’s zeal exceeded most, in the former or the latter. Hence learn profaneness and pride, are equally contrary to the faith of the gospel. As a holy faith brings Christ, and his salvation into the heart, it casts out the love of sin, as well as self-righteous hopes. Here is a glorious truth for precious faith to fix upon. O that through the Spirit, it may bring joy and peace to our souls. Consider, who are said to be “sanctified” here? (1st.) Those who are separated and set apart by God the Father, according to his electing love. (Judges 1:1.) (2d.) Separated, set apart and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, to possess a holy faith in Jesus, and a holy life from him. (3d.) In what sense has Christ perfected them for ever? My dear reader, it is for want of faith in this, that we feel so much distress in our consciences, so little love to Christ in our hearts, and enjoy no more peace with God in our souls. Sin causes all this. But Christ has perfected us for ever; that is, he hath taken away all our sins, fully and finally from before God: he has so perfectly freed us from all the charges of law and justice, that there is now, not one condemnation against us, no more than if we had never sinned. (3d.) How has Christ done this? “One offering.” O the love of Christ in this offering for sinners who deserved it not! O the willingness of Christ in it! “He gave himself for our sins,” (Galatians 1:4.) O the pains and agonies he endured for our salvation! O the glorious efficacy of his offering upon the cross! He made there (by his one oblation of himself) satisfaction for our sins. Thus he hath once for all, and for ever satisfied the justice of God, appeased his wrath, and perfectly reconciled his holiness to us. But (4th.) How is the comfort of this enjoyed? By faith. Is this true? Yes, says St. Paul, we have the most infallible evidence for its veracity, “Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us,” (Hebrews 10:15.) Then, as we value peace of conscience, hope of heart, and love of soul, we are bound to honour the Spirit of truth, by faith unfeigned. 1 Timothy 1:5.

For ever perfected by Christ,

We hope our God to see,

That makes us boldly sin resist

And from vile lusts to flee.

Christ’s off’ring once upon the cross,

Through faith doth sanctify;

All else is but as dung and dross,

And cannot purify.

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